View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. As Chapter 8 opens, what is Colton Wolf doing?

2. Where did one of the men presumed dead in the explosion finally turn up?

3. When Chee goes to his office after visiting his predecessor, who has been trying to contact Chee?

4. When Wolf makes a cautious phone call, how does the person answering the phone identify himself?

5. As Chee drives into the desert, for whose home is Chee looking?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Chee, why do Navajos lack sentimentality about corpses?

2. According to what Chee learns from his predecessor, why did a group of roustabouts not go to work on the day the explosion occurred?

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

4. Why had the peyote church been outlawed by the Tribal Council?

5. Why does Wolf's employer send Wolf to the university campus?

6. According to what B.J Vines tells Chee, why does Vines believe the box was stolen?

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

8. As Chapter 8 opens, for what is Colton Wolf waiting?

9. When he reaches the university campus, why is Wolf dressed as though he works for a mortuary?

10. After Rosemary questions Chee on how well he knows Navajo "religion," what does Rosemary ask if Chee knows anything about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the people interested in the outcome of Chee's investigation, especially once the oil well explosion figures prominently in his questions. Compare and contrast these people in terms of their motivations, ability to plan, ability to manipulate, and success achieved. How are they similar? How are they different? Did any one person end up influencing Chee more than the others? If so, who and why? Support your answer with examples from the story.

Essay Topic 2

One of the main themes is this novel involves honor.

a. Identify three characters that are honorable in their actions. For each character, describe an instance in which the character acted honorably.

b. Why do these characters try to be honorable?

c. What is the outcome for these characters? Were they successful in their endeavors or would they have been more successful if they had not taken the honorable route? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main desires of B.J. Vines (a.k.a. Carl Lebeck) - the reasons behind his grand scheme. For each demand, tell Vines' reasoning behind the desire and what Vines hoped to ultimately accomplish or gain through his actions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 703 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample