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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 kind of saddle does Magpie own?

2. What did Brennan think was the reason the kids were so bad?

3. What does Coyote Runs quickly realize in the chaos?

4. What does Brennan's employer like to talk about?

5. What does Coyote Runs call a match for lighting a fire?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How hard is Brennan's job and what does his boss talk about?

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

4. Where does the van in which Brennan is riding stop and then what do they do?

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

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

7. Why does Brennan work and for whom does he work?

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

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

10. Why is the event in question #1 significant to Coyote Runs and how has he prepared for this event?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Brennan worries about his mother being hurt by the men in her life.

1. With research, define the term, co-dependent and discuss whether the term could be applied to Brennan in relation to his mother.

2. Do you think a fourteen-year-old boy would notice some of his mother's feelings Brennan seems to understand in this book? Why or why not?

3. In relation to Brennan and his mother, does Brennan seem to be more the adult than his mother? Why or why not? Use examples from Canyons to support your answer.

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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