View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What three things did the Detective ask of Skip?

2. What does Goddard tell Nora that surprises her and makes her unexpectedly emotional?

3. Why is Nora congratulated by the other members?

4. What interrupts Skips work on the first day?

5. How does Sloane Goddard arrive and when?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does John Beiyoodzin call the people responsible for killing the expedition's horses?

2. Why does Nora ask that the expedition be kept a secret?

3. Why was the ridge Nora was seeking called the Devil's Backbone?

4. Where is Quivira in relation to the bench that Sloane and Nora climb to?

5. What is Zero Site Trauma and why is it important?

6. What does Aragon accuse Black of?

7. What about Sloane's arrival bothers Nora?

8. What distracts Goddard during his meeting with Nora?

9. Why does Nora discover only a single moqui step?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As part of the deal that Dr. Goddard makes with Nora, his daughter Sloane is to be allowed to join the expedition. What is Nora's first impression of Sloane? What motivates Dr. Goddard to insist that she attend? What is his agenda? What conclusions can be drawn about his intentions based on his history, and through him, Sloane's intentions? What specific passages support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Separating oneself from the comforts of home and conveniences of city life can exact a toll on a person. While some characters would see this as a challenge to be overcome with grace and dignity, others might not be so strong. Which characters rise to the occasion, becoming stronger and showing an ability to cope? Which characters break down? Speculate as to why the different characters react the way that they do and on possible solutions?

Essay Topic 3

Aragon comes to the conclusion that it is likely that they Aztecs or their Toltec predecessors invaded the Anasazi civilization at Quivira sometime around A.D. 950. When that happened, everything changed. How did the Toltecs present themselves to the Anasazi peoples? What was the result of their influence on the Anasazi? How is Aragon able to establish these facts? What is the science that he uses to back up his suppositions?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 937 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample