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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. At the celebration, what story does Attean tell to the villagers that are assembled?

2. When Matt and Attean are talking about the animal in the trap, what does Attean say that white men trap for?

3. What is the story about that Attean tells Matt?

4. What does Matt feel as he leaves Attean's grandmother after the day at the village?

5. When Matt goes to the Indian village for Attean and does not find Attean, who does Matt ask for?

Short Essay Questions

1. In spite of Attean not being in high spirits, he visits Matt shortly before his manitou. What is the significance of this visit at this time?

2. When Attean comes to say farewell, why does Matt to give Attean his father's watch and not the book?

3. Since Matt has spent time with the Indians, how is he better able to make provisions for the winter?

4. Why is it ironic that Matt wonders how the Great Spirit that the Indians worship seem to be like the Indians themselves--i.e. a mighty hunter, very strong?

5. What does Matt do at the end of Chapter 24 that suggests he has adequately prepared for winter?

6. Why is Matt "delighted" to know that Attean tells the story to his brothers?

7. When Matt comes upon the Attean's dog in the trap, he knows he is in the land of the turtle and should not tamper with anything there. Why does he knowingly go against the law that Attean taught him?

8. When Attean takes Matt around to see the Indian women working, why is this work of such interest to Matt and of little interest to Attean?

9. As Matt misses his family and Christmas nears, how do his memories work for him?

10. How do the setting and details that the author uses to describe autumn work to match Matt's mood when he recognizes that his family is past due?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The road to friendship is a gradual sometimes--especially when there is mistrust and resentment. How does Matt overcome his mistrust of Attean? How does Attean overcome his resentment of white people?

Essay Topic 2

There are four instances in the book that deal with metal traps--early on there is Ben and his trapping for furs; there is Attean explaining how they cannot take the fox from a trap on another tribe's hunting ground; there is releasing the dog from the metal trap. How do these traps and rules around them illustrate the conflict between the white man and the Indian and each other's rules?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss whether the conflict of man against man or man against nature is the framework for the basic conflict in The Sign of the Beaver.

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