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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 tall tale does Tim Harrow make up about the "sweet" rifle that, unbeknownst to him, is actually true?

2. How long does it take McNary's Rangers to travel from Philadelphia to New York?

3. What is John Byam paid for joining a volunteer unit in fighting against the British?

4. What is the name of the hand tool that Cornish McManus used to cut the barrel channel into the stock of his "sweet" rifle?

5. How much powder does Cornish McManus use when he shoots his "sweet" rifle?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How long does Cornish McManus own his "sweet" rifle before he sells it?

4. In reading the novel, do you think of the "sweet" Rifle as a character or as an object?

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

6. Describe how life in the American army forces is presented in the novel.

7. When Cornish McManus built his "sweet" rifle, what did he probably imagine it would be used for?

8. 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?

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. Why does John Byam offer so much wealth in exchange for Cornish McManus' "sweet" rifle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel, is the "sweet" rifle a character or an object? Defend your selection.

Essay Topic 2

When rifle kills British officers, who is doing the killing--Byam or the rifle? When the rifle kills Richard David Mesinger, who is doing the killing--Harv Kline or the rifle? Why are the two situations different? Compare and contrast.

Essay Topic 3

Of the major characters in the novel (Cornish McManus, John Byam, Tim Harrow, Harv Kline, and Richard Allen Mesinger), are any of them villains? If not, why not. If so, who is a villain and why do you consider them to be a villain?

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This section contains 675 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample