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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. What does Bess say Oldring is doing to hide his true motives?
(a) Shooting men.
(b) Rustling cattle.
(c) Terrorizing towns.
(d) Keeping Bess.

2. When Jane tells Blake to go to the sage and get all her horses, what information does Blake have?
(a) The horses are resting.
(b) All the horses are gone.
(c) The horses are eating.
(d) The horses are back in the coral.

3. After dinner, Venters goes to the grove to sleep. Who does he see riding through?
(a) Lassiter.
(b) Jane.
(c) Jane's women who work in her house.
(d) Oldring and the Masked Rider.

4. How does Venters nurse Bess's fever?
(a) Gives her broth.
(b) Puts ice wrapped in a cloth on her face.
(c) Let's Bess soak her feet in the stream.
(d) Washes her face, hands and wrists with cool water.

5. Lassiter wants to go home? Where is home for Lassiter?
(a) Northern Utah.
(b) Cottonwood.
(c) Texas.
(d) Illinois.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Lassiter tells Jane of his past life, what was he?

2. When Venters takes Bess to Surprise Valley, she awakens and think she hears a waterfall. What is she really hearing?

3. Venters has two dogs. What are their names?

4. Who helps Jane as Mrs. Larkin dies?

5. When Venters offers to take the wounded girl back to Oldring, what does she say?

Short Essay Questions

1. The first appearance of Judkins, the Gentile rider "means hell." Why do you think this is true?

2. Mrs. Larkin would like for Fay to be raised by Jane, but without Mormon teachings. According to the story, what is Mrs. Larkin really afraid of for her little Fay if she is raised Mormon?

3. Once Venters reaches Surprise Valley he skins the rabbit and saves the hide? Why would he want to keep this hide? What feeling is Venters trying to capture and hang on to?

4. Compare the entrance to Surprise Valley under the stone bridge and the entrance to the ancient cave dwellers up the steep steps. How are these the same and how are they different? What did they mean to the ancient peoples and how are they important to Venters and Bess?

5. Jane is torn between her love for the Mormon church and the reality of the actions of it's leaders. How is this internal conflict reflected in Jane's actions?

6. Why does Jane keep Milly's grave overgrown and hidden?

7. Describe Balancing Rock and how it was made to balance. What would happen if the rock is dislodged? How can this protect Venters and Bess now that he knows how to use the rock as a defense? Do you think this is foreshadowing an event?

8. Venters sees Oldring and the Masked Rider ride across the edge of Jane's land. Why is this ominous? What do the people know about Oldring?

9. Bess tells Venters that she has memories of women and children. Who do you think these people were? What do you think their relationship was with Bess?

10. While exploring for the first time, Venters finds evidence of beavers in Surprise Valley and realizes that he must find the the stream where they entered. Why does Venters need to see the where the stream enters Surprise Valley? What is he afraid of?

(see the answer keys)

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