Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. How much does Harv Kline want to charge Tim Harrow for fixing his vehicle?
2. If Tim Harrow shot and killed someone who was attempting to burglarize his home, how would he likely refer to his action?
3. Who built the rifle discussed in the novel?
4. What is the irregular mark called that is left on a bullet after it is cast?
5. What object rekindles in Cornish McManus the desire to build a masterpiece of a rifle?
Short Essay Questions
1. Describe how life in the American army forces is presented in the novel.
2. Cornish McManus is a superb gunsmith with great vision and skill. Describe his shooting ability.
3. The "sweet" rifle shoots a .40 caliber ball; most rifles of the period shot a much, much larger ball. Does the small caliber of the "sweet" rifle reduce its killing capability?
4. How long does Cornish McManus own his "sweet" rifle before he sells it?
5. Cornish McManus is astounded when his "sweet" rifle puts three balls into one ragged hole at thirty paces (about 75 feet) while shooting from a solid rest. By today's accuracy standards is McManus' rifle's performance astounding?
6. Is the "sweet" rifle evil?
7. What was the leading cause of death among American Revolutionary War soldiers?
8. What aspect of Cornish McManus's personality, that John Waynewright dislikes, allows him to build a "sweet" rifle?
9. Most gunsmiths would test their barrels early in the manufacturing process, to avoid wasting time finishing faulty barrels. Cornish McManus does not test his barrel until the entire gun is finished. Why?
10. In reading the novel, do you think of the "sweet" Rifle as a character or as an object?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Describe the process of loading a muzzle-loading rifle. Describe why John Byam loaded the rifle the way that he did.
Essay Topic 2
When rifle kills British officers, who is doing the killing--Byam or the rifle? When the rifle kills Richard David Mesinger, who is doing the killing--Harv Kline or the rifle? Why are the two situations different? Compare and contrast.
Essay Topic 3
The novel openly mocks Tim Harrow's personal philosophy that draws from firearms and American history, the United States Constitution, and Christianity. Do you think that these sources of information are suitable for mockery?
|
This section contains 622 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
