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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 tall tale does Tim Harrow make up about the "sweet" rifle that, unbeknownst to him, is actually true?
(a) That is was used to assassinate President Lincoln
(b) That it was used in the American Revolutionary War
(c) That it once was owned by Thomas Jefferson
(d) That is was used in the American Civil War

2. What is the twist rate of the rifling of the barrel of Cornish McManus' "sweet" rifle?
(a) It doesn't twist
(b) One turn in six inches
(c) One turn in thirty-five inches
(d) One turn in thirty-five yards

3. What event in American history does Tim Harrow know the most about?
(a) The Gettysburg Address
(b) The 9-11 terror attacks
(c) The amphibious assault on Tarawa
(d) Custer's last stand

4. In the rifle that Cornish McManus builds, what strikes a steel surface to fire the gun?
(a) The frizzen
(b) The hammer
(c) A piece of flint
(d) A fulminating cap

5. What major world event transpires while Cornish McManus builds his "sweet" rifle?
(a) The attacks of 9-11
(b) World War I (The Great War)
(c) The American Civil War
(d) The American Revolutionary War

Short Answer Questions

1. How many "sweet" rifles was an average gunsmith likely to make in their career?

2. Cornish McManus establishes a gunsmith shop near what major city?

3. John Waynewright often complains that Cornish McManus is too what?

4. What type of soldiers does John Byam prefer to kill?

5. After John Byam shoots his first British soldier, what group does he join?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Cornish McManus built his "sweet" rifle, what did he probably imagine it would be used for?

2. Describe how the British are presented in the novel.

3. The cover image of several common editions of the book shows a left-handed flintlock rifle. Does the book describe the rifle as being left-handed?

4. The last time he loaded his rifle, John Byam used an extraordinary amount of care during the process. Do you think he always was so careful when loading?

5. What types of uses is Cornish McManus' "sweet" rifle put to during the novel?

6. Imagine you are the "sweet" rifle. Who would you rather be owned by--Cornish McManus or John Byam?

7. Do you think that John Waynewright would have valued Cornish McManus's "sweet" rifle?

8. In reading the novel, do you think of the "sweet" Rifle as a character or as an object?

9. What was John Byam called in his day as a soldier? What would he be called today?

10. What was the leading cause of death among American Revolutionary War soldiers?

(see the answer keys)

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