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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 the second man put into the bed of the truck?

2. What does the man who illegally parked his truck leave in the truck?

3. As Chee takes Mary home, whose truck is still parked in the auction's parking lot?

4. Whose brother was killed in the explosion at the oil well?

5. Under what name does Colton Wolf rent the vehicle he gets once he leaves his trailer?

Short Essay Questions

1. As the reader is first introduced to Jim Chee, what season is just beginning according to the traditional calendar of Dinee?

2. According to what Charley tells Chee, what is contained in the missing box?

3. When asked by Chee, why does B.J. Vines claim that Sena dislikes Vines?

4. When Chee finally finds the home of the person he's looking for, Chee is asked to pass on a message. What is the message?

5. What is the malpais?

6. Why does the Vines' house puzzle Jim Chee?

7. As the reader is first introduced to Jim Chee, why does Jim Chee not have his winter coat with him?

8. As Chapter 8 opens, why is Colton Wolf working on his guns?

9. Describe the second person who illegally parks the car in the parking lot while the bacteriologist watches from her window.

10. According to what Vines tells Chee, who does B.J. Vines believe is responsible for the oil well explosion and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast how the character of Mary Landon changes as the story progresses. Be sure to include your assessment of Mary's character when she first meets Jim Chee at the auction, when she accompanies Chee to the malpais, when she appears in Chee's hospital room offering to help him, and when the story ends. Use examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast B.J. Vines and Gordo Sena.

a. How are the two characters similar? How are they different?

b. Compare the role that justice plays in each of their lives. How is each character affected by the concept of justice - both positively and negatively?

Essay Topic 3

B.J. Vines seems to be a man who is supremely confident in his ability to come out on top. Identify at least three instances from the story that highlight his confidence. How is Vines helped by his utter confidence? How is Vines hurt by his confidence? Provide examples of each.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 705 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample