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

2. Where does the narrator's one surviving uncle live?

3. What relation to the narrator is Hector?

4. What did each mourner do after the coffin was lowered into the ground?

5. Who does the narrator say is "good at funerals"(2)?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. 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?

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

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

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

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

10. What does the narrator's mother say when he suggests they bury Hector? How does the narrator reply?

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 examining the ending of "Happy Trails." How did the ending fit into the storyline? Do you think the ending was effective? What theme might the ending represent? What might the author have done differently?

Essay Topic 3

The only characters named in the story are Hector and Agnes. Write an essay analyzing why the author chose to name only these two characters. What impact did this have on your reading? How might this choice represent the theme of inherited pain or oppression?

(see the answer keys)

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