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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 animal's tracks did Cheryl spot after leaving Golden Oak Springs in Chapter 5: “Tracks”?

2. How old was Greg when Cheryl met him in Chapter 6: “A Bull in Both Directions”?

3. What book did Cheryl receive in her supply box in Kennedy Meadows?

4. On what date was the Pacific Crest Trail officially designated by an act of Congress?

5. What animal did Cheryl have a moving encounter with in Chapter 9: “Staying Found”?

Short Essay Questions

1. What memories of Cheryl's marriage are shared with the reader in Chapter 2: “Splitting”?

2. Who does Cheryl encounter when she arrives at Kennedy Meadows in Chapter 7: “The Only Girl in the Woods”?

3. What are Cheryl's initial thoughts about facing snow in the High Sierras in Chapter 7: “The Only Girl in the Woods”?

4. How does the author describe her position as a woman on the trail in Chapter 7: “The Only Girl in the Woods”?

5. What book inspired Cheryl's journey? Where did Cheryl first encounter this book?

6. What items does Cheryl describe that she has brought for her journey in Chapter 3: “Hunching in a Remotely Upright Position”?

7. Where does Cheryl's hike of the PCT begin? What thoughts does Cheryl have upon arriving at her starting point in Chapter 2: “Splitting”?

8. What revelations about herself does Cheryl have while looking into the mirror before setting out for the PCT in Chapter 3: “Hunching in a Remotely Upright Position”?

9. When does Cheryl stop hiking on her first day on the PCT in Chapter 4: “The Pacific Crest Trail, Volume I: California”? What are her thoughts as she camps?

10. What obstacles are presented for Cheryl as she makes her way along the PCT in Chapter 9: “Staying Found”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Cheryl’s relationship with Joe as described in the narrative. In what ways did Joe differ from Cheryl’s husband Paul? Where did Cheryl meet Joe? How did their relationship develop? How did Cheryl’s relationship with Joe influence her decision to hike the PCT?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the narrative style of Wild. Is the story related from a first, second, or third-person perspective? Is it related in present or past tense? What impact does each of these choices have on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the theme of grief in Wild. How has Cheryl’s grief over the loss of her mother affected her as a person? How has it influenced Cheryl’s actions? What else does Cheryl grieve over as she begins her journey in the narrative?

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