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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. According to the old man, what should one do after killing an animal?

2. Where do Russel and his father spend the Summer months?

3. What was the best part of the animal to eat?

4. An old woman stated that while shamans were powerful they were not always ____.

5. Unlike other people in the village, Russel did not do which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. What advice does Russel's father give about Oogruk?

2. Oogruk tells Russel about the founding of the village. Who founded the village? How did things change when the people arrived?

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

4. What problem does Russel experience?

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

6. Who is Ulgavik? What was special about the man?

7. Discuss Russel's trance. What does he see?

8. What does Russel admire about Oogruk?

9. What happens when Russel wakes up from his nap? What does he do next?

10. Where does Russel live and with whom?

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

Songs play a large part in the story. Explain the significance of finding one's own song. Why does Russel think he won't be able to find a song that fits only him? How does Russel's song develop? What does Russel's song mean?

Essay Topic 3

The confrontations with the bear and the woolly mammoth were scary and exciting. Why did Paulsen put Russel in these situations? Examine the encounter from the bear and mammoth's points of view. Discuss how a human might provoke an animal in the wild. Examine humans as threats to animals and their young.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 908 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample