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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what two ways does the author introduce humor in the incident with the two men from Chattanooga?
(a) By describing how Little Tree sets the hounds on them and they are chased into the freezing river.
(b) By describing how the men fall into poison ivy and how Granma cooks them fish with roots that cause diarrhea.
(c) By describing how Granpa leads them to the edge of the cliff and taunts them until they beg for forgiveness.
(d) By describing how Little Tree outwits them and sends them running from the hounds.

2. How do religious and cultural beliefs cause Little Tree and the sharecropper's daughter to act negatively towards each other?
(a) Little Tree has been taught to distrust Christians, while the girl has been taught that Indians are lazy heathen savages.
(b) They dislike each other because they have different beliefs.
(c) Their beliefs cause them to remain on separate sides of the square at the settlement.
(d) Their beliefs cause them to avoid speaking to each other.

3. According to the news heard in Chapter 11, what is causing people in New York to die?
(a) Severe snow storms.
(b) Overcrowding and the spread of illnesses.
(c) They are killing themselves by jumping off roofs.
(d) A serious epidemic that causes depression.

4. What is the importance of the way Chapter 12 ends?
(a) To demonstrate how grave danger has cemented the bonds among the members of the family.
(b) To demonstrate that the Cherokee way of life has serious dangers.
(c) To demonstrate that everyone in the family has an important role.
(d) To demonstrate that time is running out for the family.

5. The author implies there is a special bond between Willow John and Little Tree, despite the difference in their ages. What is the cause of this bond?
(a) Both have a great sense of humor.
(b) Both are outsiders who don't quite belong in the world they occupy.
(c) Both have suffered from having to adjust to moving to the mountain area.
(d) Both have suffered the loss of their parents.

6. The efforts made by the person who actually gets the reverend to release Little Tree from the orphanage symbolize the strength of some relationships. Which relationship is actually involved?
(a) The relationship between an uncle and his nephew.
(b) The relationship between two friends.
(c) The relationship between a preacher and his church member.
(d) The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

7. In what way do the events in Chapter 18 represent a major turning point in the novel?
(a) It is the beginning of Little Tree's life as a teenager.
(b) It sets in motion a series of events that will bring an end to Little Tree's life with his grandparents.
(c) It begins the situation that turns Little Tree against his grandparents.
(d) It starts the legal battle between the state and Granpa for Little Tree.

8. How do the events in Chapter 12 demonstrate the importance of Granma's knowledge of plants and herbs?
(a) It helps to stop Little Tree's arm from swellling.
(b) It stops Little Tree's bleeding.
(c) It helps her to save someone's life.
(d) It soothes Granpa's bear bite.

9. Why does Willow John leave a long knife in church?
(a) It is a gift for Granma that he leaves there because Indians do not make a fuss about gifts.
(b) It is a gift for the preacher that he leaves there because Indians do not make a fuss about gifts.
(c) It is a gift for Granpa that he leaves there because Indians do not make a fuss about gifts.
(d) It is a gift for Little Tree that he leaves there because Indians do not make a fuss about gifts.

10. What advice from Granma does Little Tree follow to help him get through his need for communication with his grandparents?
(a) He watches the Dog Star from his window and imagines conversations with Granma, Granpa and Willow John.
(b) He watches the moon and tells it his secrets.
(c) He watches the mountain range in the distance and communicates with his family.
(d) He watches the Milky Way and communicates with his family.

11. How does Little Tree's education and instincts about nature get him into trouble at the orphanage?
(a) He explains to the teacher that the deer in a picture are mating.
(b) He tells the teacher that the mourning dove is a sign of death.
(c) He explains to the teacher that the dogs in the courtyard are mating.
(d) He tells the teacher that the trees and the winds can communicate with him.

12. Which of the following is the best explanation for the author's inclusion of Granpa's story about the "Farm in the Clearing" in the novel?
(a) To show how important it is to prevent people from capturing land.
(b) To show that despite the difference between ethnic groups, individuals share admirable human qualities.
(c) To show that Granpa was once a boy living freely on the land.
(d) To show that whenever authorities get involved in a situation, they make it bad.

13. How does the author demonstrate that despite being poor, the sharecropper is instilling pride in his daughter?
(a) The sharecropper tells Granpa to keep his grandson away from his daughter.
(b) The sharecropper whips his daughter's legs and tells her to give back the moccasins Little Tree gives to her.
(c) The sharecropper chastises his daughter for talking to Little Tree.
(d) The sharecropper forbids his daughter to speak to Little Tree.

14. What does the author imply might be the reason for the special bond that exists between Mr. Wine and Little Tree's family?
(a) That they both have lost their "Nation" and have relatives scattered all over.
(b) That they both place a great emphasis on education.
(c) That they have both experienced prejudice and exclusion.
(d) Thay they have both lost many relatives.

15. Referring to people who like to take and give handouts, what similarity does Granpa describe between some people and some countries?
(a) He says people who like to give charity are like some countries who help other countries and then run their affairs.
(b) He says people who take and give handouts are like some countries that like people to be dependent on them so they can treat them like dogs.
(c) He says some countries treat other countries like dogs because they give them handouts.
(d) He says some people who take handouts are like some countries that depend on other countries like dogs.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the special symbolism of the chapter title "Down From the mountain"?

2. Why does Little Tree believe that the incident in which he gets into trouble with the teacher eventually leads to Granpa coming for him?

3. In the incident with the two men from Chattanooga, how does Little Tree demonstrate that he is becoming clever and less trusting?

4. The author shares many Cherokee symbols with the reader. What is revealed in Chapter 14 about the meaning of an Indian holding up his palm?

5. How does the author suggest that even nature is mourning about Little Tree's departure?

(see the answer keys)

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