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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 want to question?

2. Who kills a cop in Chapter 18?

3. What is one thing a brief newspaper article says about Elogio Santillanes y Jimenez?

4. Why does Highhawk wish to speak with Janet Pete privately?

5. Who comes and talks to Leaphorn at his hotel room?

Short Essay Questions

1. Besides a Yeibichai mask, what else does Chee find of interest in Highhawk's office?

2. Who does Fleck follow to the Smithsonian?

3. Why do Chee and Highhawk agree to meet at the museum?

4. What does Leaphorn observe about the handwriting on papers in the victim's luggage and what does he realize about one of the papers?

5. Whose body is found in some bushes and what is the cause of death?

6. What do the prosecutors offer Highhawk and what is his response?

7. With whom do Chee and Leaphorn meet and what does Chee tell the person?

8. How does Fleck's childhood lesson serve him while he is in prison and as a hired killer?

9. Describe Fleck's conversation with "The Client" after reading the newspaper articles.

10. What is the possible history of the Inca mask of the god Viracocha?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Janet Pete and John McDermott. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character? Do both seem to fit the image you have of what a lawyer is like? Why or why not.

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Talking God help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

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

Talking God, like most detective novels, involves the act of murder. Discuss the following:

1. What is murder? Is the act of murder always clearly murder?

2. Do you think the death of Leroy Fleck, who is a known murderer, is at all tragic? Why or why not.

3. Is murder ever justified? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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