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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 does Joanna spot on the canyon floor by the river?

2. What are the two sets of tracks that Chee finds?

3. Where is Bernie going after finding the stuff in the cave?

4. What does the old shaman who lives on the side of the canyon claim?

5. What does Chandler surmise about Joanna?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Chee find that probably points to future events?

2. Why do you think Cowboy Dashee is part of this story since it seems he did not contribute much in previous chapters and he is now out of the story because of his ankle?

3. How does Chee view the Colorado river?

4. Why do you think Joanna avoids the violent death that may be awaiting Chandler at the hand of the water?

5. Do you think the scene of Bernie finding the diamonds and arm is anti-climatic and why?

6. In Chapter 16, the reader learns more about the Hopi legend of the Skeleton Man, for which the book is named; what is this legend?

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

8. In Chapter 21, why do you think Chee is alarmed that none of the tracks comes back out of the canyon?

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

10. What does Hillerman use Bernie for and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In Chapter 6, Bernie reflects upon when Chee adopts a cat that had been abandoned in the wilds. This story seems to serve two purposes. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Name the two purposes this story showing how the story serves to fulfill the purposes. How effective is the story in fulfilling its purposes?

2. How does this story make you feel about Jim Chee? Explain fully.

3. How many white people would have done the same with the cat as Jim does? Do you think Hillerman is a bit harsh in implying that whites in general are not as sensitive towards the animal kingdom as Native Americans?

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?

(see the answer keys)

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