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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 Leaphorn phone?

2. How does Tamana think he may be able to ensure his planned endeavor?

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

4. What does Fleck think is one thing about the Client's identity?

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. Who does Leaphorn wish he could talk over the case with and why can't he?

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

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

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

6. What does Anges Tsosie tell Joe Leaphorn when he questions her?

7. Describe Henry Highhawk's appearance at the Night Chant ceremony.

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Talking God, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Talking God, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy (or at least optimistic) note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Silent Prey and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Talking God is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Discuss one idea in Talking God that might influence your thinking.

Essay Topic 3

Talking God belongs to the detective/crime/mystery genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the detective/crime/mystery genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a suspense novel and a murder mystery?

4. Many in the world of academe do not see mystery as a serious genre, that its primary purpose is entertainment and not "worthy" of being studied by serious students of literature? Respond to that idea.

(see the answer keys)

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