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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. At the graveside, what does the narrator hope whoever killed Hector would do?

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

3. What does the narrator think Hector may have done which got him killed?

4. What did one mourner say white archeologists would do 100 years from now after Hector's grave was buried?

5. What does the narrator plan to do at the end of the story as he stands in the cemetery?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the narrator say about why he does not know the mourning song his mother "whisper-sang" (3) after the mourners left the cemetery?

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

4. What is the best thing the narrator's father ever said to him?

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

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

7. What does the narrator plan to do at the end of the story?

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

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

10. What does the narrator wish one of his uncle's killers would do after the 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 analyzing the title "Happy Trails." Explore the ways in which this title connects to the plot and themes of the story.

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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