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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. In what State penitentiary does Fleck do time?

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

3. What is under Highhawk's body?

4. About what do Chee and Leaphorn disagree?

5. For whom does Elkins work?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the conversation between Leroy and Delmar Fleck.

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

4. What happens while Highhawk and Chee are sitting in Highhawk's office and what does Chee do?

5. What is Fleck's association with Eddy Elkins and why does Fleck think of him in this chapter?

6. What does Chee conclude about the Yeibichai mask and how does he come to that conclusion?

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

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

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

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

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

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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