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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Chandler planning as he spots Joanna?
(a) How to make her murder look like an accident.
(b) To give her half the diamonds if she will leave the canyon.
(c) How to tortue information out of her.
(d) To hold her hostage to force Billy to talk to him.

2. What does Bernie order Joanna to do?
(a) Put her hands up.
(b) Be quiet.
(c) Turn off the flashlight.
(d) Sit down.

3. What are the two sets of tracks that Chee finds?
(a) One is a size 12 new hiking boots and one is a petite track, maybe Bernie's.
(b) A mama bear and her cub.
(c) A cougar and a man.
(d) An very lightweight woman and a dog.

4. How is Joanna feeling?
(a) Excited to finally be trying to do something about her father.
(b) Angry that storm clouds seem to be moving in.
(c) She is hot, frustrated, deflated and feeling sorry for herself.
(d) Scared.

5. Who does Bernie see cooling his feet in the river?
(a) An old man.
(b) Billy.
(c) A large, blonde man.
(d) Chee and Jim.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Chandler's reply?

2. After Chandler talks about his diamonds, what does Joanna think?

3. Whose voice do they hear?

4. What does Bernie demand?

5. What is important enough about the case to attract the FBI?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 21, why do you think Chee is alarmed that none of the tracks comes back out of the canyon?

2. In Chapter 16, the reader learns more about the Hopi legend of the Skeleton Man, for which the book is named; what is this legend?

3. What so you think is the significance in the different responses to the shaman's body between that of Chandler and Joanna?

4. What does Hillerman use Bernie for and why?

5. Why do you think Cowboy Dashee is part of this story since it seems he did not contribute much in previous chapters and he is now out of the story because of his ankle?

6. In Chapter 18, the Arizona death penalty is again mentioned as a reason to make a murder look accidental; does this seem like something a criminal would really be thinking?

7. After Joanna passes Chandler's hiding place, he calmly confronts her--why do you think she is so careless after having spotted Chandler on the canyon floor earlier?

8. What do you think Joanna's decision to continue down to the canyon floor indicates?

9. What seems surprising in this story at this point in the book?

10. What could be a more sinister reason for Chandler giving Joanne back the arm bone of her father?

(see the answer keys)

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