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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. Why do Victor and Junior have to stay at Thomas' house?

2. About what does Victor dream the day before Junior kills himself?

3. Where are Coyote Springs waiting for their audition?

4. Over what does Victor weep?

5. What is the first thing that is noticeable about Big Mom?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens at Junior's funeral?

3. Why does Wright bust into Checkers' hotel room?

4. How does Victor see Junior again and what does he do when he sees Junior?

5. What does Victor do at the studio and after they leave?

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

7. How does Father Arnold end up going to comfort the band?

8. What are Victor and Junior doing while Thomas and Chess are at the hotel?

9. What happens when Michael White Hawk sees Victor, Junior, Betty and Veronica?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Reservation Blues is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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