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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. Tosamah's grandmother was ___________ though she had a great appreciation for language and for stories.

2. What would Fat Josie give to Abel during visits to the house after his mother died?

3. Who looked after Abel and the rest of his family because their father left a long time before?

4. What does the old man examine when he comes to a stop during his drive of his team of mares?

5. Abel keeps himself in the __________ as he makes his way through the city, in order to keep himself hidden.

Short Essay Questions

1. Who had Francisco beaten in a race for good hunting and harvests, something which he looks upon fondly?

2. What did Abel do in response to Tosamah's insults during the card game they shared after a 12-hour shift?

3. What were some of the signs that Abel's grandfather was dying, at least according to Abel?

4. What happened during the summer and the autumn rain retreats, according to the stories in the book?

5. What caused Francisco to be afraid during the birth of his child, which then caused his girlfriend to leave him?

6. What surrounded Francisco in his camp when he was riding out as a young man?

7. What things did Ben offer to Abel on the first day they were introduced to each other?

8. Describe the relationship Francisco had with a young girl when he was a younger man.

9. Why does Ben think that Milly is going to come around anymore, according to what he has noticed?

10. What does Tosamah include in his sermon about the Word and Truth as he preaches in Los Angeles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Very often, flashbacks are being use in the story to help the reader understand present day characters.

Part 1: Why are flashbacks used more often than present day narrative pieces?

Part 2: Why do you think flashbacks are triggered in Abel?

Part 3: What makes the flashbacks more powerful than the modern day actions and stories?

Essay Topic 2

It's obvious that Momaday cares deeply for the Native American culture and its preservation, which makes sense as he is also of Native American descent.

Part 1: How do you think Momaday portrays Native Americans? In a positive way or in a negative way?

Part 2: How do you think Momaday's own cultural background may have influenced his storytelling?

Part 3: Had the author not been Native American, how might the story have changed?

Essay Topic 3

The structure of the storytelling seems to be something is very special to the Native American culture.

Part 1: Why is storytelling so important within the context of this story?

Part 2: Why are stories important to share with others, especially those we love?

Part 3: Why is it important for the priests in this book to relate the stories of history?

(see the answer keys)

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