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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 grade are Junior and Rowdy in as they jump into the lake in the drawing in Chapter 29: "Remembering"?

2. What grade has Junior earned in "Let's-Make-Birdhouses Wood Shop" in Chapter 28: "My Final Freshman Year Report Card"?

3. The object that the billionaire white collector presents in Chapter 23: "Wake" is probably of what origin, according to Junior's mother?

4. What is the worst character trait of Arnold Spirit, Sr., in the novel?

5. What do Junior and Rowdy exchange in their encounter in Chapter 26: "Rowdy and I Have a Serious Discussion about Basketball"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What exchange takes place between Junior and the television reporter in Chapter 25: "In Like a Lion"?

2. How does Junior describe his grandmother's wake in Chapter 23: "Wake"? Who attends the wake?

3. How does Junior analyze the exchange that he and Rowdy have shared in Chapter 26: "Rowdy and I Have a Serious Discussion about Basketball"?

4. What example does Junior use in Chapter 22: "Red Versus White" to describe his love for Indians?

5. What philosophical discussion do Junior and Gordy have regarding race and identity in Chapter 18: "Don't Trust Your Computer"?

6. How does Junior describe the contradictions of his identity in Chapter 17: "Dance, Dance, Dance"?

7. What does Junior say about the virtue of tolerance in Chapter 22: "Red Versus White"?

8. How would you describe Junior's outlook for the future in Chapter 29: "Remembering"?

9. What story does Arnold Spirit, Sr. tell his son in encouraging him to try out for the basketball team in Chapter 20: "Reindeer Games"?

10. What are Junior's chances of making the Reardan basketball team in Chapter 20: "Reindeer Games"? How does Junior do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the narrative style of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Is the narrative related from a first, second, or third-person perspective? Is the story told in the present or past tense? How do each of these choices by an author influence the outcome of the book? How would this story differ if it were related from a different type of narrator?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the history of the Spokane Indians and the setting of the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington. How many families live on the Spokane Indian Reservation? What aspects of the history, culture, and beliefs of the Spokane Indians stand out to you? How are these cultural elements displayed in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how the author uses symbolism, metaphor, and character to further illustrate the themes of identity and poverty in Chapter 11: “Halloween.” Consider Junior’s and Penelope’s Halloween costumes. What does each costume represent symbolically to the wearer? How is this relative to the theme of identity? How does Junior “identify” with poverty versus how Penelope identifies with this concept?

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