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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 Beiyoodzin tell them about the valley of Chilbah?

2. What do they discover on the cliff face above them?

3. How does Peter find the road Nora is seeking?

4. When does John leave Nora and Bill?

5. What helps Skip in his identifications?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dr. Blakewood want Nora to do when she tells him about her father's letter?

2. What was the problem with Holroyd's map?

3. How does Skip suggest Nora find the road their father claims in his letter to have followed?

4. How does Nora want to fund the expedition to follow in her father's footsteps to Quivira?

5. What is the cosmography that still runs through most present day southwestern Native American religions?

6. What is so important about the letter Nora finds from her father?

7. Why does Nora believe Smithback almost ruined everything, and as such, still harbor some resentment towards him?

8. Why does John leave Nora and Bill so suddenly?

9. What distracts Goddard during his meeting with Nora?

10. What does Aragon tell the rest about the bones that were found in the crawlspace?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the story, there are examples of forces of good and evil. What are they? Categorize first the good and then the evil, by name and by deed or many deeds. How do they balance out? How does that compare with real life and the forces of good and evil? (Use your own life as a gauge.)

Essay Topic 2

Skip Kelly is given work as part of Nora's deal with Dr. Goddard. Earlier, first impressions were discussed.

Part one: What first impression does Skip give? How is that in direct opposition to his actual character? What acts or actions define him throughout this story, and what are the differences between the character he reveals on first impression vs the character that he actually is?

Part two: What first impression do you think you give? How is that in opposition with who you believe yourself to be inside (if at all)? What is the reason for the discrepancy between the two?

Essay Topic 3

The attack on Nora is made by creatures who are interested in only one thing. They are seeking a letter. What about this letter is so important? How is it that the contents of this letter could bring about the kind of attack Nora faced? Without interruption from Teresa, how might the outcome of this attack been different? Why did the creatures seem to give up so easily when Teresa showed up?

(see the answer keys)

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