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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 decides to remain at the lake in order to sleep for the night instead of continuing the hike?

2. Ray wishes he could have taught the girlfriend in #64 about the illusory nature of _________.

3. Who does Ray spend time with when the rest of the family is gone for the day?

4. What does Ray feel Japhy would rather be studying instead of what he is doing at the current moment?

5. Who is noted to have enormous hiking endurance?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the way Japhy decides to descend the mountain.

2. Describe the character of Ray Smith as he arrives in Los Angeles.

3. Describe the character of Japhy Ryder.

4. Describe the character of Henry Morley.

5. How do Japhy and Ray find Morley again?

6. What is the arrangement that Beaudry and Ray work out?

7. Once they reach a beautiful lake along their hike, what does Morley do?

8. How will Japhy and Ray find their way along the mountain trail, according to Japhy?

9. What does the bum tell Ray to do in order to cure arthritis?

10. Why doesn't Ray decide to camp in Mexico when he arrives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of sexuality is one that is explored at different points of the story, but Ray's own feelings about sexuality seem to be conflicted.

Part 1: How does Ray respond to the idea of the yabyum idea? Does his reaction seem to fall in line with its definition or with his own sense of lust and longing?

Part 2: Ray seems to practice celibacy in most of the story, preferring to avoid sexual contact altogether. Is this a moralistic choice of a defense mechanism? Why do you say what you do?

Part 3: What does the story as a whole seem to say about sex? Is it a good thing? A bad thing? Spiritual? Abhorrent?

Essay Topic 2

The characters of Ray and Japhys could not be more alike or more different from each others, creating an interesting interplay in the story itself.

Part 1: Describe the character of Ray as he is portrayed in the story.

Part 2: Describe the character of Japhys as he is portrayed in the story.

Part 3: Which character seems to have nobler intentions, as Buddhism warrants? Why did you choose the character you did?

Essay Topic 3

The idea that you can't fall off a mountain is a glorious realization for Ray as he is climbing on the mountain with Japhy.

Part 1: Describe the moment when Ray finally understands the idea of not being able to fall off the mountain.

Part 2: What does this realization really mean to Ray?

Part 3: What does Japhy interpret this realization to mean?

(see the answer keys)

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