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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 plan to do at the end of the story as he stands in the cemetery?

2. Who does the narrator say likely killed Hector by accident?

3. Who does the narrator imagine is buried in Hector's empty coffin?

4. During what battle in Montana was Custer killed?

5. How many children did Hector's grandmother have?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does one of the mourners say will happen in 100 years before they leave the cemetery?

2. Why does the narrator say it was inevitable that Hector would become "a violent man who died violently" (3)?

3. Why does the narrator feel certain Hector was most likely killed by a member of his own tribe?

4. Why does the narrator feel certain Hector would not have been killed by a white man?

5. What does the narrator wish one of his uncle's killers would do after the funeral?

6. Who is Agnes? Why does the narrator have a picture of her?

7. How does the narrator feel at the end of the story standing in the cemetery?

8. How does the narrator imagine Hector met his death after leaving for Spokane?

9. At the cemetery, who does the narrator imagine is in Hector's casket?

10. What does the narrator hopes the Indians who killed his uncle did as they buried him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a brief essay analyzing the title "Happy Trails." Explore the ways in which this title connects to the plot and themes of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Write a brief essay about the significance of the narrator's relationship with his cousin on the story. How does this relationship move the plot?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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