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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 saves Nora Kelly from her attacker at the old family ranch?

2. Who does Smithback write for?

3. What is Smithback's job at Quivira?

4. What does Nora begin her meeting by telling Goddard?

5. What frightens Nora and Sloane as they proceed ahead to reconnoiter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nora have a hard time with the one condition that Dr. Goddard imposes?

2. Why does Nora ask that the expedition be kept a secret?

3. What does John Beiyoodzin call the people responsible for killing the expedition's horses?

4. What tradition did Nora's father follow from other early explorers such as Frank Wetherill?

5. Why was the ridge Nora was seeking called the Devil's Backbone?

6. What happens to Teresa Gozales and why?

7. Why does Nora discover only a single moqui step?

8. How does John tell them that a person becomes a witch?

9. What is the cosmography that still runs through most present day southwestern Native American religions?

10. What does Aragon tell the rest about the bones that were found in the crawlspace?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

With all that has been revealed so far, choose which truth is behind the city and its inhabitants. One theory is that an earthquake released a toxic spore from the earth and either killed or drove out the inhabitants. The other theory argues the possibility that with the amount of corpse powder being produced and used, an earthquake may have released it on an unsuspecting population, killing many and driving the rest out. Support your choice with facts taken from the book.

Essay Topic 2

As part of the deal that Dr. Goddard makes with Nora, his daughter Sloane is to be allowed to join the expedition. What is Nora's first impression of Sloane? What motivates Dr. Goddard to insist that she attend? What is his agenda? What conclusions can be drawn about his intentions based on his history, and through him, Sloane's intentions? What specific passages support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Skip Kelly is given work as part of Nora's deal with Dr. Goddard. Earlier, first impressions were discussed.

Part one: What first impression does Skip give? How is that in direct opposition to his actual character? What acts or actions define him throughout this story, and what are the differences between the character he reveals on first impression vs the character that he actually is?

Part two: What first impression do you think you give? How is that in opposition with who you believe yourself to be inside (if at all)? What is the reason for the discrepancy between the two?

(see the answer keys)

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