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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Ray keep in touch with the other stations?

2. The answer to #139 says that _________ is no good as a writer because he is always drunk.

3. Who shows up and dances wildly with a tall girl?

4. What is Ray's shadow ringed by one day after a deluge of rain?

5. Who notices Ray's peculiar habit of spending long periods alone in the woods?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ray's brother-in-law think about his time in the woods and in the house?

2. What does Ray hear Japhy wants to do with his life at this time?

3. How does Ray help his mother and her illness?

4. What does a local confide to Ray when the two become drunk together?

5. What does Ray realize about himself once he arrives at his summer job?

6. What does Ray realize as he settles into his position in the middle of the woods?

7. What does Ray do as he stays in the shack behind Sean and Christine's home?

8. What does Japhy do with his girlfriend who tries to board the boat with him to Japan?

9. As Japhy and Ray catch up a bit, what does Ray seem to feel about Japhy's demeanor?

10. What does Japhy's father do when he arrives at the party for Japhy's going away?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea that you can't fall off a mountain is a glorious realization for Ray as he is climbing on the mountain with Japhy.

Part 1: Describe the moment when Ray finally understands the idea of not being able to fall off the mountain.

Part 2: What does this realization really mean to Ray?

Part 3: What does Japhy interpret this realization to mean?

Essay Topic 2

The various settings of the story seem to convey different moods for the story. From beginning to end, the environments of the characters inform the characters themselves and vice versa.

Part 1: List three of the settings within the story.

Part 2: What is the mood of each of these settings?

Part 3: How does the mood of the story change from beginning to end? Reference different settings as they relate to these shifts in moods.

Essay Topic 3

In a sense, one could say that Japhy and Ray are 'fighting' a war against the traditional culture and the way 'normal' people live their lives.

Part 1: Describe the culture Japhy and Ray want to oppose in the way they live their lives.

Part 2: Why do Japhy and Ray oppose the way one particular class lives their lives?

Part 3: What do you think Japhy and Ray see as the best possible way of living one's life?

(see the answer keys)

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