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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 does JPL stand for?

2. Why is that his first assignment?

3. How do the team members get to the beach with the horses?

4. What does Beiyoodzin tell them about the valley of Chilbah?

5. What about Smithback's arrival bothers Nora?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of gear was placed atop the rim of the canyon, way above Quivira and what was its purpose?

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

3. What two incidents in Chapters 1 through 8 suggest to the reader some kind of witchcraft or demonic forces are at work behind the scenes?

4. What is Zero Site Trauma and why is it important?

5. How does Nora want to fund the expedition to follow in her father's footsteps to Quivira?

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

7. What items are unusual in the cliff dwelling?

8. Skip went back to the farmhouse and picked up Teddy Bear after Teresa's death. Why did he do this, and what happened afterwards?

9. What does Aragon accuse Black of?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Why does the Nankoweap tribe avoid Chilbah Valley? How are they tied together? What factors are revealed in the book that would lead the reader to believe that there is a deeper connection between the Anasazi people and the Nankoweap people? What actual ties from one to the other are revealed?

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This section contains 1,000 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample