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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. What led to the death of Cheryl's mother?

2. The California coast parallels the PCT more or less about how many miles away, according to the author in Chapter 6: “A Bull in Both Directions”?

3. Where did the couple offer to give Cheryl a ride to in Chapter 9: “Staying Found”?

4. How much money did Cheryl have with her as she re-started on the PCT from Sierra City in Chapter 9: “Staying Found”?

5. What is the highest peak in the contiguous United States?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe Cheryl's mindset as she returns to the PCT in Chapter 9: “Staying Found”?

2. How does Cheryl describe her early childhood and her biological father in Chapter 1: “The Ten Thousand Things”?

3. How does the author introduce herself and her mindset regarding her journey in the memoir's Prologue?

4. How long does it take Cheryl to reach Golden Oak Springs? How much time does she spend there in Chapter 5: “Tracks”?

5. What encounters with animals does Cheryl describe along her journey in Chapter 5: “Tracks”? What realizations do these encounters lead her to?

6. How does Cheryl describe her past relationship with Joe in Chapter 4: “The Pacific Crest Trail, Volume I: California”?

7. What happens when Cheryl goes to lift her backpack and set out on the hike in Chapter 3: “Hunching in a Remotely Upright Position”?

8. Where does Cheryl's hike of the PCT begin? What thoughts does Cheryl have upon arriving at her starting point in Chapter 2: “Splitting”?

9. What are the "last-minute" items that Cheryl remembers to bring as she sets out in Chapter 3: “Hunching in a Remotely Upright Position”?

10. What is revealed of Cheryl's past in the flashback to the Mayo Clinic in Chapter 1: “The Ten Thousand Things”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the aspects of gender roles and expectations in Wild. How does Cheryl perceive her own femininity in relation to the men that she meets on the trail? What are your thoughts on the perceptions of others as Cheryl makes her way alone as a woman on the trail? How is Cheryl treated differently than the male hikers?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Cheryl’s encounter with Frank, Walter, and Carlos in the reading. What were Frank, Walter, and Carlos doing when Cheryl found them? What fears did Cheryl face as she sat in Frank’s truck? Were these fears well-founded?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Cheryl’s references in Wild to American naturalist and author John Muir and the establishment of the Sierra Club. When was the Sierra Club founded? What was its mission? How does Cheryl describe her feelings about John Muir and his causes?

(see the answer keys)

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