View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is Coyote Runs going to the answer to question #75?

2. What does the event in question #1 mark for Coyote Runs?

3. What did Brennan think was the reason the kids were so bad?

4. What does Coyote Runs call the place he has gone to time after time to pray?

5. Who attacks the raiding party the day after the raid?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Where does the van in which Brennan is riding stop and then what do they do?

4. Where does Coyote Runs go after Magpie is shot, what has happened to him and his horse? How does that affect what he does?

5. Why can't Brennan sleep and why does he dig a skull out of the dirt?

6. How does Brennan feel about the person driving the van and how does he feel about the kids in it by the time they arrive?

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

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

9. What kind of gun does Coyote Runs have and what will he be doing with the people in question #6?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Brennan learns that the skull was murdered at close contact with a large rifle, a shot that was clearly murder.

1. Defend or refute the above statement. Was the killing of Coyote Runs murder or the carrying out of a soldier's duties?

2. During the course of any war there are soldiers who kill those who are not armed combatants. These killings are considered a war crime. Most soldiers charged with war crimes use the defense of following orders. Discuss under what circumstances you believe a soldier should refuse a direct order.

3, Discuss the possible reasons the soldier had for killing Coyote Runs. The obvious one is prejudice but there may be many emotional, physical, cultural and mental causes.

Essay Topic 2

Coyote Runs becomes afraid when Magpie is shot down. All of a sudden for him death is possible and life is uncertain.

1. Why do you think Coyote Runs is alarmed at the uncertainty of life? Use examples from Canyons to support your answer.

2. Have you ever felt that life was scary because it was uncertain? Why or why not?

3. What are some of the things you think are absolutely certain about life and what are some that you think are completely uncertain?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Canyons is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 925 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample