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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 is the condition for Fleck receiving his money owed him?

2. Why does Leaphorn go out into the snow?

3. Why does Leaphorn decide to go to Washington, D. C.?

4. Who is Captain Largo?

5. Who has Janet seen repeatedly?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is so mysterious about the body in the desert?

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

3. How do the members of the tribal council feel about the proposed bypass? How does Tamana think he can get elected to the council?

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

5. What does the letter Chee receives from Mary reveal?

6. What is Jim Chee's response to Mary's letter?

7. Who picks up Chee at the airport and what does he observe about the men?

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

9. Describe what Joe Leaphorn finds at the crime scene Kennedy asks him to investigate.

10. What does Janet Pete tell Jim Chee about a man in a Chevy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Choose two incidences in Talking God and compare/contrast the way the Navajo culture and the western, white culture view those incidents.

2. Write an argument/persuasion essay addressing the idea of assimilation versus a group keeping their own culture when they live within a larger culture.

3. Conduct 2 interviews of Native Americans or persons from a different culture who have moved to the United States and ask them about the idea of assimilation versus merging into the predominent culture of the United States.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of death. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with death? Why? What are some symbols of death? How much does this theme contribute to the plot of the story?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of mental/emotional illness. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why? Can the characters who seem mentally ill change? Why or why not?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of camaraderie within the ranks of cops. Why is this camaraderie important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon the camaraderie or feeling of belonging? Who? Why? What are the positive and negative sides to cops having such a closed fraternity? What other organizations maintain a close adhesion? Do they do so for the same reasons as cops do?

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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