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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. Ishmael feels that accidental occurrences on the island

2. Jury instructions from the trial judge are intended to

3. Why did Hatsue not notify the authorities about Kabuo's deal with Carl Heine, Jr.?

4. Hatsue guesses that Ishmael knew earlier about the freighter

5. Carl Heine and Susan Marie Heine's marriage was a relationship based on

Short Essay Questions

1. Hooks makes a significant misjudgment in his closing argument as he paints a scenario of Kabuo luring Carl Heine in by faking an emergency. Discuss his mistakes.

2. How does the author foreshadow a turn of events in the trial?

3. What does Guterson mean when he says that, "...the prosecutor, knew well the value of a Susan Marie Heine."

4. The idea of inclement weather has been woven throughout the story, including the heavy snowfall that has caused problems during the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto. What inspires Ishmael's decision to check with the coast guard about weather conditions at the time of Carl Heine's demise?

5. What, ultimately, could have been Carl Heine's greatest failing, according to Ishmael?

6. Why do you think Ishmael does not tell his mother about the records he found at the Coast Guard office?

7. Why did Kabuo and Hatsue not inform the Sheriff of what they said really happened on the night of Carl Heine's death?

8. Nels Gudmundsson makes a fascinating statement about Hooks' tactics with regard to racism. Discuss this.

9. What is Alvin Hooks' motivation in trying to convict Kabuo? How would winning the case benefit Nels Gudmundsson?

10. Explain how Carl's blood ended up on the handle of Kabuo's fishing gaff.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Review Snow Falling on Cedars with an eye toward symbolism. Guterson masterfully plants words and ideas that transport the reader along through the story, and allow us to look back and understand the symbolism that we may have missed as the story unfolds. Focus on one character, such as Hatsue, and analyze each symbolic passage Guterson has created, explaining why he did it and what it means. An example: Note Hatsue's "knife-sharp" pleats and "long darts."

Essay Topic 2

Review Hatsue's childhood in this book and join the Imada family in your imagination. Write an essay about the Imadas' lifestyle and determine whether it is one that you could tolerate or not. Were there certain choices made by the Imadas that made life more difficult for them, or were they totally at the mercy of their circumstances? What about their lives is pleasant, and what is not?

Essay Topic 3

Guterman mentions that occasionally Canadian Indians came across the border to help with the strawberry harvest in the islands off of Washington. Research and write an expository essay about these temporary workers, and teach your reader everything you can about their lifestyle and their culture. This may take some library research. Find out the names of the tribes or bands -- choose one island if necessary, such as Bainbridge, and learn what you can about the history of Indian pickers and processors.

(see the answer keys)

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