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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 Darlene tell Dave?

2. What does Dave begin to suspect?

3. What does Dave learn when he picks up Alafair?

4. Why do the police think Desmarteau leaves town?

5. What did Darlene have shortly before her death?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Tess Reagan tell Dave and do you think is response is ethical?

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

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

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

7. What happens at the lake and what does this incident reinforce to the reader about Dave's personality?

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

9. How does Mrs. Desmarteau receive Dave, and what does he learn?

10. What does Dave dream and what might the dream foreshadow?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dave is treated as an outsider by many of those at the Blackfeet Reservation and by Mrs. Desmarteau. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Dave is treated like an outsider?

2. Do you think most non-reservation people would find it difficult to elicit information on an Indian reservation? Why or why not?

3. Do you think if Dave had been Native American, even if not of the Blackfeet tribe, he would have been treated differently?

4. Why is it that most people view with suspicion those who are different from themselves? What is missed by this attitude? What is gained?

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of James Lee Burke.

2. What in Burke's background may have helped Burke in writing BLACK CHERRY BLUES? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

The two Native American murder victims are members of an organization called AIM (American Indian movement). Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly research and analyze AIM: include its goals, activities and effectiveness at obtaining its goals.

2. Analyze the incidents that took place at Wounded Knee in 1890 and 1973. How is AIM involved in the later incident? Was justice served?

3. Why is Clayton Desmarteau and his cousin killed? Does it have anything to do with their AIM activities? Explain fully. Were the two Native Americans justified in opposing Dio, Mapes and Vidrine?

(see the answer keys)

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