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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. How does the other musher's lead dog die on the trapping trail?

2. What does Gary notice in the picture of a dog team training for the Iditarod?

3. What does Gary say he had when he started training for his first Iditarod?

4. Why do the dogs run towards the beaver on the frozen lake while Gary is training for his first race?

5. What is the "presence" that Gary feels in the Prelude?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Gary's dilemma about helping the other team at the beginning of the race? What does he decide to do?

2. In the Prelude, what warning signs of the coming storm does Gary miss?

3. What goes wrong for Gary between the start of the race and the time he rejoins the trail?

4. At the end of the book, what does Gary ask his friend to do? Why?

5. What is Gary's reaction when the Doughnut man kicks the dog to death at Don's Cabin?

6. In "Beginnings," what does Gary mean when he writes, "I began to notice the dogs"?

7. In "Skwentna," describe the encounter with the moose on the way back to the true trail.

8. What terrifies Gary during his run in the first snow?

9. Describe the incident in "Major Wrecks" when Gary and his team encounter the skunks.

10. What shape is Gary in when he reaches the town of Nikolai?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which three portions of the race do you think Gary would consider most mentally challenging? Fully support each of your choices.

Essay Topic 2

Who are the main people, animals, and places in the book? Describe them physically if you can, and describe their personalities. Why is each of these important?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role of setting in the book. Include a discussion of time and at least four places.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 954 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample