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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. How old is Nate?

2. What deal does Gabe make with the Elk Spirit in Part IV?

3. What machines are elk particularly afraid of?

4. What animals does Cassidy's girlfriend work with?

5. What does Cassidy keep in his thermos with the cash?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Cassidy shoot in Part IV, and why?

2. Who does Denorah see outside her eighth-grade geography window in Part III, and why is that person there?

3. What does Denorah particularly dislike about some of the names the other basketball teams call her team?

4. Why do Cass's dogs get so aggressive when Gabe drives up in his truck?

5. Why does Gabe suddenly leave the sweat lodge in Part IV?

6. Why does Cassidy become so angry at Gabe in Part IV?

7. Why does Gabe go to see Denorah right before the sweat ceremony?

8. Why are Cassidy's friends wary of his girlfriend Jo?

9. Why are elk afraid of trains?

10. What does Gabe take from his father's house in Part III?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How would you describe Jones's tone throughout the novel, and why do you think he strikes a hopeful note with Denorah's choices and actions at the very end of the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

While Jones explores the bond between the Elk spirit and her calf, he omits any exploration or mention of the mother-child relationships of his four main characters, Ricky, Cass, Gabe, and Lewis. Write an essay analyzing Jones's treatment of the theme of mother-child relationships.

Essay Topic 3

How would you describe Ricky's, Gabe's, Cassidy's, and Lewis's sense and style of humor within their close-knit group of friends? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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