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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. The elder is the only one in the village who owns ____.

2. What is a ptarmigan?

3. How many of the shaman's wives died?

4. What animal was used to make Russel's outerparka?

5. What is supposedly contained in raw seal meat?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are the Outsiders? Why are they different from the Eskimos?

2. Why does Russel go to Oogruk?

3. Russel begins to learn about songs. How does Oogruk explain finding one's own song?

4. What problem does Russel experience?

5. What is a shaman?

6. Oogruk tells Russel about missing his wife, who ran off. What does Oogruk say? What is Russel's reaction?

7. What is the basis of the story?

8. Where does Russel live and with whom?

9. What is the warning Russel receives from his father about cooking meat?

10. What does Russel's father try to explain to the 14-year-old boy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a complete description of Oogruk. Include his age, ethnicity, lifestyle, beliefs, status in the community, unusual aspects, etc.

Essay Topic 2

What lessons will Russel be able to teach to the younger people in the new village? Can Russel's lessons be taught or must they be learned individually? Does each lesson have to be learned through experience? What lesson do you think would be most valuable? What lessons have you learned from the story?

Essay Topic 3

Russel's quest can be seen as a gateway into manhood. Explain how the quest helped to turn Russel into a man. Compare and contrast this quest with others in modern cultures. Include vision quests and bar mitzvahs, etc.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 770 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample