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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. Who is not to participate in the cutting or in the digging of the plants?

2. __________ is an untamable power, protector, and teacher.

3. The day after the sorcery, one must return to the ________ and ask the two participating lizards to come out again.

4. Who is Castaneda meant to meet face to face as a result of this test?

5. How many Indians are sitting on the porch when Castaneda arrives to meet with Matus?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do people keep Mescalito in a bag fastened around their arm or neck?

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

3. Once someone knows Mescalito well, what does 'he' appear as?

4. What question does Matus initially refuse to answer, saying that it is inappropriate for ordinary conversations?

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

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

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

8. What happens when Castaneda's guide and helper arranges a meeting between Castaneda and Matus?

9. Why does Matus declare all is well the next evening after Castaneda has taken the buttons?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The lessons Castaneda learns during this story are many, both from the medicines he takes and the discussions with Matus.

Part 1: List at least three lessons Castaneda has learned from his work with Matus.

Part 2: How has Castaneda changed as a person since beginning the work with Matus?

Part 3: Do you think Castaneda is forever changed by his experiences? Why or why not?

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

In the story, Castaneda is slowly led to the answers he is looking for, through the careful instruction by Matus. At times, the lessons are quite difficult and at other times, they can seem like common sense.

Part 1: Describe the process in which Castaneda has to collect the ingredients to make his own smoke.

Part 2: Why is it important for Castaneda to learn this long and drawn out process?

Part 3: Why do you think the process of learning about smoke mixture creation is so long and detailed?

(see the answer keys)

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