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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. What does Dave tell Dixie Lee?

2. What is Charlie supposed to take?

3. Why does Dave go to see Mrs. Demarteau?

4. What does Dave do at the lake?

5. What does Nygurski say has been done to Dio?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Darlene goes over and takes care of Dave when he is ill?

2. How does Dave respond both analytically and emotionally to Darlene's death?

3. How is it obvious that Dave is starting to feel desperate?

4. What does Dave learn about Mapes and what does this information tell the reader about the man?

5. Why does Dave believe Darlene's life is in danger?

6. Why do you think Darlene's does not know much about the American Indian Movement, one of the most controversial and publicized Indian organizations, yet her last name (American Horse) suggests she is Native American?

7. Is Dave's response to Cletus taking Charlie out of the house ethical?

8. Why is Dave rushing to Cletus' home and what does he find?

9. What event foreshadows a future event in the book?

10. What does the Coroner tell Dave and how does Dave know Darlene was probably raped before being murdered?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dave visits a Blackfeet Indian Reservation to obtain information about possible murder victims. Discuss the following:

1. Why and when were Indian Reservations established? Were they moral? Just?

2. What do you think Indians at the time of the establishment of Reservations felt about them? How do you think modern-day Indians feel about Reservations?

3. How would you feel about living on a Reservation?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of violence.

2. Trace and analyze the theme of murder.

3. Trace and analyze the theme of greed.

Essay Topic 3

Both Dave and Dixie Lee have and/or have had a problem with alcohol. Discuss the following:

1. What constitutes being an alcoholic? What is AA? Why do you think Dave's wife "reminds" him in a dream to attend AA?

2. The twelfth step of AA is one of carrying the AA message to other alcoholics. Do you think Dave's agreement to allow Dixie Lee into his home under strict guidelines is partially a result of the concept of reaching out to other alcoholics?

3. Why do you think James Lee Burke chooses to have his primary protagonist be an alcoholic and attending AA meetings?

(see the answer keys)

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