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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. Why does Brennan stay on the road when running near Fort Bliss?

2. What does Brennan use for cover when he approaches the canyon?

3. What does Brennan tell Homesley when Homesley guesses Brennan found some information?

4. What does Brennan do with the skull to check out his theory on it?

5. To what did Brennan's activities with Mr. Homeley lead?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was written in most of the reports in the boxes?

2. With what does Brennan become obsessed and what starts happening to him?

3. Where is Brennan by morning and what does he find there?

4. What does Mr. Homesley say about the second source of information?

5. What is suggested about why the person to whom the skull belongs was killed and what suggestion is made for Brennan to find more information?

6. What kind of relationship do Brennan and Mr. Homesley end up having?

7. What was in a letter from a school Brennan finds?

8. Why does Brennan think the skull belonged to a young person?

9. What does Brennan do when he first arrives at his destination and what is he told? What is his response?

10. Where does Brennan meet Mr. Homesley, who do they see there and what does that person tell them about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes Canyons interesting. Discuss the following characters:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Brennan. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Coyote Runs. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Brennan's mother. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Brennan is no exception. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze situations when Brennan demonstrates his intelligence and good work ethic. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Brennan's character flaws offering specific examples of these flaws in your discussion.

3. Discuss how you think Brennan's admirable traits makes him do what he does with the skull. Have his flaws impacted his life? How do his flaws influence his handling of the skull?

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Canyons is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 909 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample