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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. About what mountains does Japhy begin to tell Ray stories?

2. Who do the men around him tell stories of when they realize who Ray knows?

3. What does Ray learn how to dig when he undergoes his training as a fire spotter?

4. Who accuses Ray of drinking too much?

5. The local man says they spend all their time trying to appear __________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What realization does Ray have that truly makes him feel free?

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

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

4. What do Ray and Japhy do to help out Sean as he is providing accommodations for the both of them?

5. What is the vision Ray has in the fog while at Desolation Peak?

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

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

8. What does Ray refuse to do at a wild party at Sean and Christine's house?

9. What do Ray and Japhy do when they begin to get bored of the party?

10. Where is Japhy living when Ray finally finds him along his journey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The voice of the narrator is always a concern for a novel. Since the author's own life and opinions often influence the narration, the narrator's voice must be questioned.

Part 1: Who is the narrator of this novel?

Part 2: What does the narrator bring to the story and the telling of the story?

Part 3: How does this particular narrator affect the telling of the story? Is he/she a positive or negative influence on the story telling? Is he/she they trustworthy?

Essay Topic 2

The characters of Ray and Japhys could not be more alike or more different from each others, creating an interesting interplay in the story itself.

Part 1: Describe the character of Ray as he is portrayed in the story.

Part 2: Describe the character of Japhys as he is portrayed in the story.

Part 3: Which character seems to have nobler intentions, as Buddhism warrants? Why did you choose the character you did?

Essay Topic 3

The spontaneous life of Ray is one that some readers admire and other readers abhor. The ability to move from one place to another, one idea to another is freeing and yet it creates the sensation of never being grounded.

Part 1: What are some examples of Ray's spontaneous way of life?

Part 2: How are Ray's beliefs also spontaneous? In what ways do his beliefs shift?

Part 3: Would you like to live the way Ray does? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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