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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. Who is not to participate in the cutting or in the digging of the plants?

2. What is the name of Castaneda's teacher for the duration of the book?

3. What is repulsing and frightening to him in one of the places he has marked?

4. What are honguitos, the things Matus and Castaneda have to travel five days in order to find?

5. What is Castaneda studying at the University of California, Los Angeles?

Short Essay Questions

1. Two years after accepting an apprentice, what does Matus prepare to do with Castaneda?

2. What are the differences between the male and the female Jimson Weed plants?

3. What does Castaneda do with the dog he sees while he is taking the mescalitos?

4. What does Castaneda begin to experience by the sixth cycle of taking dry buttons?

5. Which spot is the spot that Castaneda feels most comfortable and happy?

6. What area does Castaneda mark with his jacket?

7. What is the test Matus has for Castaneda in order to determine if he dares to meet Mescalito?

8. Once someone knows Mescalito well, what does 'he' appear as?

9. Where are Castaneda and the six Indians driving to when he arrives at Matus' home on August 4, 1961?

10. What area does Castaneda mark with his shoe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sometimes the experiences Castaneda has during this story are seemingly times when he goes mad or loses control of his senses.

Part 1: Describe the scene in which Castaneda is playing with the black dog.

Part 2: Do you think this black dog is real? Why or why not?

Part 3: What are some other explanations for the presence of the black dog in this scene?

Essay Topic 2

In the world around them, Matus and Castaneda become aware of signs and signals that tell them whether or not they are on the right path.

Part 1: Cite three examples of signs Matus and Castaneda see in the world around them. What do they mean?

Part 2: Why do you think Matus trusts nature so much to tell him what he needs to know?

Part 3: In what ways do people today look to nature to help them make decisions about their lives?

Essay Topic 3

The work with Mescalito is intense and in the end quite satisfying for Castaneda.

Part 1: Describe two of the experiences Castaneda has with Mescalito.

Part 2: Does Mescalito seem to be helping Castaneda in his questions and in his lessons? Why or why not?

Part 3: Is Mescalito a separate entity or is it something that is within Castaneda? How did you come to your answer?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 640 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample