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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. Where are the Indian warriors going in Chapter 3?

2. Why does Coyote Runs believe he can escape bullets?

3. Where does Coyote Runs try to hide from the soldiers?

4. What friend of Coyote Runs attended school with him?

5. What does Brennan like to do for fun?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the event in question #1 significant to Coyote Runs and how has he prepared for this event?

2. When does Coyote Runs' group travel and where do they stop to rest?

3. What does Brennan suggest at the camp site to settle the children?

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

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

6. What does Brennan do immediately with skull and what is his guess about it?

7. What does Coyote Runs believe about him and bullets and what does he do after catching up with the rest of the raiding party?

8. How does the soldier find Coyote Runs and what happens when he finds Coyote Runs?

9. What happens to the group of warriors the day after the raid?

10. Where does Brennan's mother tell him they are going and with whom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Canyons, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Brennan returns home from the camping trip and finds himself obsessed with the skull. Brennan has many dreams that are not of experiences he has ever had, making Brennan wonder if perhaps there is some kind of connection between him and the skull.

1. There seems to be an implication here that the dead can talk to the living in dreams. Do you believe this is true? Why or why not?

2. Do you think Brennan's reaction to the skull and the dreams is the way most 15-year-old boys would react? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Brennan's reaction to the skull and dreams is reasonable and believable? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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