2. Why does Bernie know how to use the pistol?
(a) She says she is a policewoman.
(b) She served in the Army branch of the military police.
(c) She learned shooting from her grandfather.
(d) She just got certified to carry a concealed weapon.

3. Why is Bernie so excited about her find?
(a) She thinks the money from the diamonds will help the Hopi.
(b) It is stuff that will clear Billy Tuve.
(c) She will be very wealthy.
(d) She knows Joanna is looking for the arm of her father.

4. What is Chandler's reply?
(a) She can use her charm to convince the woman not to hurt them.
(b) He hands her a gun.
(c) The woman obviously does not have a gun or she would have stopped them already.
(d) Joanna might become dangerous if she has her gun.

5. What are other significant finds that Bernie makes?
(a) Diamonds and Chandler's corpse.
(b) Diamonds and an arm bone.
(c) An arm bone and empty snuff cans.
(d) An arm bone and empty briefcase.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Bernie say that allays the old woman's fears?

2. For what else does Bernie ask?

3. Who does Bernie hear as she is about to leave the cave?

4. What does Chee see shooting out of the slot?

5. Who does Joanna encounter as she is walking up the slope?

Short Essay Questions

1. What seems incongruous about Bernie avoiding looking at the shaman?

2. What so you think is the significance in the different responses to the shaman's body between that of Chandler and Joanna?

3. What seems surprising in this story at this point in the book?

4. Why do you think Hillerman has Tuve disappear?

5. In Chapter 18, the Arizona death penalty is again mentioned as a reason to make a murder look accidental; does this seem like something a criminal would really be thinking?

6. After Joanna passes Chandler's hiding place, he calmly confronts her--why do you think she is so careless after having spotted Chandler on the canyon floor earlier?

7. What does Hillerman use Bernie for and why?

8. What do you think Joanna's decision to continue down to the canyon floor indicates?

9. What could be a more sinister reason for Chandler giving Joanne back the arm bone of her father?

10. How does Chandler unconsciously give away his intentions in the scene where he and Joanna discover the snuff cans?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,100 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample