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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. Don Juan impresses Castaneda with his knowledge of the life habits of _____________.

2. Castaneda's mistake in not seeing his dream come to life is that Castaneda always thinks he has plenty of __________.

3. Don Juan tells Castaneda that one can stop ______________ at the drop of a hat.

4. Don Juan believes the _____________ is looking for Castaneda.

5. To be a hunter, according to Don Juan, one cannot have _________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Don Juan says it is not enough to know how to make or to set traps. What does one have to do in order to change?

2. What did Castaneda's father promise to do when he was young, though he never followed through on this promise?

3. What does Don Juan tell Castaneda to never do while he is walking?

4. What does Don Juan say to Castaneda when he asks how someone can drop his personal history?

5. What does Don Juan have to say about the process of learning about peyote?

6. What does Don Juan say is the reason why Castaneda is not quenched by walking with his fingers curled or of the leaves?

7. When the wind makes itself known to the men, what is the only way it seems to be able to die down?

8. What is Don Juan's assessment of Castaneda's feelings about himself and how they will affect his learning?

9. Why does Castaneda think Don Juan is crazy, like his friend seems to believe?

10. What is Don Juan's explanation for the look he gave Castaneda when he first met him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout this story are various omens that are meant to show Castaneda things about himself.

Part 1: Why are omens important in this story?

Part 2: Which omen is most important to Castaneda's learning? Why?

Part 3: Why do you think the crow continues to show up for Castaneda in this book?

Essay Topic 2

Don Juan is insistent that Castaneda must not want change because he doesn't seem to be changing much between their meetings.

Part 1: Why is it important to Don Juan that he see change in Castaneda?

Part 2: Do you think Castaneda really wants to change himself? Why or why not?

Part 3: Can a person avoid changing? Why or why not? Isn't change just a natural process that doesn't need to be instigated? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Death is something which appears in many forms in this book and Don Juan does not shy away from bringing up death in their training together.

Part 1: Why is it important to acknowledge the presence of death in this story?

Part 2: What can a person do when they acknowledge their own ability to die?

Part 3: Why do you think many people are afraid to acknowledge the possibility of death?

(see the answer keys)

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