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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. After the incident with the bees, what is the main source of Matt's pain?

2. When Attean cooks the fish, how does he get it over the flames?

3. From what does Matt's suspicion come that he is being watched?

4. What piece of clothing does Matt lose when he is battling the bees?

5. What is the reason for the oil that Attean spreads on his body and hair?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Matt's father's teachings help Matt when he is alone?

2. What does the last sentence of the chapter mean, "So he was not so quick-witted as he should have been when unexpectedly someone arrived"?

3. What is Attean's method for retracing his path in the woods that he tries to instill in Matt?

4. Some might say that by heeding his father's advice Matt makes a mistake. How might one blame Matt's father for Matt being duped?

5. How do Saknis and his grandson differ in their opinions of the white man?

6. In what ways does Matt reveal his maturity in this first chapter?

7. At the end of Chapter 10, Matt comments that Attean has smiled his first genuine smile. One must infer the reason for this smile. What is the reason behind this smile?

8. Why does Matt blame himself for the bear's intrusion into his cabin?

9. How does Matt deal with his disappointment in not hitting the red squirrel that he sets out to kill for food?

10. After fishing and managing to catch four fish, how is Matt's good mood quickly ruined?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Sign of the Beaver is a piece of historical fiction. The basic dilemmas of Attean and his people were the dilemmas and tragedies of the native Americans in the times of westward expansion. What do you think of the author's decision to have Attean and his people leave before Matt's family could meet them?

Essay Topic 2

What is the role of women in Attean's village? What does Attean say about women that help the reader understand his view of women in a community?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 17 Matt learns Attean's personal history. How is this personal history lesson more powerful to Matt than other lessons about Indians he has learned in the past?

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