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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. What is the profession of the person who comments that El Paso gets 360 days of sunshine a year?

2. How far does Ray hitchhike on his way to his summer job?

3. Japhy and Ray talk about how the _________ will meet the West.

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

5. What is the place where Ray will be staying in order to spot fires?

Short Essay Questions

1. For how long do Japhy and Ray stay away from the party on their hike?

2. Where is Ray's future job during the summer months?

3. What does Ray dream about when he is sleeping during the night after Japhy and he begin their hike?

4. Why does Japhy want to introduce Ray to some friends at a lecture and discussion session?

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

6. What does Rheinhold Cacoethes do during the going away party for Japhy?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The suicide of Rosie is a tragic part of this story, though it seems to be a necessary evil within the story as well.

Part 1: Describe the circumstances of Rosie's suicide.

Part 2: Who might be to blame for her suicide? Who might have been able to stop her?

Part 3: What are the consequences of Rosie's suicide?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of sexuality is one that is explored at different points of the story, but Ray's own feelings about sexuality seem to be conflicted.

Part 1: How does Ray respond to the idea of the yabyum idea? Does his reaction seem to fall in line with its definition or with his own sense of lust and longing?

Part 2: Ray seems to practice celibacy in most of the story, preferring to avoid sexual contact altogether. Is this a moralistic choice of a defense mechanism? Why do you say what you do?

Part 3: What does the story as a whole seem to say about sex? Is it a good thing? A bad thing? Spiritual? Abhorrent?

(see the answer keys)

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