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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 iss the purpose of most of the patrols around Fort Bliss?

2. What does Brennan fear will happen to the skull if the police get it?

3. What kind of officials are standing with Brennan's mother?

4. Where does Brennan meet Dr. Tibbets?

5. What does Brennan begin to have in Chapter 11?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Brennan do when he first arrives at his destination and what is he told? What is his response?

2. Where does Brennan meet Mr. Homesley, who do they see there and what does that person tell them about?

3. What does Brennan learn about the probable cause of death?

4. What kind of relationship do Brennan and Mr. Homesley end up having?

5. Where does Brennan hide the skull in his house?

6. Why does Brennan think the skull belonged to a young person?

7. Where does Brennan head and what does he do on his way out of town?

8. What was in a letter from a school Brennan finds?

9. What does Brennan read that he thinks may be relevant to the skull?

10. What film did thinking about the bullet hole remind Brennan of and why did he think of it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. What is the symbolism between Brennan's life and Coyote Runs' life?

2. With research define narrative contrivance and make a case for or against whether the fact it was a fourteen year old boy who runs found the skull and other contrivances, such as Brennan injuring his ankle just as Coyote Runs' ankle was injured from being shot.

3. With research, chose a group of people today who are experiencing the same type of genocide that the American Indian experienced in the 1800s. Discuss the differences and similarities between the two groups of people.

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

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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