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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many men are in the bar?
(a) Twelve.
(b) Six.
(c) Twenty.
(d) Ten.

2. Who has never been on a train before?
(a) The judge.
(b) The porter.
(c) The bride.
(d) The groom.

3. Who is the only man on the train platform?
(a) The deputy marshal.
(b) The barkeeper.
(c) The station agent.
(d) The drummer.

4. What is the reaction of the Mexicans in the bar when they hear about Scratchy?
(a) They exit the bar.
(b) They go to the back of the bar.
(c) They turn the table over and take cover behiind it.
(d) They get behind the bar.

5. Why did the groom give the pocket watch to his new bride?
(a) So she would have some nice jewelry.
(b) So she could keep time on the return trip home.
(c) As a wedding present.
(d) A welcome present when he met her.

Short Answer Questions

1. On their wedding day, where does the couple eat?

2. What river runs by the town of Yellow Sky?

3. What does the bartender do when he hears about Scratchy?

4. Why is the man's face reddened?

5. How does the porter view the couple on the train?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the man in the bar ask for a drink from the barkeeper and then swallow it down? Does this action seem out-of-place? Overly dramatic? Why? Why not?

2. What is the reaction of the men in the bar to the news that Scratchy is on the loose? Do their actions seemed rehearsed? Why? Why not? What does this tell the reader about the town in general?

3. The author describes the grassy plots across the street from the bar as looking like grass on a stage. What does this tell the reader about the times and entertainment?

4. What do the fittings on the train symbolize for the couple?

5. How does the author describe the man at the railway station? What does his description tell us about the weather that day?

6. What is the symbolism of the little silver watch? Why did Jack by this for his bride? What is this a symbol of?

7. What did Jack once do to Scratchy? Why is this important to the story? Do these men really feel that they cannot handle the situation without Jack, or do they just not want to?

8. When seated behind the bar, the barkeeper seems quite comfortable with this situation. Why?

9. Jack sits with a hand on each knee like a man waiting for a barber to cut his hair. What does this tell us about Jack?

10. What is the drummer talking about at the opening of Chapter 3? What story is he telling? Do you think he does this often? Do you think he's told this story before? Why? Why not?

(see the answer keys)

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