Native American Literature Quiz- Honors III (T. Lassiter)
Read each question then choose letter of the best answer choice.
- 1.
Define oral tradition.
- A.
The passing on from one generation to another of songs, chants, proverbs, and other verbal compositions after it has been written down.
- B.
The telling of songs, chants, proverbs, and other verbal compositions to a single generation within and between non‐literate cultures
- C.
The use of "like" or "as" to draw a comparison between two unlike things
- D.
The passing on from one generation (and/or locality) to another of songs, chants, proverbs, and other verbal compositions within and between non‐literate cultures by word of mouth
Correct Answer
D. The passing on from one generation (and/or locality) to another of songs, chants, proverbs, and other verbal compositions within and between non‐literate cultures by word of mouthExplanation
The correct answer defines oral tradition as the passing on of songs, chants, proverbs, and other verbal compositions within and between non-literate cultures by word of mouth. This means that these cultural expressions are not written down, but rather transmitted through spoken communication from one generation or locality to another.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What is the author's purpose in the Zuni origin tale "The Flood"?
- A.
To include the tribe's favorite food, corn, into the myth
- B.
To warn its youth about the consequences of promiscutiy and other inquities
- C.
To explain how floods came into existence
- D.
To explain how earthquakes came into existence
Correct Answer
B. To warn its youth about the consequences of promiscutiy and other inquitiesExplanation
The author's purpose in the Zuni origin tale "The Flood" is to warn its youth about the consequences of promiscuity and other iniquities. The tale serves as a cautionary story, using the concept of a flood as a metaphor for the negative outcomes that can result from engaging in immoral behavior. The author aims to impart moral lessons and discourage the younger generation from engaging in promiscuity and other sinful actions.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Which member of the corn clan could not overlook the wrondoings of the rest of the clan?
- A.
The youngest member
- B.
The oldest member
- C.
The priest's son
- D.
The chief's son
Correct Answer
C. The priest's sonExplanation
The priest's son is the correct answer because as a member of the corn clan, he would have a strong sense of duty and responsibility towards upholding the clan's values and traditions. Being the son of the priest, he would have a deep understanding of the clan's beliefs and would be more likely to notice and address any wrongdoings within the clan.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Whom did the corn clan member pray to for help?
- A.
His dead uncle
- B.
His dead father
- C.
His dead grandmother
- D.
His dead grandfather
Correct Answer
A. His dead uncleExplanation
The corn clan member prayed to his dead uncle for help.Rate this question:
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- 5.
How was the priest's son's prayer answered?
- A.
The prayer was not answered and the people continued to live in sin
- B.
The dead uncle sent a hail storm to destroy the land
- C.
The priest's son was told to set fire to the village
- D.
The dead uncle sent an earthquake to punish the corn clan for their wrongdoings
Correct Answer
D. The dead uncle sent an earthquake to punish the corn clan for their wrongdoingsExplanation
The correct answer suggests that the priest's son's prayer was answered by the dead uncle sending an earthquake to punish the corn clan for their wrongdoings.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What does the priest's son's prayers for the punishment of the tribe's iniquities tell us about the Zuni tribe?
- A.
They are nosey and stays busy tending to other people's business
- B.
The Zunis are spiritual and have a strong moral code that they live by and teach to their children
- C.
That the Zunis are afraid of earthquakes and floods
- D.
That the Zunis like to make up stories for pure entertainment
Correct Answer
B. The Zunis are spiritual and have a strong moral code that they live by and teach to their childrenExplanation
The priest's son's prayers for the punishment of the tribe's iniquities suggest that the Zuni tribe is spiritual and has a strong moral code that they live by and pass on to their children. This indicates that they believe in the importance of maintaining moral values and seek divine intervention to address any wrongdoing within their community.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Define trickster tale.
- A.
A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work.
- B.
The struggle found in fiction
- C.
Giving human qualities to animals or objects
- D.
A story about a mischievous, supernatural being
Correct Answer
D. A story about a mischievous, supernatural beingExplanation
A trickster tale is a type of story that revolves around a mischievous, supernatural being. These tales often involve clever and cunning characters who use their wits and trickery to outsmart others. The trickster may be a human-like figure or an animal with human-like qualities. These stories are often humorous and entertaining, showcasing the cleverness and resourcefulness of the trickster character.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What animal is personified as the trickster in the Winnebago tale?
- A.
Bear
- B.
Coyote
- C.
Snake
- D.
Hare
Correct Answer
D. HareExplanation
In the Winnebago tale, the animal that is personified as the trickster is the hare. The trickster archetype is often associated with cunning and mischief, and the hare is commonly portrayed as a clever and mischievous character in folklore and mythology. Therefore, it is likely that the hare is the animal personified as the trickster in the Winnebago tale.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What weapon does the trickster create in his first adventure?
- A.
a flint knife
- B.
A bow and arrow
- C.
A slingshot
- D.
An axe
Correct Answer
B. A bow and arrowExplanation
In the trickster's first adventure, he creates a bow and arrow as his weapon.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Who is Sharp-elbow?
- A.
A genrous village chief who is known for his kindness
- B.
Hare's grandfather
- C.
A god who protects and guides Hare on his many adventures
- D.
A tyrannical village chief who is known for his elbow blades
Correct Answer
D. A tyrannical village chief who is known for his elbow bladesExplanation
Sharp-elbow is described as a tyrannical village chief who is known for his elbow blades. This suggests that he is a powerful and oppressive leader who uses his physical strength and weapons to control and intimidate others. His elbow blades indicate that he is skilled in combat and may use violence to maintain his authority. Overall, this description paints a negative and oppressive image of Sharp-elbow as a leader.Rate this question:
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- 11.
How does Hare outsmart Sharp-elbow to retrieve his stolen arrow?
- A.
He sends a young man to retrieve it
- B.
He sends his grandmother to cast a spell on him that causes Sharp-elbow to consent to anything asked of him
- C.
He takes a whetstone with him to retrieve the arrow and when Sharp-elbow attacks he uses the whetstone for protection against the attack
- D.
He lights four prayersticks and asks the gods to retrieve it for him
Correct Answer
C. He takes a whetstone with him to retrieve the arrow and when Sharp-elbow attacks he uses the whetstone for protection against the attackExplanation
Hare outsmarts Sharp-elbow by taking a whetstone with him to retrieve the stolen arrow. When Sharp-elbow attacks, Hare uses the whetstone as protection against the attack. This suggests that the whetstone serves as a defensive tool against Sharp-elbow's aggression, allowing Hare to successfully retrieve the arrow without getting harmed.Rate this question:
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- 12.
What animal is personified as Hare's grandfather?
- A.
Bear
- B.
Fox
- C.
Deer
- D.
Cougar
Correct Answer
A. BearExplanation
The animal that is personified as Hare's grandfather is the bear.Rate this question:
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- 13.
Bear is supposed to be brave, so how does Hare trick him into being afraid?
- A.
Hare told him of a large beast living near Bear's home.
- B.
Hare took out his quiver and showed him four arrows.
- C.
Hare told thim that the country is full of wars.
- D.
Hare threated to kill him.
Correct Answer
B. Hare took out his quiver and showed him four arrows.Explanation
Hare tricks Bear into being afraid by showing him four arrows. This implies that Hare has the means to harm Bear, making him fear for his safety.Rate this question:
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- 14.
At the end of Hare's adventure with the headless bodies how does he turned them into "fast-fish."
- A.
The headless bodies served Hare fish.
- B.
The headless bodies tried to abuse people so they were turned into 'fast-fish' as a punishment.
- C.
The headless bodies liked to eat fish.
- D.
The headless bodies were actually creatures who evolved from fish so they were simply returned to their primordial state.
Correct Answer
B. The headless bodies tried to abuse people so they were turned into 'fast-fish' as a punishment.Explanation
The correct answer suggests that the headless bodies were turned into "fast-fish" as a punishment for their attempt to abuse people. This implies that their transformation into fast-fish was a consequence of their harmful actions towards others.Rate this question:
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- 15.
