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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 many dogs does Gary take to Alaska?

2. When does the Iditarod race start?

3. The Canadian dogs remind Ruth of what?

4. When does Gary start thinking like a dog?

5. What does Gary NOT do when he reaches the Finger Lake checkpoint?

Short Essay Questions

1. Gary writes in the Prologue, "Everything had been done wrong." What does he think he did wrong?

2. Describe Gary's experience with the campfire outside of Kaltag?

3. Why does the race start in downtown Anchorage?

4. What is the challenge of running from Koyuk to Nome?

5. In "Skwentna," describe the encounter with the moose on the way back to the true trail.

6. Why do you think the chapter is called "An End"?

7. What happens as Gary and his team are leaving Ophir?

8. What is Gary's dilemma about helping the other team at the beginning of the race? What does he decide to do?

9. Why does Gary stop trapping, killing, and hunting animals?

10. Describe the interchange between Gary and the old man in Unalakleet.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a summary of the book. Include highlights of training, highlights of Gary's first race, and Gary's overall experience with the race. Weave the text into a coherent essay with distinct paragraphs and with transitions.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's writing style. Be sure to discuss the person he uses, the tone, and writing techniques that he uses. What is the overall effect for the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the sacrifices made for the race by Gary, the dogs, Ruth, and Gary's son. Do you think they would say the sacrifices were worth it?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 944 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample