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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. About what does William sometimes fantasize?

2. Why did the taxi driver leave his birth country?

3. How is Marie's hair in "Flight Patterns"?

4. What does Jackson do with his lottery winnings?

5. For what physical feature is Estelle's son known?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the title of the story "Do You Know Where I Am?" relate to the story?

2. In "Do You Know Where I Am?", what is Sharon's family background and is it the stereotypical background for an Indian?

3. How does the lost cat illustrate the story's theme of redemption in "Do You Know Where I Am?"

4. What are the similarities between Fekadu and William in "Flight Patterns"?

5. Why do you think Jackson is so eager to redeem his grandmother's powwow regalia?

6. Why can't Fekadu return to Ethiopia?

7. What factors do you think contribute to and help perpetuate Jackson's homelessness in "What You Pawn, I Will Redeem"?

8. Why does Jackson consider himself an "effective" homeless man?

9. What is William's relationship with his wife in "Flight Patterns"?

10. Why do you think Estelle fails to help the bleeding woman in the final scene of the story and how does this failure affect her relationship with her son?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the post-September 11th worlds of "Can I Get a Witness?" and "Flight Patterns." What is Alexie saying about September 11th and its effect on American lives in these stories? What is Alexie saying about September 11th and its effect on Native American lives in these stories? Cite examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

"The Life and Times of Estelle Walks Above" contains many numbered lists, notices of historical revision, and questions and answers marked Q and A. What do you think this unusual method of structure indicates about the character of the male narrator and what do you think Sherman Alexie is trying to convey in this unique format? Cite examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the humor in "Can I Get a Witness?", "Do Not Go Gentle," "What Ever Happened to Frank Snake Church?", or "The Life and Times of Estelle Walks Above." Give at least three examples of humor from your chosen story and discuss what you think Sherman Alexie is trying to convey or achieve through his use of humor.

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