What lesson does Hare's adventure involving a tall man with a cane attempt to teach the Winnebago people?
- A.
Flattery will get you no where
- B.
Don't put of for tomorrow what you can do today
- C.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
- D.
Boasting shows weakness and will lead to bad things
Correct Answer
D. Boasting shows weakness and will lead to bad thingsExplanation
The correct answer suggests that the lesson Hare's adventure teaches the Winnebago people is that boasting shows weakness and will lead to bad things. This implies that the story of Hare's encounter with a tall man with a cane highlights the negative consequences of boasting and the importance of humility.Rate this question:
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- 16.
According to "Hare's Adventure", how does he get his "burnt buttocks"?
- A.
His buttocks was scorched by the sun which he had caught in a trap
- B.
Grandmother burned him with a hot poker for being so mischievous
- C.
Hare caught his own tale on fire trying to cook himself some dinner
- D.
He was born that way
Correct Answer
A. His buttocks was scorched by the sun which he had caught in a trap -
- 17.
According to the myth, how did frogs loose their teeth?
- A.
Frogs used to eat rocks and one day a frog ate a rock that was too hard and smashed its teeth.
- B.
Frogs never had any teeth.
- C.
Hare hit a frog with a club and burned the frog and cursed it by declaring it would never be able to harm anyone because it threatedned to hunt the hare down with dogs.
- D.
Grandmother wanted to eat frog leg stew so she captured a frog and extracted its teeth one by one while chanting a Winnebago song, and since then frogs were without teeth.
Correct Answer
C. Hare hit a frog with a club and burned the frog and cursed it by declaring it would never be able to harm anyone because it threatedned to hunt the hare down with dogs. -
- 18.
According to Hare, what work did the Earthmaker send him to do?
- A.
To make mischief and cause trouble
- B.
To trample upon evil beings that were abusing his aunts and uncles
- C.
To play tricks on other animals to prove how intelligent he is
- D.
The hare has no purpose that is why his grandmother must always watch over him
Correct Answer
B. To trample upon evil beings that were abusing his aunts and unclesExplanation
According to Hare, the Earthmaker sent him to trample upon evil beings that were abusing his aunts and uncles.Rate this question:
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- 19.
After Hare had destroyed all the bad animals what did he decide to do next?
- A.
He decided to prepare some animals for humans to eat
- B.
He decided to go on his way and start a family of his own
- C.
He decided that there were more bad animals and set out to destroy the rest of them
- D.
The tale ended and the reader is not certain about what happened to bear
Correct Answer
A. He decided to prepare some animals for humans to eat -
- 20.
Which of the following is not an animal Hare prepared for humans to eat?
- A.
Bear
- B.
Elk
- C.
Horse
- D.
Both A and B
Correct Answer
C. HorseExplanation
Hare is a type of game meat that is commonly prepared for human consumption. Bears and elks are both animals that can be prepared as hare, but horses are not typically prepared as hare for human consumption. Therefore, the correct answer is horse.Rate this question:
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- 21.
According to the myth, which of the following are likely hunting preparation rituals that the Winnebago perform?
- A.
Burning tobacco as an offering
- B.
Singing songs
- C.
Entering into a trance to commune with the spirits of the natural world.
- D.
All of the above
Correct Answer
D. All of the aboveExplanation
The Winnebago perform all of the mentioned hunting preparation rituals. Burning tobacco as an offering is a common practice among Native American tribes to show respect and seek blessings from the spirits. Singing songs is also a traditional ritual that helps in invoking the spirits and creating a harmonious atmosphere. Entering into a trance to commune with the spirits of the natural world is another ritual practiced by the Winnebago to gain guidance and insight for successful hunting. Therefore, all of the above options are likely hunting preparation rituals performed by the Winnebago.Rate this question:
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- 22.
According to the myth, why must all things have an end?
- A.
The Earthmaker wanted the opportunity to creat a new race of people
- B.
Mankind would suffer because of a lack of food if there were more people than resources to care for them
- C.
Hare wished it to be so and that was how it was
- D.
Grandmother wished it to be so and that was how it was
Correct Answer
B. Mankind would suffer because of a lack of food if there were more people than resources to care for themExplanation
The myth suggests that all things must have an end because if there were more people than resources to care for them, mankind would suffer due to a lack of food. This implies that the balance between population and resources is necessary for the well-being and survival of humanity.Rate this question:
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- 23.
What type of myth is the tale "The Jealous Uncle"?
- A.
Origin tale
- B.
Trickster tale
- C.
Hero tale
- D.
A fable
Correct Answer
C. Hero taleExplanation
The tale "The Jealous Uncle" is classified as a hero tale because it revolves around a protagonist who exhibits heroic qualities and embarks on a journey or quest to overcome challenges and achieve a goal.Rate this question:
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- 24.
According to the tale, what horrible crime did the ucle commit?
- A.
He killed all of the old people
- B.
He killed all of the female children
- C.
He killed all of the male children
- D.
He killed all of the women
Correct Answer
C. He killed all of the male children -
- 25.
What did the family do to protect the children from the uncle?
- A.
They dressed the boys like girls and told them to behave as girls do
- B.
They locked the uncle away until the children were old enough to protect themselves
- C.
They dressed the girls like boys and told them to behave as boys do
- D.
They formed a mob and chased the uncle out of the village
Correct Answer
A. They dressed the boys like girls and told them to behave as girls doExplanation
The family dressed the boys like girls and instructed them to behave as girls do in order to protect them from the uncle. This disguise would make it less likely for the uncle to target them and would provide them with a level of safety.Rate this question:
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- 26.
Why do you think the uncle was named the "Unnatural Uncle"?
- A.
The Eskimo's felt that family was important and to try to harm a family member was not normal or natural
- B.
The pronunciation of Eskimo names are impossible so the author decided that this was easy for the reader
- C.
All Eskimo myths name the antagonist the "Unnatural Uncle"
- D.
Since this tale is from the oral tradition, the characters had no names and when the myth was written down this is the name that was given
Correct Answer
A. The Eskimo's felt that family was important and to try to harm a family member was not normal or naturalExplanation
The uncle was named the "Unnatural Uncle" because the Eskimos believed that family was important and harming a family member was considered abnormal or unnatural.Rate this question:
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- 27.
All of the following are traits demonstrated by the hero except?
- A.
Obedience
- B.
Patience
- C.
Loyalty
- D.
Jealousy
Correct Answer
D. JealousyExplanation
The hero is typically portrayed as someone who is selfless and focused on the greater good, which is why they do not demonstrate jealousy. Obedience, patience, and loyalty are commonly associated traits of a hero, as they are obedient to their moral code, patient in the face of adversity, and loyal to their cause or the people they protect. Jealousy, on the other hand, is often seen as a negative and selfish trait, which goes against the heroic ideals.Rate this question:
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- 28.
Which of the following animals seem to represent strength and courage for the Eskimos?
- A.
Horse
- B.
Fox
- C.
Eagle
- D.
Deer
Correct Answer
C. EagleExplanation
The eagle is often seen as a symbol of strength and courage in many cultures, including the Eskimos. Eagles are known for their powerful flight and keen eyesight, which are qualities that are admired and associated with bravery and resilience. Additionally, eagles are apex predators and are able to hunt and capture their prey with great skill and precision, further emphasizing their representation of strength and courage.Rate this question:
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- 29.
HOWhich of the following themes or ideas are closely associated with the Native American way of life?
- A.
Waste and abuse of natural resources
- B.
Immoral behavior
- C.
Love and respect for family and its elders
- D.
Uncivilized society
Correct Answer
C. Love and respect for family and its eldersExplanation
The Native American way of life is closely associated with love and respect for family and its elders. Native American cultures place a strong emphasis on the importance of family bonds and the wisdom and guidance of older generations. Family is considered the foundation of their society, and elders are highly respected for their knowledge and experience. This value of love and respect for family and elders is deeply ingrained in Native American traditions and is an integral part of their way of life.Rate this question:
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Mar 20, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Sep 09, 2009Quiz Created by
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