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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. Who is Hipps' partner in moving the horses to Mississippi?

2. How much money is Flem Snopes ordered to pay back to the Armstid family?

3. Whose horse breaks away from the pen and charges into Mrs. Littlejohn's house?

4. Who does Ratcliff claim is directly responsible for the damages the Tull family incurred as a result of the wild horse stampede?

5. Who or what does the tall convict blame for motivating him in crime?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the story of "The Old Man" open?

2. What happens when Mrs. Armsted arrives at Snopes' store to collect the money she is owed from the horse auction?

3. What crime did the fat convict plead guilty to in court, and why?

4. What happens when Eck's horse comes into contact with the Tull family?

5. What is the first thing the convict does when he is aboard the Red Cross steamboat?

6. How is Mrs. Armstid described when she enters the courtroom to plead her case to the judge?

7. What happens when the boat overturns that the tall and fat convicts are paddling down the river?

8. How is Wallstreet almost injured while helping to prepare the wild horses for their auction?

9. What is the general reaction to the judgment against Snopes in the courtroom?

10. How does Hipps treat the wild horses that he brings in from Texas to sell in Mississippi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Hipps comes to town with the spotted horses in the story of the same name, the one heckler he meets in the crowd in a man called Ratcliff. First, describe Ratcliff's character. What motivation does Ratcliff have to heckle Hipps when he comes to town? Then, describe what has happened in Ratcliff's history that made the Texan people not take his critique of Hipps seriously. Do you think the townsfolk should have listened to Ratcliff? Why or why not? Be sure to include at least two examples from the text to strengthen your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout his life, the tall convict questions what it means to have a "normal" life outside of prison. First, describe the reaction the tall convict has to the pregnant refugee he is ordered to save. What does this woman teach the tall convict about life on "the outside"? Then, explain the reaction the tall convict has to the young woman he meets in the refugee camp. What does this woman teach the tall convict about life on the outside? Finally, explain which woman you think had a deeper impact on the convict, and who the convict will be thinking about while finishing his sentence behind bars. Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

In the story "Spotted Horses", there are three different types of con men introduced to the reader: the sewing machine agent, Flem Snopes, and Hipps. First, describe why each of these three characters could be considered a conman. Then, describe which of these three characters should be considered the most dangerous type of conman and explain what the outcome of their cons were on the small Mississippi town. Be sure to include at least two examples from the text that you believe help strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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