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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 Skip do after finding Thurber's body?

2. What question does Black ask Sloane that she refuses to answer?

3. Who assumes command after Nora and Bill leave the city of Quivira?

4. What do the skinwalkers do in their attack?

5. How large was the disk on the Kiva?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Smithback and Nora escape?

2. What surprises Sloane after she kills the skinwalker that chases her and Nora up the tower ladders?

3. What does John do after he saves Nora and Bill?

4. What does Sloane conceal from Nora and how does Black react?

5. What do the designs on the black on yellow micaceous pottery reveal?

6. How does the flash flood announce itself?

7. What had Sloane's father surmised regarding the few small shards of black on yellow micaceous pottery he had been able to study?

8. How does Sloane test Nora's authority yet again?

9. Who grabs Nora from behind when she goes to check whether or not Sloane had killed Smithback?

10. Why is Swire angry when Nora and Bill return to Quivira?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the story, there are examples of forces of good and evil. What are they? Categorize first the good and then the evil, by name and by deed or many deeds. How do they balance out? How does that compare with real life and the forces of good and evil? (Use your own life as a gauge.)

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

Black and Sloane both report the day's weather as being clear for the day when they have both witnessed evidence to the contrary. Each has different reasons for their omission. Explain them. Why is Sloane so determined to stay? What motivates Black's behavior? It is easy to see that neither is motivated solely by the desire to explore the Kiva, so what is the common factor that is behind their omission? (Nora is motivated by the same desire when she is determined to leave but each has different focal points)

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample