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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 is repulsing and frightening to him in one of the places he has marked?

2. How many years pass after accepting an apprenticeship does Matus prepare to initiate Castaneda to ally powers?

3. How many times do Castaneda and Matus repeat the cycle of taking peyote before Castaneda throws up?

4. What has happened to Matus that has caused him to not be on his porch one day?

5. Matus grows angry when Castaneda can not realize the dog is really ________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What area does Castaneda mark with his shoe?

2. What will happen if Castaneda does not receive his first 7 mescalitos from someone other than Matus?

3. Why is Matus not on his porch as usual on November 23rd, causing Castaneda to worry?

4. What are the four 'heads' of Jimson Weed, or Devil's Weed?

5. Which spot is the spot that Castaneda feels most comfortable and happy?

6. What area does Castaneda mark with his jacket?

7. What does Castaneda begin to experience by the sixth cycle of taking dry buttons?

8. Why does Carlos Castaneda want to work with Don Juan Matus?

9. What is the advice Matus gives to Castaneda as he is being tested to see if he is worthy of Mescalito?

10. What is the question Castaneda asks of the lizards as he was instructed not to ask anything personal the first time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between Matus and Castaneda is the guiding force in the story, each helping the other learn and grow in their understanding of themselves.

Part 1: Describe the relationship between Matus and Castaneda at the beginning of this book, before their work together begins.

Part 2: Compare and contrast the relationship between Matus and Castaneda from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. What changes?

Part 3: Why do you think Matus took Castaneda on as a student? What reasons might he have had outside of what he shared?

Essay Topic 2

One of the things many readers question about the book Castaneda writes is its validity. After all, the reader is not there to see whether these events actually took place.

Part 1: Cite some details in the story that might make a reader question the truthfulness of this story.

Part 2: Cite some details in the story that might make a reader more convinced the events actually took place.

Part 3: Does it matter if the events in the story actually happened? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

At many points of the story, Matus does not give Castaneda answers to his questions, leading to confusion and often frustration in Castaneda.

Part 1: List at least two questions that Castaneda asks of Matus but does not get an answer for.

Part 2: Why do you think Matus chooses not to answer some of Castaneda's questions, but does choose to answer others?

Part 3: Do you think Castaneda would learn more if Matus told him everything up front? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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