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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. When Castaneda realizes it is time to land, he floats down like a ____________.

2. How many buttons does Mescalito tell Castaneda to consume after Castaneda calls the name Mescalito has given him?

3. What does Matus order Castaneda to do once he slumps to the floor, unable to breathe?

4. Castaneda believes he has succumbed to the first enemy of man of ____________.

5. What would have happened to Castaneda had he moved from his beneficial spot on the porch?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Castaneda hide from after he consumes one more button after talking with Mescalito?

2. What does Castaneda do when he realizes the figure walking out of the house is not his mentor?

3. Describe what happens to Castaneda on the first night of his peyote ceremony.

4. What does Matus urge Castaneda to do before smoking again?

5. What do Matus and Castaneda do with the gray jelly while the second portion is prepared?

6. What does Castaneda recall after already spending 90 minutes looking for lizards?

7. What does Castaneda see when he wakes up beside his plant?

8. Describe the details of Castaneda's final encounter with Mescalito.

9. When he is called with "Hey boy!" why doesn't Castaneda come into Matus' house?

10. Where does Castaneda wake up during his last night of smoking the mixture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A skeptic might have troubles believing the events which take place in this book, according to Castaneda's notes.

Part 1: Describe one peyote experience of Castaneda's.

Part 2: Do you think these events Castaneda documented actually happened? Why or why not?

Part 3: In what ways do you think Castaneda could have made his descriptions more convincing? Or is what he wrote enough?

Essay Topic 2

In the world around them, Matus and Castaneda become aware of signs and signals that tell them whether or not they are on the right path.

Part 1: Cite three examples of signs Matus and Castaneda see in the world around them. What do they mean?

Part 2: Why do you think Matus trusts nature so much to tell him what he needs to know?

Part 3: In what ways do people today look to nature to help them make decisions about their lives?

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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