View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Joanna ask Chandler to do?

2. Why does Chandler not grasp the branch with both hands to save himself?

3. Where does Chandler position himself?

4. Who knows that Billy is with Sherman?

5. Why doesn't Cowboy need any more water?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think Joanna's decision to continue down to the canyon floor indicates?

2. How does Chandler unconsciously give away his intentions in the scene where he and Joanna discover the snuff cans?

3. In Chapter 21, why do you think Chee is alarmed that none of the tracks comes back out of the canyon?

4. Why do you think Hillerman has Tuve disappear?

5. What seems surprising in this story at this point in the book?

6. How does Hillerman emphasize his attitude towards the "white man"?

7. When the old Hopi woman warns Bernie that she shouldn't be there, the woman then warms up to her; why do you think this is?

8. How is Bernie's assurance about Chandler highly ironic in the scheme of the history of Native Americans?

9. Why do you think Cowboy Dashee is part of this story since it seems he did not contribute much in previous chapters and he is now out of the story because of his ankle?

10. What does Hillerman use Bernie for and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 4, Chandler brings up the idea of "birthright." Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Research the term "birthright," and define it and give examples. How has the concept of "birthright" changed over the centuries?

2. Do you agree with Chandler that he should have all his material wants fulfilled because of having been born in a wealthy family? Should anyone born into a wealthy family be supplied with everything s/he wants? Why or why not?

3. What are other things one gets by "birthright"? What have you received by birthright? Are you happy with all of it? (Think of the term birthright in very broad ways). Can you change any circumstances that are yours by birthright? How would you do so?

Essay Topic 2

The image of rain and storm clouds are prevalent throughout the story and ultimately play a big role at the climax of the story. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Search through the entire novel and enumerate all the references to rain and storms. Do you think earlier references clearly point to what happens in the flood?

2. What is ironic about the rain and Chandler. Explain.

3. Is the fact that nature hands out the final judgment on Chandler something native Americans would believe is just? Why or why not? What about how whites might perceive the situaion?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of themes that run as a thread throughout the novel. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Trace the development of the theme that "events and things in the universe are ultimately connected" (as explained by Joe in chapter one): . Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of the existing political situation during this novel.

2. Trace the development of the theme of greed. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of the how the concept of duality manifest in character personalities and in the physical setting.

3. Trace the development of the theme of violence. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis as to why this theme is central to the novel's plot.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,403 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample