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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. Who is Fred Sherman?

2. What is the Kachina Masaw?

3. What about Jim Chee does Bernadette Manuelito remember?

4. What does Louisa tell Joe that he should have thought about himself?

5. Who does Joanna bail out of jail?

Short Essay Questions

1. At this point in the story, do you believe it when Joanna says that she seeks only her father's arm to end his pain in the afterlife and is not interested in the diamonds?

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

3. How does Joe illustrate his thoughts about events arising from a complex and often invisible series of causes and effects?

4. What in this chapter may foreshadow a future event?

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

6. The fact that Sherman survives the shooting by Joanna could have several implications; name one of them.

7. What seems to be a likely foreshadowing of a coming event?

8. How are Chandler and Plymale archetypes of the type of white man that imposed their way upon Native Americans?

9. Why do you think the discussion of Kiva and Native American rites are included in Chapter 8?

10. Why do you think Hillerman introduces a character, Louisa Berbonette, in Chapter 5, who plays no part in the rest of the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bernadette Manuelito, or Bernie, for short is first introduced in this chapter and later evolves to be a major figure in the story. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Describe Bernie fully, including physical description and personality traits. Comb through the book looking for all the information you can find about her.

2. In chapter 28, when Bernie is reassuring Joanna, Bernie says that she is a policewoman; however, Bernie is no longer working as a cop. Do you think this statement foreshadows Bernie going back to work for the tribal police? What do you think this statement says about how Bernie sees herself?

3. Judging from Bernie's actions throughout the story, how good a policewoman do you think she was? Give examples to support your stance.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of themes that run as a thread throughout the novel. 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. Trace the development of the theme that "events and things in the universe are ultimately connected" (as explained by Joe in chapter one): . Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of the existing political situation during this novel.

2. Trace the development of the theme of greed. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of the how the concept of duality manifest in character personalities and in the physical setting.

3. Trace the development of the theme of violence. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis as to why this theme is central to the novel's plot.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 4, Chandler is meeting with Plymale at a private beach in the Caribbean. Chandler enjoys and envies the luxury in which he is basking, thinking it should be his by birthright. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What is envy? Do most humans experience envy at some point in their lives? What is a healthy way of dealing with envy?

2. How does Chandler deal with his envy? Do you agree with him that he should have all his material wants fulfilled because of having been born in a wealthy family? Should anyone born into a wealthy family be supplied with everything s/he wants? Why or why not?

3. Is it accurate to say that envy is one of the things that ultimately kills Chandler? Why or why not? Can something such as envy lead to one's death or unhappiness? Explain.

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