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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. Where did the girlfriend in #64 finally go in order to kill herself?

2. Who does Ray ask for help in buying better hiking equipment?

3. In what city does Ray's mother live?

4. Did Morley's car freeze as it was expected to?

5. What does Morley rent from the trail's lodge house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the character of Japhy Ryder.

2. What kinds of stores do Japhy and Ray go to in order to find the best hiking equipment?

3. What is Cody concerned about when Ray arrives to say his goodbyes?

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

5. What does Ray ask Japhy to help him do once Ray receives money?

6. Describe the house where Ray Smith is staying.

7. What do the bums of San Francisco tell Ray there is great money to be made in doing?

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

9. What does Ray seem to believe about the ideas of Buddhism and Christianity?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While the characters profess to have a strong believe in Buddhism and its tenets, there is still the underlying theme of superiority.

Part 1: In what ways do Ray and Japhy feel they are superior to others?

Part 2: Why doesn't this idea of being better than other become problematic to these two men? Or does it?

Part 3: Does it seem like these men are true followers of Buddhism when they talk about how other people are not living the 'right' way? Can one be Buddha-like when they are critical of others?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of 'yabyum' is one that is not only mysterious in the beginning of the story, but also even more mysterious as it is 'revealed' to Ray.

Part 1: How is the idea of yabyum defined by Japhy?

Part 2: How is Ray introduced to the idea of yabyum?

Part 3: Does yabyum seem to be truly experienced by these men? Or is it just an excuse to have sex as often as possible? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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