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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 dead animal does the large cat find?

2. What does John Wesley find in his trap the next day?

3. Where is Ownby sent after being released from jail?

4. What does John Wesley say about Sylder?

5. Why does Officer Legwater sift through the ashes in the peach pit?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the activities of the wildcat as it tries to find dry quarters as well as something to eat.

2. How else might the irony of Sylder and John Wesley's friendship be interpreted?

3. How is Sylder finally apprehended for bootlegging?

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

5. Why does Gifford focus his question about Ownby on a storekeep named Huffaker?

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

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

8. Describe Ownby's encounter with a welfare department agent in the jail.

9. How does Sylder recall losing part of his toe in the war?

10. Describe the police attack on Ownby's house.

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Marion Sylder. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him at this point?

(see the answer keys)

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