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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. Gary discovers that this spice helps dogs eat when they're not hungry.

2. How does Crackers seem when Gary works ointment into the dog's feet at the beginning of the book?

3. What does the checker at Finger lake offer to Gary's team?

4. In the Prelude Gary writes, "The difficulty came because of ____________."

5. Where does the trapping trail outside of Anchorage end?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Gary's fear when he learns his diagnosis in "An End."

2. In "Major Wrecks," what happens when Gary does a training run with an old bicycle pulled by five dogs?

3. Describe Gary's experience with the campfire outside of Kaltag?

4. What have the mushers NOT been told about Happy Canyon?

5. Why does the race start in downtown Anchorage?

6. Describe how Gary and his team descend into Dalzell Gorge.

7. Describe Gary's run in The Yukon.

8. What is "the Burn?"

9. How do the people in Alaska help Gary?

10. How does the snow accumulate in northern Minnesota?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss how Gary conveys his ignorance in "Beginnings", "Dogs from Hell", "Major Wrecks", "Pre-Race", and during the race. Why do you think he shares his ignorance with the reader?

Essay Topic 2

Gary has a relationship with all of his dogs, but his relationship with Cookie is particularly strong. Give at least four examples of Gary's relationship with Cookie.

Essay Topic 3

Write a summary of the book. Include highlights of training, highlights of Gary's first race, and Gary's overall experience with the race. Weave the text into a coherent essay with distinct paragraphs and with transitions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 859 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample