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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 happens after Castaneda continues to try to cross his eyes, as Don Juan has instructed him?

2. Castaneda's problem, according to Don Juan, is that he compulsively _________ everything to everyone.

3. When Don Juan tells Castaneda to look into his eyes, what does Castaneda report that he feels when he does?

4. When Don Juan takes Castaneda on a hike, he tells him that plants can _______.

5. Castaneda concedes he is considered ________________, even though he never lies.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Don Juan do when the percolator makes a loud noise in response to something Don Juan says?

3. What does Castaneda think of the way that Don Juan lives?

4. What does Don Juan say the wind's identity truly is, rather than just being a part of nature's actions?

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

6. What does Don Juan's intimidating glance cause Castaneda to do before he approaches him again?

7. What does Don Juan do when he sees that Castaneda is not standing in a good spot?

8. Who is the funny bird that Don Juan wants Castaneda to remember from his youth?

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

10. Don Juan says that some people live happily because of one thing - what is this one state of mind?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One's personal history is something we are accustomed to thinking about, but Don Juan is insistent that people forget this in order to learn and to grow.

Part 1: How does Don Juan define the idea of a personal history? How does this differ from Castaneda's definition?

Part 2: Why is a personal history important to keep sacred?

Part 3: Why might a personal history get in the way of learning and spiritual growth?

Essay Topic 2

Searching for power sounds like a difficult task for anyone to do, but Don Juan leads Castaneda on the quest nonetheless.

Part 1: Why is a search for power important for Castaneda to learn in his studies?

Part 2: Why do you think the search for power is such an unpredictable experience?

Part 3: Do you think Castaneda already has power or does he have to search for it outside of himself? Why did you choose the answer you did?

Essay Topic 3

Within the search for power, Don Juan tells Castaneda he must also be accessible to power, which seems to go against previous lessons in some ways.

Part 1: Why is it important for a person to be accessible to power, according to Don Juan?

Part 2: How does being accessible to power conflict with the idea of being less accessible? Can you have both in your life? Why or why not?

Part 3: What is the purpose of being accessible to power? What are the benefits to Castaneda?

(see the answer keys)

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