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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. Which of the following describes Ownby's demeanor while being questioned by the welfare agent?

2. Which of the following boys does John Wesley encounter?

3. Huffaker tells Gifford that Ownby comes to the store __________________.

4. What does Sylder secretly think after John Wesley leaves?

5. In the war, Sylder lost part of his __________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the dead cat symbolic of Kenneth Rattner?

2. How does Arthur stand firm in an attempt to evade the police and find an even more isolated location?

3. What emotions does the orchard keeper have when he finds the peach pit smoldering?

4. How does John Wesley manage to get into the mental asylum to visit Ownby?

5. How is Sylder finally apprehended for bootlegging?

6. How does Gifford put pressure on John Wesley to give up information about Sylder?

7. What is the significance of cats in the story?

8. What happens to the Rattners by the end of the story?

9. Describe Sylder's booking in the police department.

10. Describe the conversation in which Ownby gives John Wesley advice about his life.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of loss. Identify at least two examples about loss in the book and then explain why the examples support the theme.

Essay Topic 2

Explain McCarthy's use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where he did.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of resistance to government intervention. Identify at least two examples about resistance to government intervention in the book. Then explain how each example supports the theme of resistance to government intervention.

(see the answer keys)

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