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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. How does the narrator feel Hector died?

2. What did the narrator's cousin tell him they could do if they were royalty?

3. What does the narrator's mother says you will find inside an Indian self-help book?

4. What did each mourner do after the coffin was lowered into the ground?

5. When Hector left the last time, how was he to get to his destination?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator's mother say about Indian self help books?

2. What type of person does the narrator say Hector was? How old would he be if he were alive? What does the narrator think Hector would be like?

3. What does the narrator say was the best part of the funeral?

4. Describe the narrator's relationship with his female cousin whom he describes as gorgeous.

5. What does the narrator's mother say when he suggests they bury Hector? How does the narrator reply?

6. Who is Hector in relation to the narrator? When was the last time the narrator has seen him?

7. What was the funniest thing said at Hector's funeral?

8. Who does the narrator live with? Why do other Indians not judge him for this?

9. Why does the narrator say people have a tendency to aggrandize the dead?

10. When the narrator's mother says Hector was a good man, the narrator says he was great. Does he really believe Hector was great? How do you know?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick a character from the novel and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay examining the ending of "Happy Trails." How did the ending fit into the storyline? Do you think the ending was effective? What theme might the ending represent? What might the author have done differently?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay comparing and contrasting Hector and the narrator in "Happy Trails." What details help develop their character and what do these details tell you about them? What is their background? How do they know each other? In what ways are they similar or different? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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