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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 does Fleck want to photograph?

2. What is different between the list and the notebook in the luggage Leaphorn inspects?

3. How does Leaphorn learn the killer's address?

4. Whose body was discovered under some bushes?

5. Where does Highhawk take Chee?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who does Fleck follow to the Smithsonian?

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

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

6. Who comes to Leaphorn's hotel room and what do they want and how does Leaphorn handle the situation?

7. Describe the conversation between Leroy and Delmar Fleck.

8. What does Fleck read in the newspaper about Cardona and about the man Fleck murders in the desert?

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

10. What does the man who was the conductor on the Amtrak train which stopped in the desert in New Mexico tell Joe Leaphorn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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."

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Talking God is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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