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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. Who attacks Victor and Junior when they go to a store?

2. What happens to Victor's hands?

3. What does Chess think she sees?

4. Who once went to prison for assault?

5. Who is arrogant in the interview?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Checkers think about the band and why does she think that?

2. What does Big Mom tell Checkers about Father Arnold and what does Checkers do about it?

3. How do the members of the band feel when they first see Big Mom and what does she tell Victor?

4. What happens at Junior's funeral?

5. What was in the conversation Father Arnold has with the bishop?

6. How do Thomas and the sisters get money to leave the reservation and what do they see as they are leaving?

7. What does Chess tell Checkers she and Thomas are going to do, what does she ask Checkers and what does Checkers ask Chess?

8. What do Thomas and Chess talk about regarding fame?

9. What happens to the band in the recording studio?

10. What was Big Mom's past connection with Michael White Hawk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrative in Chapter 4 switches back and forth between the present and the past when Thomas' father, Samuel, played basketball with the tribal police. The incident with the police shows in many ways how some reservation residents resent any member of the tribe that succeeds. While some reservation residents engage in almost hero worship of one who excels, plenty of others seem to feel jealousy to the point of hatred.

1. Why do you think some poor people might get jealous of people from their circumstances doing well? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

2. What do you think is the differences in the people who hero worship someone who has done well as opposed to ones who are angry or hateful towards that person? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

3. Why do you think the police became violent when playing ball with Samuel? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Reservation Blues".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Reservation Blues". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of "Reservation Blues". How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

Junior's dream is horrific in its detail. Wright and Sheridan were actual historical figures involved in the forcing of Native Americans onto reservations. While Wright might seem more compassionate to the Native American viewpoint, Sheridan seems to have no such weakness.

1. Do you think a person might be able to get insight into his/her life through a dream? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

2. What do you think is the symbolism of Wright and Sheridan in the book? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

3. What type of conflicts might Wright have had if he felt compassion for the very people he help herd onto reservations? What types of emotional and mental conflicts could he have experienced? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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