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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 does the narrator say was the best part of Hector's funeral?

2. How old would Hector be in the present if he were still alive?

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

4. What Indian tribe do the narrator and his family belong?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Describe the conversation between the narrator and his mother about whether Hector is alive or not.

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

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

7. Where was Hector's casket buried? What does the narrator say about the Coeur d'Alene Catholics?

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

9. What does the narrator say of the family he has lost, his aunts, uncles, cousins and father and those who are still living in paragraph 2 of "Happy Trails"?

10. Who does the narrator live with? Why do other Indians not judge him for this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about what you would include in the story if it were a longer work. What did you want to know more about? Why? How might the author include the information?

Essay Topic 3

Write a detailed analysis of tone in Alexie's "Happy Trails." Include whether the tone changes or remains the same. If it changes, include details on when, why and whether this change is effective.

(see the answer keys)

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