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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 led marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama?

2. Who does William meet in Portal Paradise in Arizona?

3. Where does William look for his relative's tombstone with Noel Jones?

4. What does Mrs. Watkins serve Mr. Watkins for breakfast?

5. What town is on the edge of a U.S. Navy bombing range in Section 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does William begin to question his plan to travel across America?

2. What kind of work does William do in Wanchese, North Carolina?

3. What happens when William sleeps in his van on the campus of East Carolina University?

4. What is the reaction when William orders a chocolate milkshake near Frenchman, Nevada?

5. What figure in history is Dare County, North Carolina, named after?

6. Describe William's encounter with Porfirio Sanchez.

7. Who surprises William in Portal Paradise?

8. Describe Mr. Watkin's appearance.

9. Is William able to find anyone to talk with in the Hopi Indian reservation?

10. How does William discover information about his Caucasian relatives in North Carolina?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze William's role as a teacher of America's history. In what way does he provide this information? Is he successful in capturing your attention? How so? Provide several examples of historical information you gained through William's narrative.

Essay Topic 2

Black Elk, in The Sacred Pipe, writes that "the blue road is the route of 'one who is distracted, who is ruled by the senses, and who lives for himself rather than for his people.'" Does William think that this passage describes him? How do these words change William's vision of himself and the purpose of his journey?

Essay Topic 3

How does William react to Stacie McDougald's story? What does his kindness toward her tell you about his values as a person? How does William "go the extra mile" for Stacie?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 768 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample