View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who sings a mournful ballad to the cattle?

2. What are the O'Brien brothers doing when Deets sees them?

3. What bothers Monkey John about Lorena?

4. How did Elmira actually leave?

5. The morning after the storm, who is missing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jake tell Call about he and Lorena tagging along the herd?

2. What does Gus want to know about July as they go to Blue Duck's camp?

3. Why does Jake call himself a fool?

4. What bothers Newt most about the crew's negative remarks about Jake?

5. Why does Gus send Newt to watch Lorena, instead of Dish?

6. What does Deets warn Lorena?

7. How does Jake respond when Gus comes into Jake and Lorena's camp?

8. How does Elmira feel about July? Why?

9. What does Gus do after the battle with Blue Duck's men?

10. What does Lorena ask Dish when he arrives at the Dry Bean? How does it make Dish feel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between Call and Newt lies at the core of a major theme of the novel. Write an essay detailing Call's feelings for Newt. In what ways does Call show he accepts that Newt is his son? Does he give Newt special treatment over the other cowboys? In what ways does he not accept that Newt is his son? Why does he refuse to claim Newt openly?

Essay Topic 2

Call and Gus have been friends for many years before the start of the novel. Write an essay about the relationship between Call and Gus. Why are they friends? How do they help each other or work as a team? Why does Gus ask Call to take his body to Texas? Why does Call agree?

Essay Topic 3

Elmira and Lorena are both prostitutes as a matter of circumstances of their lives.

Part 1) Compare and contrast the characters of Elmira and Lorena. How are they the same? How are they different?

Part 2) How do Lorena and Elmira show their strengths or weaknesses in their characters?

Part 3) How do Lorena and Elmira each meet the challenges of their circumstances? What choices do they make to improve their lives? How does it work out for them? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 805 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample