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. Where does Brennan leave Coyote Runs' skull?

2. What does Mr. Homesley say about God and beetles?

3. What does the voice in Brennan's head tell him about snakes?

4. How does Brennan feel about the dark as he is running?

5. What does Brennan use for cover when he approaches the canyon?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does the commander answer in response to the letter in question #49? What does Brennan conclude from this report?

4. What was written in most of the reports in the boxes?

5. What is suggested about why the person to whom the skull belongs was killed and what suggestion is made for Brennan to find more information?

6. What incident with Mr. Homesley does Brennan recall when he thinks of talking to him about the skull?

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

8. What does Brennan learn about the probable age of the person to whom the skull belongs?

9. What reason comes to Brennan when he thinks about keeping the skull?

10. What happens as Brennan climbs some rocks and what is his response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Canyons is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 936 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample