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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. How long did the mourners stay awake during Hectors wake?

2. How many people has the narrator kissed?

3. How many of the narrator's cousin live in poverty on the reservation?

4. What were the causes of death for the narrator's aunts and uncles?

5. What is the narrator sure Hector would have done if he were still alive?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the narrator's relationship with his female cousin whom he describes as gorgeous.

2. What type of person does the narrator say Hector was? How old would he be if he were alive? What does the narrator think Hector would be like?

3. What does the narrator say was the best part of the funeral?

4. What does the narrator decide they should do 40 years after Hector disappeared?

5. Who is Hector in relation to the narrator? When was the last time the narrator has seen him?

6. What does the narrator say his mother does which made her "good at funerals" (2)?

7. What does the narrator's mother say about Indian self help books?

8. Why does the narrator say people have a tendency to aggrandize the dead?

9. What does he say was the saddest thing said about Hector?

10. What was the funniest thing said at Hector's funeral?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define setting and discuss the significance of Alexie's choice of the reservation and cemetery as setting in the story. How is setting used? Why is it important?

Essay Topic 2

Write a brief essay elaborating on the narrator's comment that his mother did not share her traditions with him. What does this mean? How does this develop the story's themes?

Essay Topic 3

Pick a character from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

(see the answer keys)

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