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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 Matus do in order to soothe Castaneda?

2. What kind of animal has Castaneda's head turned into?

3. Matus says that those who experiment with smoke without a guide will ____________.

4. How many buttons does Mescalito tell Castaneda to consume after Castaneda calls the name Mescalito has given him?

5. Castaneda remembers a vision of ___________ tossing him in the air.

Short Essay Questions

1. What convinces Matus that the weed likes Castaneda?

2. What ingredient is missing from the recipe that Matus learned from his benefactor?

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

4. What are some things Matus tells Castaneda he can do to get his soul back?

5. Describe how Castaneda feels after smoking the mixture in Matus' pipe.

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

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

8. What do Matus and Castaneda do with the gray jelly while the second portion is prepared?

9. When he is called with "Hey boy!" why doesn't Castaneda come into Matus' house?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The knowledge Castaneda gains is certainly stunning when one looks at the final summary of Castaneda's experiences.

Part 1: What are three of the points Castaneda makes in the final section of the book?

Part 2: Does this knowledge come from the plants directly or from Castaneda's subconscious? Why do you answer the way you do?

Part 3: Do you think Castaneda would have learned more if he has studied with Matus more frequently? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The sewing of the lizards is a harsh scene in the book.

Part 1: Describe the sewing of the lizards and why this is done in the story.

Part 2: Wouldn't this harming of the animals be hurting nature and somehow not being grateful to it? Isn't this in direct opposition to the way Matus treats the rest of the gifts of nature?

Part 3: What was your reaction to the images of the lizards? Did you believe this to actually have happened?

Essay Topic 3

The relationship between Matus and Castaneda is the guiding force in the story, each helping the other learn and grow in their understanding of themselves.

Part 1: Describe the relationship between Matus and Castaneda at the beginning of this book, before their work together begins.

Part 2: Compare and contrast the relationship between Matus and Castaneda from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. What changes?

Part 3: Why do you think Matus took Castaneda on as a student? What reasons might he have had outside of what he shared?

(see the answer keys)

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