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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 do both Jim and Chee question about Joanna's purse?

2. What does Chandler have to do with Seattle?

3. Who is Fred Sherman?

4. Why do the Zunis have their rain dance ceremony before their rodeo?

5. How much was Billy's bail?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Hillerman use the story of the cat in Chapter 6 for more than one purpose?

2. What allusion to the allegory of Cat story is contained in Chapter 13?

3. What does the telephone conversation between Bernie and Chee say about their relationship?

4. The focus on the possibility of rain continues in this chapter; name several hints that the weather may play a role in the story.

5. What besides Billy's brain injury could be a reason for his inability to give a date of his Kiva ritual?

6. In a mystery, every sentence offers clues, either about the case or about the characters that are part of the case; what does the reader learn early on about Joe Leaphorn from one sentence?

7. How is the story about Cat an allegory for what Chee has encountered in his life?

8. How does Sam Pinto illustrate Joe's theory by enumerating a theoretical series of events?

9. How does the author introduce the Navajo setting and a little of their philosophy?

10. How is a Caucasian woman from New York related to a case that takes place on Navajo lands in New Mexico?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 3, Joanna Craig is introduced and a little about her is narrated. It becomes apparent that one of the driving motivations for her actions in the story is revenge. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. How would you define revenge? How often do you think people are motivated by the desire for revenge? What do you think is the effect of holding such a desire for a long time without fulfillment?

2. Explain why Joanna wants revenge and on whom. Do you think she is justified in seeking revenge? Is the taking of revenge ever justified?

3. How does Joanna plan to take her revenge on Plymale? Does it seem like a reasonable plan? What could go wrong? Do you think Joanna will be happier if she gets her revenge?

Essay Topic 2

One of the overlying themes in this book and indeed most of Hillerman's books is the differences between White, Western culture and that of Native Americans. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Choose two of the following areas and compare and contrast the White, Western culture with the Native American culture: religion, nature, politics/government, marriage, death, war, gender roles.

2. Using the entire novel, write an essay on how you think Hillerman perceives Native American culture.

3. Using the entire novel, write an essay on how you think Hillerman perceives white, Western culture.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 10, Sherman and Chandler discuss the details of the assignment from Plymale and decide that at the very least, Billy Tuve will have to be murdered, but it will have to be made to look like an accident because of the Arizona death penalty laws. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What is the death penalty as it exists in the United States? Do all states have the same laws? What are the death penalty laws at the present in Arizona and New Mexico? Is the death penalty administered fairly without regard to race, sex, religion, etc.?

2. Is the death penalty a true deterrent to murder? Why or why not? Is the murder rate per capita lower in the states that have and use the death penalty regularly? Would you be willing to inject, shoot, or electrocute someone yourself if they have received the death penalty?

3. How many people who have been executed under the laws of the death penalty have later been proven to be innocent? Does this change your opinion of the death penalty? What are some alternatives to the death penalty?

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