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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. According to the conversation that takes place in Chee's hospital room, who believes that Dillon Charley is responsible for the oil well explosion?

2. According to the newspaper articles Chee and Mary read at the library, how many people were originally believed to have died in the explosion?

3. What is Mary Landon's occupation?

4. As Wolf drives away from the malpais, how much over the speed limit does Wolf drive?

5. How does Wolf travel to his final destination after he leaves town following Chee's shooting?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Wolf kills the person who approaches him as he reaches Chee's floor, why does the murder not cause any alarm on the floor?

2. When Chee learns that the final roustabout has died, why does Chee want to see the body?

3. What is the goal of the Navajo Way?

4. When Chee has trouble sleeping and sneaks out of his hospital room, why does he visit the area he goes to?

5. After shooting Chee at the malpais, why does Wolf decide to go after both Chee and Mary?

6. Why does Chee not simply leave his room when he sees that Wolf is in the hospital?

7. What does Chee learn from the Albuquerque police officer about the killer when the cop comes to Chee's hospital room?

8. When the sheriff questions Chee in Chee's hospital room, what does the sheriff ask Chee to do?

9. When Chee and Mary find an article discussing the arrest of Dillon Charley in the days after the explosion, what is NOT mentioned?

10. What does Chee find when he exits his hiding space after the killer has left?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

There is no doubt that Gordo Sena is greatly affected by the events the death of his brother. Discuss how his brother's death and the events thereafter affect not only Sena's worldview but also his determination to find exact vengeance on his brother's killer. How do Gordo Sena's experiences affect his mental state, his ability to serve as sheriff his community, and his willingness to help Chee?

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