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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. Why is Joe Leaphorn restless?

2. Who is Hal Simmons?

3. What does Joanna do when she observes Billy get in a car with someone and leave?

4. What saves Jim from a crazy woman who believed him to be a skinwalker?

5. What does the new law enforcement file contain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Joanna say that gains Billy Tuve's attention and why?

2. 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?

3. Why do you think Hillerman stereotypes characters such as Chandler and Plymale, making them one-dimensional?

4. At the beginning of Chapter 1, what is there that would clue the reader in on the possibility that this book will be based upon a flashback to an earlier date?

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

6. What about the difference between white and Native American culture does Hillerman seem to be again emphasizing. Why do you as a reader respond to this obvious stereotyping?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 2, Joe reflects on his boredom since retirement, upon the idea of mortality, and at having lost some many friends to that mortality. Choose one of the following and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What do you think are the causes of Joe's boredom? Do you think he is so one-sided that he cannot find other things that interest him besides police work? Do you think that is psychologically healthy? Do you know of anyone who after retiring seems to mope around and is bored? Explain their situation. What would you say to them? Would you say the same to Joe?

2. The old Shaman man seems to never have retired from his "job" as Shaman--not until he dies. The Shaman is what is job is--in other words, if you ask him who he is, he might reply "I am the Shaman for the tribe." If you ask him what he does, he would probably say the same thing. Western culture tends to separate who one is with what one does; whereas, aboriginal cultures blur the boundaries more. Compare and contrast the two ways of identification. State possible advantages and disadvantages of both ways.

3. It is an oft-recorded phenomenon that some men (and occasionally women) will retire and then die fairly soon thereafter, even if they are healthy when they retire. Discuss this idea fully giving your thoughts about it as well as researching the idea and presenting what experts say.

Essay Topic 3

Chandler and Plymale are the personification of greed and cruelty, as well as icons of the worst attributes of the white men who imposed their values on the peaceful Navajo and Hopi as seen in their conversation in chapter 4. Each character is a one-dimensional personification of a single human characteristic or passion. While this device might be criticized in other works, Hillerman does a good job of using it to support his theme of cultural contrast between western and Native American societies. 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. Discuss the literary technique of personification. How is it used? When is it appropriate? What is the purpose in general of personification? Do you find it to be an effective technique?

2. Show how Chandler and Plymale are personified. Does this hamper their being believable characters? Does either character ever break the boundaries of personification? How? When? Be specific.

3. What other characters could be considered personifications or archetypes? Consider both major and minor characters. Give examples and include why you think the personification is effective or not. Could Hillerman's point be made some other way?

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