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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 function does Janet Pete serve at her firm?

2. What does the doctor suggest to Anges Tsosie?

3. What shocks Perry when she opens the package on her desk?

4. To whom does Leaphorn show the photos of the dead man?

5. What is the condition for Fleck receiving his money owed him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Leaphorn find when he searches the luggage of Hilario Madrid- Perez for clues?

2. For whom does Janet Chee work and what is her relationship to her immediate supervisor?

3. What is Catherine Perry's thoughts about Highhawk's request?

4. What does Janet Pete tell Jim Chee when she calls him at his office?

5. Who has called Catherine Perry and what does she think he wants?

6. Where is Jim Chee planning to go on his vacation?

7. What ceremony is Jim Chee observing and why is he there?

8. What makes Leaphorn decide to travel to Washington, D. C. for his vacation?

9. What does Catherine Perry find on her desk and who does she blame?

10. What shocks Catherine Perry about the box on her desk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 of stolen artifacts. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of how the idea of stolen artifacts informs the entire 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 how greed seems to be more a part of the predominant culture of the United States versus that of the Navajo Indians.

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 2

One of the overlying themes in this book and indeed most of Hillerman's books is the differences between White, Western culture and that of Native Americans. 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. Choose two of the following areas and compare and contrast the White, Western culture with the Native American culture: religion, nature, politics/government, marriage, death, war, gender roles.

2. Using the entire novel of Talking God, write an essay on how you think Hillerman perceives Native American culture.

3. Using the entire novel of Talking God, write an essay on how you think Hillerman perceives white, Western culture.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Talking God.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Talking God. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Talking God. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

(see the answer keys)

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