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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 does Chandler do when Joanna passes his hiding place?

2. What does Chandler surmise about Joanna?

3. What do the two woman hear as they ease off the ledge?

4. Where does Chandler position himself?

5. Who does Joanna spot on the canyon floor by the river?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think may be Chandler's ultimate end in this saga?

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

3. How does Hillerman emphasize his attitude towards the "white man"?

4. What is incongruous in Chapter 26 that conflicts with something narrated in Chapter 14?

5. Why do you think Chandler gives Joanne back the arm bone of her father?

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

7. What theme seems to come to fruition in this chapter?

8. When the old Hopi woman warns Bernie that she shouldn't be there, the woman then warms up to her; why do you think this is?

9. Do you see any difference between Chandler and Joanna at this point; after all, she agrees to a "partnership" with him?

10. What reveals Bernie's training as a tribal police woman?

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

Getting the most out of this novel requires some familiarity with the Hopi and Navajo cultures. 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. Who are the Hopi? What are some of their beliefs? How do the Hopi live in today's world?

2. Who are the Navajo? What are some of their beliefs? How do the Navajo live in today's world?

3. How do the Navajo and Hopi cultures inform the plot and actions of this novel? Give examples.

4. Compare and contrast the cultures of the Navajo and Hopi.

Essay Topic 3

As the novel opens and then moves along to its conclusion, some characters seem to be more different from each other than first appears and some seem more alike to each other than first appears. Choose one of the following and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Compare the character of Chandler from who he seems to be during the first half of the book to the person he seems to be in last half. How is he alike? How different? Which "person" do you like the best? Why?

2. Compare the character of Joanna Craig from who she seems to be during the first half of the book to the person she seems to be in the last half. How is she alike? How different? Which "person" do you like the best? Why?

3. Compare and contrast Bernie, Chee, and Joe from who they seem to be when they are first introduced to who they are revealed to be by the end of the story. How much do they either change or become who they really are? Who did you like at first and then dislike by the end of the story--and vice versa? Which of the three characters seems to change more? Why?

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