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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. Where does Leaphorn go to search Madrid-Perez's luggage?

2. What is in the letter that Chee opens in chapter 7?

3. Who is Mary Langdon?

4. What is the opposition to what one of McDermott's clients want to do?

5. What is Dalman, MacArthur, White and Herzog?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why hasn't The Client paid Fleck the rest of the money owed Fleck?

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

3. What is a possible break Leaphorn makes in the case as he revisits the scene at dusk?

4. What has Henry Highhawk asked the Smithsonian to do?

5. Why does Joe Leaphorn believe harmony has been restored in terms of the corpse in the desert?

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

7. What does Janet say about one of McDermott's clients who is a real estate developer?

8. What is Leroy Fleck's most pressing personal problem?

9. What is one source of cash for Fleck to help his mother and who does he contact about it?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Talking God is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Most mystery novels have an element of fear and suspense. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of fear in Talking God. Use specific examples to support your ideas. In what ways is fear felt? Who feels fearful? Why?

2. Why do you think many people enjoy getting scared? For example--in spook houses at Halloween or by reading mystery/suspense novels that contain an element of fear?

3. Is anything a character is afraid of within his/her control to change? What? Why do you think the character has not addressed those issues?

4. Discuss whether or not you enjoy the experience of being scared when you know it is not "real."

(see the answer keys)

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