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

2. How far does Morley decide to walk in order to drain the crankcase which he has forgotten to drain before starting the journey?

3. To what city does Ray hitchhike in California, riding with several interesting people along the way?

4. Whose life is considered to be on the good path?

5. How far off is Morley when they hear his yodeling in the morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. How well prepared does Ray feel at the end of his shopping excursion with Japhy?

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

3. Where does Ray decide to sleep once he arrives at his mother's house?

4. Describe the house where Ray Smith is staying.

5. List the four men who sit together at Japhy's small home, drinking wine together and discussing poetry.

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

7. What does Ray notice about Los Angeles as he rides the bus to Riverside?

8. What happens later in the night which upsets Alvah, and rightfully so?

9. Describe the character of Henry Morley.

10. What does Ray decide to do once the rest of the family is in bed asleep?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The suicide of Rosie is a tragic part of this story, though it seems to be a necessary evil within the story as well.

Part 1: Describe the circumstances of Rosie's suicide.

Part 2: Who might be to blame for her suicide? Who might have been able to stop her?

Part 3: What are the consequences of Rosie's suicide?

Essay Topic 2

Settling into one area seems to be something Ray is unable to do, preferring instead to travel from one location to the next as his moods dictate.

Part 1: What does the idea of always moving seem to say about Ray?

Part 2: Do you think Ray is truly a wanderer or someone who is always trying to run away from his life? Why?

Part 3: What does the wandering of Ray seem to say about the idea of being still? What does the author seem to be saying about staying in one place?

Essay Topic 3

The spontaneous life of Ray is one that some readers admire and other readers abhor. The ability to move from one place to another, one idea to another is freeing and yet it creates the sensation of never being grounded.

Part 1: What are some examples of Ray's spontaneous way of life?

Part 2: How are Ray's beliefs also spontaneous? In what ways do his beliefs shift?

Part 3: Would you like to live the way Ray does? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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