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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 abandons Joanna?

2. What does Bernie say that allays the old woman's fears?

3. Why is Joanna reluctant to climb off the ledge when Bernie thinks it is safe?

4. Who knows that Billy is with Sherman?

5. What is Chandler's reply?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is Bernie's assurance about Chandler highly ironic in the scheme of the history of Native Americans?

3. In Chapter 18, the Arizona death penalty is again mentioned as a reason to make a murder look accidental; does this seem like something a criminal would really be thinking?

4. 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?

5. What seems surprising in this story at this point in the book?

6. What might be the implications of Bernie and Chee's relationship from the way they are interacting at the end of Chapter 28?

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

8. After Joanna passes Chandler's hiding place, he calmly confronts her--why do you think she is so careless after having spotted Chandler on the canyon floor earlier?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 12, Louisa says she heard many new myths mixed with the old ones, about bodies and things falling out of the sky from the plane collision. She notes that such modern "contamination" of ancient myths is the bane of anthropologists everywhere. 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 are some of the Hopi and Navajo myths and how do they attempt to explain situations in the lives of the Native Americans?

2. Does the white American culture have its own myths? What's the difference between a myth and an urban legend? Why are there not perhaps as many myths in white culture as in the Native American culture? Do you think cultures who are not Christian see the story of Jesus as a myth?

3. Does your family have any of its own myths? Sometimes an anecdote that is old enough takes on the proportions of a myth. Are there any such anecdotes in your family history that has done so? What about in your community? Are myths necessary in this modern world?

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

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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