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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 Bernie not find in Louisa’s room in Chapter 2?

2. Where does Agent Cordova ask Bernie to have a meeting with him tomorrow when he calls in Chapter 9?

3. Where does Bernie’s mother’s sister live that she describes talking to in Chapter 4?

4. What is described on Bernie’s journey in Chapter 6 as “the little settlement west of Farmington”?

5. Bernie stops at a convenience store on the way to her mother’s house that is located where in Chapter 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reference to the novel’s title appears in Chapter 4? How is “Spider Woman” described?

2. How does Bernie come to witness the crime that takes place in Chapter 1? What does she witness?

3. What information does Chee learn from Mrs. Tsosie in Chapter 10?

4. What information about Leaphorn does Bernie relate to the FBI agent that arrives on the crime scene in Chapter 1?

5. What is an example of foreshadowing that takes place in Chapter 6? What does it foretell?

6. Why does Captain Largo tell Bernie to take a few days off work in Chapter 2?

7. What is the setting of Chapter 1? Who is in attendance at the meeting that takes place in this chapter?

8. What does Bernie learn from Joe Leaphorn’s neurologist in Chapter 6?

9. What information does Bernie learn from the office manager at the police station in Chapter 7?

10. How does Dr. Collingsworth respond to the contents of the envelope that Bernie delivers to him in Chapter 7?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Bernie’s findings for AIRC in Leaphorn’s computer files in Chapter 12. What does Bernie find interesting about Leaphorn’s report for AIRC? What exceptions are listed? Why are they noteworthy? How do these findings further the investigation and the plot of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the character of Jackson Benally and his interrogation in Chapter 8. Where does Jackson first say he was during the crime? How does his story change? Do any of Jackson’s alibis stand up for him?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the protagonist of the novel, Officer Bernie Manuelito. How does Bernie differ from the other protagonists of the Hillerman series? What “heroic” qualities does Bernie exhibit in the narrative? How does Bernie’s character evolve in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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