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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many rifling grooves does Cornish McManus cut in the barrel of his "sweet" rifle?
(a) Sixty-two
(b) Four
(c) One
(d) Thirteen

2. After his apprenticeship is complete, Cornish McManus is referred to as what?
(a) Journeyman gunsmith
(b) Rifle gunsmith
(c) Master gunsmith
(d) Apprentice gunsmith

3. What does Tim Harrow call knives?
(a) Edged weapons
(b) Shivs
(c) My precious knives
(d) Pig stickers

4. What type of heel drop does Cornish McManus use on the butt stock of his "sweet" rifle?
(a) He follows the British pattern
(b) There is no heel drop
(c) He uses only half as much drop as normal
(d) He uses twice as much as normal

5. Most rifles of the American Revolutionary War period were .58 to .75 caliber. What caliber was Cornish McManus' "sweet" rifle?
(a) .75 caliber
(b) .66 caliber
(c) .58 caliber
(d) .40 caliber

Short Answer Questions

1. In the rifle that Cornish McManus builds, the flint strikes a piece of metal called what?

2. After buying the "sweet" rifle, what is the first thing John Byam uses it for?

3. How long does it take Cornish McManus to manufacture the barrel of his "sweet" rifle?

4. What is Tim Harrow doing when he hears about the bloody end of the Waco Siege on 19 April 1993?

5. When Cornish McManus test fires his rifle for accuracy, from what range does he choose to shoot?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does John Byam kill the first British officer that he kills?

2. Why does Cornish McManus decide to sell the "sweet" rifle, one of his most-cherished possessions?

3. The cover image of several common editions of the book shows a left-handed flintlock rifle. Does the book describe the rifle as being left-handed?

4. Imagine you are the "sweet" rifle. Who would you rather be owned by--Cornish McManus or John Byam?

5. Cornish McManus is a superb gunsmith with great vision and skill. Describe his shooting ability.

6. When John Byam uses the rifle to kill British officers, who is doing the killing--Byam or the rifle?

7. Why does it take Cornish McManus so long to build the "sweet" rifle?

8. The novel spends many pages describing the construction of the rifle. Do you have a clear mental image of the processes involved in hand-making a muzzle-loading rifle?

9. What was the leading cause of death among American Revolutionary War soldiers?

10. Describe how the British are presented in the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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