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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. Why does the unnamed gun collector buy the "sweet" rifle from an antique shop?
(a) To donate it to a museum
(b) To write a book about its history
(c) To sell it at a gun show and make some money
(d) He wants to use it to shoot Richard Allen Mesinger

2. According to the novel, what does a faster rate of spin do for a projectile?
(a) Makes it move faster
(b) Makes it hit harder
(c) Makes it more accurate
(d) Makes it move slower

3. In his lifetime, how many times does Tim Harrow use a firearm to protect his life or property?
(a) Dozens of times
(b) Sixteen
(c) Zero
(d) Once

4. When Cornish McManus test fires his rifle for accuracy, from what range does he choose to shoot?
(a) Thirty long steps
(b) One hundred yards
(c) One thousand long steps
(d) One hundred paces

5. What color is the barrel for Cornish McManus' "sweet" rifle when he is completely finished with it?
(a) He leaves it in the white
(b) Neary black
(c) A deep blue
(d) A deep plum-brown

Short Answer Questions

1. Who trained Cornish McManus?

2. What object rekindles in Cornish McManus the desire to build a masterpiece of a rifle?

3. If Tim Harrow shot and killed someone who was attempting to burglarize his home, how would he likely refer to his action?

4. According to the novel, how much would the "sweet" rifle be worth if its provenance were known and proved?

5. What type of shot is Cornish McManus?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. The "sweet" rifle shoots a .40 caliber ball; most rifles of the period shot a much, much larger ball. Does the small caliber of the "sweet" rifle reduce its killing capability?

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

4. 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?

5. What was John Byam called in his day as a soldier? What would he be called today?

6. Do you think that John Waynewright would have valued Cornish McManus's "sweet" rifle?

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

8. In order to fire properly, the following things must be true: "the powder is dry and in good shape" (p. 16); "the flint is clean and with a new sharp edge" (p. 16); "the frizzen is wiped dry" (p. 16); "the spring on the hammer is strong" (p. 16); "the flint [slams] hard against the frizzen" (p. 16); "the powder is positioned correctly in the pan" (p. 17). Explain how all of these things happen to occur on Christmas Eve, 1993.

9. Cornish McManus is astounded when his "sweet" rifle puts three balls into one ragged hole at thirty paces (about 75 feet) while shooting from a solid rest. By today's accuracy standards is McManus' rifle's performance astounding?

10. In reviewing John Byam's actions in the novel, would you consider him a hero?

(see the answer keys)

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