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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens to black powder if it is exposed to the air for a long period of time?
(a) It explodes
(b) It turns a greyish white
(c) It is ruined
(d) It gets much stronger

2. What were prohibited in the powder magazine of Revolutionary War ships?
(a) Women
(b) Lanterns
(c) Smoking
(d) Rifles

3. With which relative is Richard Allen Mesington particularly close?
(a) His cousin
(b) His adopted little sister
(c) His grandfather
(d) His son

4. Richard Allen Mesington dreams of learning how to throw what kind of a baseball pitch?
(a) A clean dropping curve
(b) A bodyline pitch
(c) A fastball
(d) A strike

5. From age nine to ten, Richard Allen Mesington believes he will pursue which profession?
(a) Airplane pilot
(b) Veterinary science
(c) Law
(d) Medicine

6. According to the novel, what was the leading cause of death to voyagers along the Oregon Trail?
(a) Dysentery
(b) Indian attack
(c) Starvation and exposure
(d) Firearms accidents

7. What happened to Mrs. Mesinger after Richard Allen Mesinger's death?
(a) The British soldiers hung her also
(b) She moved to California
(c) She went insane
(d) She forgot about the "sweet" rifle in her attic

8. When Richard Allen Mesington is fourteen years old, who is his girlfriend?
(a) Sarah
(b) Sissy
(c) Isabelle
(d) Peggy

9. How many close friends does Richard Allen Mesington have during the first few years of his life?
(a) None
(b) One
(c) Five
(d) Dozens

10. Richard Allen Mesington dreams of owing what kind of vehicle?
(a) A "'Vette" (p. 81)
(b) A "Vespa" (p. 81)
(c) A "Harley" (p. 81)
(d) A backhoe (p. 81)

11. For what did sailing ships in the Revolutionary War use black power?
(a) To charge their cannon
(b) They didn't use blackpowder onboard sailing ships
(c) As a fuel in the engine
(d) To cook meals

12. When does Richard Allen Mesinger die?
(a) 24 December 1993
(b) 4 July 1776
(c) 24 December 1776
(d) 4 July 1993

13. According to the novel, why were all guns kept loaded prior to 1850?
(a) Because powder would spoil if not loaded immediately
(b) Because gun owners lacked common sense
(c) It was the law
(d) Because they took so long to load

14. According to the novel, how many baseball games did Richard Allen Mesinger watch in an average year?
(a) Two or three a week, all season long
(b) 16
(c) He didn't watch baseball
(d) Over 100

15. At the novel's conclusion, who is the owner of the "sweet" rifle?
(a) John Byam
(b) Harv Kline
(c) Nobody--Harv Kline destroys it
(d) Tilson

Short Answer Questions

1. In the novel, how many people actually fire the "sweet" rifle?

2. What does Richard Allen Mesington call the first heavy equipment he sees moving earth?

3. Who is Richard Allen Mesington's best friend?

4. Why doesn't Richard Allen Mesington play with the next door neighbor Harv Kline's son?

5. According to the novel, how fast does a black powder charge burn?

(see the answer keys)

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