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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. Even though the winter has passed, the wind blowing through the ice makes ___________ difficult for the men.

2. Who is imprisoned on the way into town, though this prisoner(s) does not seem like a likely candidate for a spy?

3. ______________wants to distance himself from all of the killing before his retirement begins to be a reality.

4. Various measures are undertaken in anticipation of barbarian attacks, such as ___________ and vigilance.

5. The soldiers carry _____________ and try to conserve food and water the best they can as they travel.

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the group encounters a strong storm right before they reach the mountains?

2. What causes troubles when the fishermen are put into the barracks together, causing problems for the magistrate?

3. What makes the blind girl on the street even more pitiful to the magistrate when he sees her for the first time?

4. What happens when the girl in the group gets her period and is unable to hide it from the others?

5. What does the magistrate feel about the blind girl he sees on the street at the beginning of this section of the book?

6. What happens with the girl as they continue on their trip together through the mountains?

7. Why does the magistrate think that barbarians are always causing trouble, though they avoid fighting in the winter months?

8. Why is the magistrate nervous about leaving his position even as he is approaching retirement?

9. Why does the magistrate want to notify the Bureau about the trip that he is taking with the girl?

10. Why is the magistrate unable to remain uninvolved during the alleged barbarian uprising?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The magistrate is supposed to have a trial in order to have issues about his performance handled, but the colonel does not want this to happen.

Part 1: Why do you think the magistrate wants to have his case handled by a trial?

Part 2: How do you think the problems of a magistrate should be handled?

Part 3: Why do you think the colonel doesn't want a trial to happen?

Essay Topic 2

The journey to take the girl back to her people seems to create a lot of conflict and doubt within the group.

Part 1: Do you think the journey was necessary for the story to progress? Why or why not?

Part 2: How do you think the magistrate changes during the course of this trip?

Part 3: Do you think that the magistrate needed to go on this journey with the others? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The men began to strike back at the Colonel, which seems to drive him away.

Part 1: Why do you think that the people felt comfortable enough to throw stones at the Colonel?

Part 2: Do you think that the people had a right to fight back against the Colonel? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think that you would ever throw stones at a political leader or other person in power?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 729 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample