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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 NOT one of the things that Castaneda experiences by the sixth cycle?

2. If 'he' does not find Castaneda __________, their friendship would be lost.

3. What does Castaneda receive in order to mash and to soak it overnight?

4. Matus says he now knows that Castaneda has the __________ to meet challenges.

5. What is Castaneda studying at the University of California, Los Angeles?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. When Matus laughs at Castaneda's discomfort, what is the piece of advice he shares?

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

4. What are the differences between the male and the female Jimson Weed plants?

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

6. What does Matus not like about Jimson Weed, the next plant that Castaneda and he explore together?

7. What will a person gain if they take Datura's second portion at least twenty times?

8. What does Castaneda focus on the Indians' pre-contact use of, as illustrated by his experiences in this book?

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

10. After a year of sidestepping questions from Castaneda about Peyote, what does Matus account?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

The Jimson Weed is said to give its user feelings of power and of total domination over others, which can make men change in positive and in negative ways.

Part 1: How is power defined in relation to Jimson Weed? What kinds of power does the weed provide?

Part 2: Why is this feeling of power something that is harmful to those who utilize the weed?

Part 3: Why do you think this plant is used in order to teach students if it is also something which might corrupt them?

(see the answer keys)

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