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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 happens to Coyote Runs in the chaos after the raid?

2. How does Brennan feel about his father?

3. Where does Coyote Runs' tribe occasionally get beef?

4. How many soldiers approach Coyote Runs?

5. How does Coyote Runs think he must be on his quest to be a man?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Brennan notice as he is arriving at his house in Chapter 2?

2. What horse is Coyote Runs riding after the raid and what are his hopes concerning it?

3. What happens to Coyote Runs in the chaos after the raid?

4. How hard is Brennan's job and what does his boss talk about?

5. What was the school Coyote Runs' attended suppose to do for him?

6. What does Bill tell the children about and what is the name of the canyon near them that relates to his story?

7. What kind of school and where is it that Coyote Runs attended and who attended with him?

8. Why does Brennan work and for whom does he work?

9. Who does Coyote Runs' group encounter as they are heading to their destination, and how do they handle that encounter?

10. Why is Brennan annoyed while riding in the van? How does he feel about being there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Brennan worries about his mother being hurt by the men in her life.

1. With research, define the term, co-dependent and discuss whether the term could be applied to Brennan in relation to his mother.

2. Do you think a fourteen-year-old boy would notice some of his mother's feelings Brennan seems to understand in this book? Why or why not?

3. In relation to Brennan and his mother, does Brennan seem to be more the adult than his mother? Why or why not? Use examples from Canyons to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze one major theme of Canyons. Consider the following: How does one character's actions portray the theme you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to that theme? Is the theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

2. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Canyons. How does one character's actions portray the themes you are analyzing? How does the setting contribute to those themes? Is each theme one that you would call a "universal theme"? If so, what other book or novel that you have read also includes this theme. If not, why don't you think it is a "universal" theme?

3. What benefit is there in discussing and analyzing the themes of a work of fiction? Do you think most authors consciously develop themes in their works? Why or why not? Can there be accidental themes? What do you think is one possible "accidental" theme in Canyons? Which theme in Canyons speaks to you the most in your life? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Brennan becomes friends with Mr. Homesley, his biology teacher. This friendship changes Brennan's life.

1. Discuss some of the changes that occur as a direct result of Brennan and Mr. Homesley's friendship. Use examples from the book to support your discussion.

2. Based on the character of Mr. Homesley discuss what kind of a teacher he is and whether he is a typical teacher. Use examples from the book to support your discussion.

3. Discuss Brennan's response to Mr. Homesley in relation to the fact of Brennan not knowing his father. Use examples from the book to support your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

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