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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. To whom does Colton Wolf talk at the hospital to confirm the information he received during the cautious phone call?

2. According to Chee's predecessor, who might have taken the missing box from the Vines home?

3. What kind of vehicle does Wolf rent once he leaves his trailer?

4. How much time elapsed between the explosion at the oil well and when the first deputy arrived on the scene?

5. Where does Wolf go when he reaches the university campus?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. According to what Chee learns while visiting his predecessor, how did the People of Darkness get their name?

3. What is the malpais?

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

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

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

7. How did the explosion at the oil well occur?

8. When Colton Wolf receives a letter at the beginning of Chapter 8, what is the subject of the letter?

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

10. According to Chee's predecessor, a relationship with the tribal police was destroyed after the oil well explosion. Describe the initial rift that caused the relationship to unravel.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Hillerman uses this story to examine the role that truth plays in our daily lives. Examine the author's beliefs through his storytelling. Why would the author choose this story to overlay his demonstration of the consequences realized when the truth is distorted or hidden? What did you learn from the author's discussion on truth? What other avenues, if any, could the author have used to express his beliefs? Would those avenues have been as effective as the story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the course of the novel, Hopi and Navajo traditions abound. In fact, these traditions and rituals become a main reason behind the story's plot. Identify at least three different Hopi or Navajo traditions that affected the plot and the lives of the characters involved in the story. For each instance, describe the ritual, the characters involved, and the way Hopi or Navajo traditions affected the story's plot. How might the story have been different if these traditions had not been a part of the plot? Explain your reasoning.

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