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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Ayah think she does to make the men in the bar fear her?
(a) Her face or the way she clenches her teeth.
(b) Being an old woman.
(c) Her attitude.
(d) Being Navajo.

2. What does Silko use as a metaphor for the days Ayah and Chato lived together?
(a) Dirt in the arroyos.
(b) Shadows on the mesa.
(c) Painted buffalo on cave walls.
(d) Painted sheep on hogan walls.

3. Where is the old barn located according to Ayah?
(a) Near the mesa.
(b) Near the boulders.
(c) Near the reservation.
(d) Near the arroyo.

4. Where does Ayah believe is a place for Chato and herself to wait out the storm?
(a) In the old barn.
(b) In the apartment.
(c) In the desert.
(d) In the shack.

5. During their walk, where do Ayah and Chato go to rest?
(a) To their hogan.
(b) To the ranch.
(c) Up the slope to the giant boulders.
(d) To a rest stop.

6. Why does Ayah believe Chato doesn't like guiding "the old ewes"?
(a) He is used to guiding cattle.
(b) It reminds him of Jimmie.
(c) He is tired of working.
(d) He dislikes sheep.

7. What does Ayah notice about the way Chato smells in the fourth section of the story?
(a) It reeks strongly of alcohol.
(b) It reeks strongly of food.
(c) It reeks strongly of fire.
(d) It reeks strongly of urine and woodsmoke.

8. Where does Chato herd his livestock?
(a) Across the dry, sandy arroyo.
(b) To the barn.
(c) Across the dusty mesa.
(d) Across the pavement to water.

9. Why does Ayah hope the government money and the wine are gone?
(a) Chato is happy.
(b) Chato is angry.
(c) She and Chato could finally go home.
(d) She doesn't have to worry about it.

10. In the fourth section of the story, what is Chato doing when Ayah finds him?
(a) Walking along the pavement.
(b) Drinking.
(c) Screaming for help.
(d) Sleeping.

11. Why does Ayah feel her home is connected to her?
(a) Her ancestors build it.
(b) It is a traditional Navajo home, and she is born there.
(c) She and Chato buy it.
(d) Chato's mother lives there.

12. How does Chato look at Ayah as he shuffles down the highway?
(a) As if seeing her for the first time.
(b) As if she scares him.
(c) As if she's his sister.
(d) As if she's a stranger.

13. Why doesn't Ayah care about the loss of the money?
(a) The money doesn't give her what she wants.
(b) She doesn't understand how to use it.
(c) It is white man's money.
(d) The money causes problems for her and Chato.

14. What does Chato bring home in big brown boxes?
(a) Wool.
(b) Yarn.
(c) Food.
(d) Wine.

15. Why does Ayah choose to stop walking at the end of the story?
(a) She is tired.
(b) Chato stumbles and falls.
(c) Chato asks her to stop.
(d) She is hungry.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is the old barn symbolic of the relationship between the whites and Navajos?

2. How would Ayah feel if Chato used up the government money?

3. What kind of horses did Chato once ride when he works at the white man's ranch?

4. According to Ayah in the fourth section of the story, Chato sometimes calls her what name?

5. Why doesn't Ayah's and Chato's garden produce food?

(see the answer keys)

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