Questions on 'Black Cowboy, Wild Horses'

Where do both the opening and closing scenes of “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses” take place?

• on a wide, treeless plain

• on a cliff that overlooks a corral

• at the edge of a small frontier town

• in a dream that the main character has

In “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses,” what job sends Bob Lemmons out onto the plains?

• finding an injured colt

• capturing a runaway horse

• rounding up a herd of wild horses

• locating new pastureland for a herd of horses

Which statement is true about Bob Lemmons, according to “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses”?

• He can’t read words, but he can read animal tracks.

• He can’t ride a horse, but he can find herds of wild horses.

• He can’t read words, but he can write messages using pictures.

• He can’t read animal tracks, but he can round up wild horses alone.

In “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses” why can’t Bob Lemmons light a fire at night?

• The horses will see it.

• The horses will run from it.

• The horses will try to put it out.

• The horses will smell the smoke on him.

In “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses,” how does Bob Lemmons take control of the herd?

• He puts ropes on the horses and leads them to the ranch and into a corral.

• He has his horse defeat the stallion and take its place as the leader.

• He kills the rattlesnake and thereby wins the trust of the horses.

• He leads the horses into a ravine during a storm and traps them.

If an audience milled around before a speech, which of the following must be true? Base your answer on the meaning of milled.

• People were waiting quietly in their seats.

• People were standing in line for tickets.

• People were wandering around.

• People were applauding.

If a mouse skittered under a table, what did the mouse most likely do? Base your answer on the meaning of skittered.

• shook in terror

• dashed quickly

• tiptoed quietly

• munched noisily

Which of the following situations best illustrates the meaning of quivering?

• a sleepy child climbing into bed for the night

• a happy child dancing at a friend’s birthday party

• a nervous child waiting to go onstage for the first time

• a hungry child gobbling a bowl of macaroni and cheese

Read this excerpt from “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses.”

He looked down at the corral where the other cowboys were beginning the morning chores, then turned away and stared at the land stretching as wide as love in every direction. The sky was curved as if it were a lap on which the earth lay napping like a curled cat. High above, a hawk was suspended on cold threads of unseen winds. Far, far away, at what looked to be the edge of the world, land and sky kissed.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the environment described in the excerpt?

• The area is in a valley with farms all around.

• The area is very flat and spread out.

• The area is mountainous and cold.

• The area is wooded and hilly.

Reading the following excerpt:

He looked down at the corral where the other cowboys were beginning the morning chores, then turned away and stared at the land stretching as wide as love in every direction. The sky was curved as if it were a lap on which the earth lay napping like a curled cat. High above, a hawk was suspended on cold threads of unseen winds. Far, far away, at what looked to be the edge of the world, land and sky kissed.

Which of the phrases best summarizes/describes the environment as being very flat and spread out?

• beginning the morning chores; stared at the land

• sky was curved; earth lay napping like a curled cat

• stretching as wide as love in every direction; the edge of the world

• hawk was suspended; cold threads of unseen winds