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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 idea does Eileen share with Sean?

2. Why is Sean hunting?

3. Who arrives at the party?

4. What does Juan warn Eileen not to do?

5. What does Francisco try to talk the other man into doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Eileen decide in order to "buy" time?

2. What do the voices say about Russell?

3. Why does Sean waken Mariana while they are on the trail and what does he tell her?

4. What happens to Russell after he leaves the cave?

5. Who are the men that Sean meets who Montero sends to help the Mulkerin family?

6. What noises do Wooston's men hear and why do they decide to wait until morning to confront Sean's group?

7. What does Silva tell Wooston that angers Wooston, and what concerns Machado and Russell?

8. What does Eileen order at the store and why?

9. What are Russell and Francisco doing in the mountains, and why does Francisco anger Russell?

10. What is the situation at the ranch when Eileen and the others arrive back there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadow are in "The Californios"? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in "The Californios" and include why you believe it is an example of foreshadowing. Include specific examples from the book.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from "The Californios" and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of themes that run as a thread throughout "The Californios". 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. Trace the development of the theme of superstition. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of how the idea of superstition informs the entire novel.

2. Trace the development of the theme of greed. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis of how greed seems to be more a part of the predominant culture of the United States versus that of native cultures.

3. Trace the development of the theme of violence. Use specific examples to illustrate how this theme is expressed. Analyze the examples and offer an analysis as to why this theme is central to the novel's plot.

Essay Topic 3

Many novels have an element of fear and suspense. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of fear in "The Californios". 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, some like the fear brought by spook houses at Halloween, terror movies or by reading mystery/suspense novels. Why?

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)

This section contains 1,053 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample