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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. What does Chi'idzigyaak think of the long sleep of death?

2. What is abundant in the place Chi'idzigyaak remembers?

3. What do The People wear to keep warm?

4. What occasionally causes the women to go off course?

5. What is the irritating side effect for the women of covering their faces?

Short Essay Questions

1. What good deed have The People done for the two women as they leave them behind?

2. What slows the two old women's progress when they wake up on the second day of travel?

3. Why is Sa' disappointed with Chi'idzigyaak when she agrees with her that they must move on?

4. How does the group react to the chief's announcement that the two old women would be left behind?

5. Why is the winter in which this story takes place more dangerous for The People than other winters?

6. What do the younger men do for the two old women each time they move to a new campsite?

7. How is the two old women's shelter made?

8. Why does Sa' smile when Chi'idzigyaak notices that they have arrived at the creek, but are on the wrong side?

9. Why does Sa' say that the two women are like babies?

10. What gets the two old women up in the middle of the night on the first night after their abandonment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the themes in this story is transformation. In your essay, explain how the abandonment brought about changes in the old women that made it possible for them to succeed in a harsh environment.

Essay Topic 2

Authors write for many different purposes such as to explain, to inform, to persuade, or to entertain. In your essay, tell what you think Ms. Wallis' main purpose was in writing this story. Explain your reasoning. Make your determination based on the story's impact on you as a reader. Were you entertained? Was your mind changed in some way? Did you learn something you didn't know before?

Essay Topic 3

Do you think the conflict the women face is mostly external or mostly internal? Give reasons from the story to support your opinion.

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