View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How do the cow-pumpkins look when the novel first opens?
(a) They are still too small to see.
(b) They are green and small.
(c) They are enormous and expected to win a prize at the state fair.
(d) They are large and ready for harvesting.

2. How does the pony respond to Jody when he reaches for it for the first time?
(a) It licks his fingers because they taste like bacon from breakfast.
(b) It nuzzles up to him.
(c) It bites Jody.
(d) It is very, very shy.

3. Where does Gitano claim to have relatives?
(a) In California.
(b) In New Mexico.
(c) In Monterey.
(d) In Mexico.

4. What has Gitano actually stolen from Carl?
(a) Guns.
(b) A necklace.
(c) Money.
(d) Nothing other than his horse.

5. Where does Jody get drinks of water from while walking around the ranch?
(a) A river on their property.
(b) He has to go back to the kitchen.
(c) A Thermos he always carries with him.
(d) A pipe outlet from a cold spring.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Jess report Gitano was heading?

2. When the novel opens, what are Carl and Billy going to do?

3. Where did Carl get the pony from?

4. When Mrs. Tiflin talks about Gitano staying, what does Carl do?

5. What ominous sign does Jody see that lets him know his pony has died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of animals does Jody put in his lunchbox on his way home from school in Chapter 3?

2. What does Jody mean when he says his mouth "works"?

3. How does Grandfather respond to seeing Jody for the first time?

4. Why does Jody stop running right before he meets Grandfather along the road?

5. What has Billy told Carl about Jody's skill with horses?

6. Why does Jody hide the bird he kills when Chapter 2 opens?

7. How does Mrs. Tiflin request Carl treat her father once he arrives?

8. What lie does Jody tell when Carl asks him where he's been, when he's really been talking with Gitano late at night?

9. While Jody's mother often finds his hands to be dirty, why doesn't she make him wash them?

10. When Jody first spots Gitano coming down the road, where does he appear to be coming from?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 607 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample