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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. Ernesto Cata is one of the missing boys. What other name or role does the reader know Cata by?

2. In Chapter 9, what is the fetish that Leaphorn finds?

3. What language do words like Shulawitsi and Shalako come from?

4. According to Leaphorn, what are the colors of dry country autumn where he lives?

5. Who tells Leaphorn that kachinas are invisible unless you're about to die?

Short Essay Questions

1. Leaphorn talks to young Navajo neighbors of the commune about its inhabitants. What information do they give Leaphorn?

2. How do the four original men working this case react to Agents O'Malley and Baker?

3. What does "kachina" mean in Chapter 3?

4. What Navajo custom does Leaphorn honor when he arrives at the Bowlegs' hogan?

5. In Chapter 8, why does Leaphorn decide to return to Shorty Bowlegs' hogan?

6. The reader learns about a member of Leaphorn's family in Chapter 7. Summarize who it is and why this person is important to Leaphorn.

7. Describe Agent Baker and why his appearance doesn't match that of an FBI agent.

8. Leaphorn believes that George Bowlegs can survive easily enough in the wild until the snow comes. How does Leaphorn expect George to survive?

9. What kinds of tracks are found at the last place where Ernesto Cata is supposed to be?

10. What had happened the last time that Ted Isaacs had seen Ernesto Cata and George Bowlegs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Leaphorn is disturbed by the scene at the commune in Chapter 6. Instead of hippies and love and peace, he finds a leader wearing expensive boots who intimidates the teen girl who lives there. Although Susanne obviously cares for George and Ernesto, Halsey is obvious in his disdain of the boys and of the law or "fuzz." Leaphorn also finds another young man on a bad "trip" at the commune. How do these events foreshadow what Leaphorn learns at the end of the chapter?

Essay Topic 2

When Leaphorn is hit with the dart, he is able to realize that he must find a place to wait out the effects of the tranquilizer. The reader stays in Leaphorn's head as he hears the killer approach but is powerless to stop it. Although Leaphorn is also faced with hallucinations, he is still able to put more pieces of the puzzle together. What does this chapter tell you about Leaphorn's personality? If you were to meet him outside of his role as a police officer, what kind of man do you think he would be?

Essay Topic 3

Leaphorn's tells Pasquaanti who the killer is, knowing that the Zuni will exact revenge on the man. Why does Leaphorn do this? Do you think that as a law enforcement officer that this is an easy or difficult decision for him to make? Does Leaphorn have any regrets?

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