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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. When Gus awakes in "the River Writes" what does he see in nature?

2. What metaphor does Gus use about Mikey and Show and Tell?

3. What is ironic about the modern name for the creek, the US Grant?

4. What are Henning, Ma, and Bill Bob pretending to play when Gus comes home?

5. What does the mouse do at Pedro's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How have Henning and Ma changed since Gus has been away? What do they tell Gus is the reason for the change?

2. Gus personifies the creek. How so and what story does he tell about the creek?

3. How does Gus dupe Dutch and why does he do it?

4. What do Henning and his colleagues do metaphysically that Gus does not understand?

5. Explain the scene written about Steve and his family and losing the monkey doll on the mountain.

6. How does Eddy lead Gus to God?

7. How are Eddy and Gus alike?

8. What neighbors does Gus meet; who are they; what do they do; what do they offer Gus?

9. On his trip back to Tamanawis, how does Gus approve of God for once?

10. How do Ma's views of dams differ from Thomas Bigeater's views?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What Taoist story does Gus tell at the end of the novel and how does it relate to what Gus has learned?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Gus become so depressed after moving to the cabin? How does the depression affect him and how does he decide to pull himself out of the depression?

Essay Topic 3

What does Nick teach Gus about God and how does Nick's story affect Gus?

(see the answer keys)

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