View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. At age ____________, Milly's father gave her all of his savings in order to get her to live a better life elsewhere.

2. Who was armed with a shotgun when they decided to go shoot gray geese?

3. In the lower meadows of the basin of the Valle Grande, the group of men set about capturing __________.

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

5. To find his grandmother's grave, Tosamah has to walk along the path of the _______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Abel sings and calls out during one of the rain retreats, according to his memory?

2. What happened during the incident with Abel and the tank, according to Bowker?

3. What did Father Olguin think caused Abel to kill the albino so many years ago, testifying in court to this being the reason for Abel's actions?

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

5. What is in the trap that Francisco set a long time ago at the opening of the book?

6. What is Abel's final memory before leaving to head off to the war to fight?

7. What did Francisco do to the bear after he finally tracked him down in the forest and then killed him?

8. What does Ben do when he goes to the Silver Dollar after dropping off Abel at the bus station?

9. What is the legal result of Abel flipping off the others in the tank, even though they almost run over him?

10. Describe the group called the Bahkyush. Who are they and how might they be described to others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The initial opening with the trap that did not catch what it was intended to catch seems to be symbolic for the rest of the manuscript.

Part 1: In what way is Abel trapped in this story? Could he have avoided his trap?

Part 2: What other characters might be seen as trapped? Why?

Part 3: What might the symbolic dead body floating down the stream refer to in the story? Who also has been let go? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The role of alcohol in this story is prevalent, with it changing the lives of all the bottle touches.

Part 1: Why is alcohol something so many people turn to in this story?

Part 2: Why doesn't alcohol seem to help anyone solve their problems?

Part 3: What might the story have been like without the presence of alcohol in the lives of the characters?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 756 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample