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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 does Dr. Tibbets look like?

2. What subject does Mr. Homesley teach?

3. What does Mr. Homesley call the mixture he and Tibbets used in Vietnam?

4. Where do Mr. Homesley and Brennan take the skull?

5. Who does Mr. Homesley think they need to ask about the skull?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What happens when Brennan wants to stop for the night and what does he learn about snakes?

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

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

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

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

8. How long does it take for more information to come to Brennan and what does he do when Mr. Homesley calls about it?

9. What does Brennan's mother tell him she has done and what is his response?

10. What dream did Brennan have in Chapter 11 about an eagle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Brennan's mother has found the skull and called the police, taking the power of choice out of Brennan's hands. Brennan runs away and takes the skull back to the canyon.

1. Why do you think Brennan's mother called the police? Do you think this was a good decision on her part? Why or why not?

2. The above statement says that the call to the police took away Brennan's power of choice. Do you believe this is true? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Brennan was right to run away? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Canyons help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Canyons? Why or why not?

3. Choose one specific incident in Canyons to discuss and compare Brennan's response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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