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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 did Bill say they needed to do when they arrived at the springs?

2. What did the Mexicans call the desert near where Coyote Runs live?

3. What friend of Coyote Runs attended school with him?

4. What does Brennan do with the skull?

5. What is Coyote Runs' job on the raid?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Coyote Runs go after Magpie is shot, what has happened to him and his horse? How does that affect what he does?

2. How does the soldier find Coyote Runs and what happens when he finds Coyote Runs?

3. When does Coyote Runs' group travel and where do they stop to rest?

4. Where does Brennan's mother tell him they are going and with whom?

5. In Chapter 3, where is Coyote Runs going and who is he following?

6. What does Brennan do immediately with skull and what is his guess about it?

7. What is Coyote Runs told to do on the raid?

8. What happens to the group of warriors the day after the raid?

9. How does Brennan feel about the person driving the van and how does he feel about the kids in it by the time they arrive?

10. What does Coyote Runs believe about him and bullets and what does he do after catching up with the rest of the raiding party?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Coyote Runs becomes afraid when Magpie is shot down. All of a sudden for him death is possible and life is uncertain.

1. Why do you think Coyote Runs is alarmed at the uncertainty of life? Use examples from Canyons to support your answer.

2. Have you ever felt that life was scary because it was uncertain? Why or why not?

3. What are some of the things you think are absolutely certain about life and what are some that you think are completely uncertain?

Essay Topic 2

Brennan learns that the skull was murdered at close contact with a large rifle, a shot that was clearly murder.

1. Defend or refute the above statement. Was the killing of Coyote Runs murder or the carrying out of a soldier's duties?

2. During the course of any war there are soldiers who kill those who are not armed combatants. These killings are considered a war crime. Most soldiers charged with war crimes use the defense of following orders. Discuss under what circumstances you believe a soldier should refuse a direct order.

3, Discuss the possible reasons the soldier had for killing Coyote Runs. The obvious one is prejudice but there may be many emotional, physical, cultural and mental causes.

Essay Topic 3

Brennan's mother has found the skull and called the police, taking the power of choice out of Brennan's hands. Brennan runs away and takes the skull back to the canyon.

1. Why do you think Brennan's mother called the police? Do you think this was a good decision on her part? Why or why not?

2. The above statement says that the call to the police took away Brennan's power of choice. Do you believe this is true? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Brennan was right to run away? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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