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

2. What does Cornish McManus use to put the final finish and shine on his "sweet" rifle?

3. What does Cornish McManus use to polish the bore of his "sweet" rifle?

4. Why does Tim Harrow stop in a small town in Missouri?

5. Tim Harrow is enthralled with what hobby?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

4. Does the "sweet" rifle have a will of its own?

5. What aspect of Cornish McManus's personality, that John Waynewright dislikes, allows him to build a "sweet" rifle?

6. What types of uses is Cornish McManus' "sweet" rifle put to during the novel?

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

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

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

10. Why do the British hang Cornish McManus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the process of loading a muzzle-loading rifle. Describe why John Byam loaded the rifle the way that he did.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the processes that Cornish McManus used to manufacture the rifle.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the appearance of the rifle. Explain why it looks the way that it looks.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 475 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample