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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. In what direction are the crows going to fly, according to what Castaneda's vision told him?

2. Why does Castaneda feel embarrassed on the second night of the peyote ceremony?

3. What must like Castaneda very much because of where Castaneda placed the paste?

4. Where is Castaneda hiding when Matus hands him his clothes?

5. Castaneda waits all day for Matus to mention something about _____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Matus laugh at Castaneda as he tries to meet with his ally again?

2. What convinces Matus that the weed likes Castaneda?

3. What does Matus provide for Castaneda as they read themselves to test Devil's Weed again?

4. Where does Castaneda wake up during his last night of smoking the mixture?

5. Describe what happens to Castaneda on the first night of his peyote ceremony.

6. What does Matus urge Castaneda to do before smoking again?

7. Why does Matus believe the Devil's Weed must like Castaneda very much?

8. What does Castaneda hide from after he consumes one more button after talking with Mescalito?

9. Describe the details of Castaneda's final encounter with Mescalito.

10. What does Matus diagnose as Castaneda continues to feel shallow states of non-ordinary reality?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While Castaneda is in the role of the student in this story, he is also in the role of the researcher.

Part 1: Does Castaneda's need to collect information for his project get in the way of his work with Matus? How?

Part 2: Do you think Castaneda is biased in his work with Matus? Why or why not?

Part 3: How might Castaneda have better balanced his roles as a student and researcher in order to get more out of each role?

Essay Topic 2

There is a lot of ritual and ceremony in this book, often to encourage the spirits of the plants to work with Castaneda or with Matus.

Part 1: Define the idea of ritual and of ceremony as it is seen in this book.

Part 2: Why is it important that the men attach a ritual or a ceremony to the work they do?

Part 3: What might happen without the addition of ritual or of ceremony? Does it not matter if these aspects are included or not?

Essay Topic 3

At many points of the story, Matus does not give Castaneda answers to his questions, leading to confusion and often frustration in Castaneda.

Part 1: List at least two questions that Castaneda asks of Matus but does not get an answer for.

Part 2: Why do you think Matus chooses not to answer some of Castaneda's questions, but does choose to answer others?

Part 3: Do you think Castaneda would learn more if Matus told him everything up front? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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