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Mid-Year Exam — Chapters 1–4

Covers: Chapters 1 (Aaniin), 2 (Akiing), 3 (Bimaadizi), 4 (Indoodemen)
Total Points: 100
Time: 60 minutes
ACTFL Target: Novice Low → Novice Mid

Exam Format

  • Part A: Multiple Choice — 15 questions × 2 pts = 30 pts
  • Part B: Fill in the Blank — 10 items × 3 pts = 30 pts
  • Part C: Translation — 5 items × 4 pts = 20 pts
  • Part D: Short Essay — 1 essay × 20 pts = 20 pts

Part A — Multiple Choice (30 points)

1. How do you say 'My name is Jordan' in Ojibwe?

A) Aaniin ezhinikaazoyan Jordan
B) Indizhinikaaz Jordan
C) Indoodem Jordan
D) Niin Jordan
Answer: B

2. Which suffix marks an inanimate plural?

A) -wag
B) -ag
C) -an
D) -iin
Answer: C

3. How do you say 'I do not sleep' in Ojibwe?

A) Gaawiin ninibaassii
B) Gaawiin ninibaa
C) Ninibaa gaawiin
D) Ninibaa-ssii
Answer: A**

4. Which dodem is responsible for learning and philosophy?

A) Makwa (Bear)
B) Giigoonh (Fish)
C) Migizi (Eagle)
D) Mang (Loon)
Answer: B

5. The color blue-green (animate form) in Ojibwe is:

A) Ozhaawashkwan
B) Waabishkaa
C) Ozhaawashkwaa
D) Miskozii
Answer: C

6. What does bimaadizi mean?

A) To live / to be alive in a good way
B) To eat
C) To walk
D) To speak
Answer: A

7. The personal pronoun wiin refers to:

A) We (exclusive)
B) You
C) He / she / they (one person, any gender)
D) I
Answer: C

8. Wild rice (manoomin) is grammatically:

A) Animate
B) Inanimate
C) Neither
D) Depends on context
Answer: A

9. How do you conjugate bimose (to walk) for 'I walk'?

A) Ginibimose
B) Nibimose
C) Bimoseiwag
D) Obimose
Answer: B

10. What does the prefix bi- indicate in Ojibwe verbs?

A) Past tense
B) Away from the speaker
C) Toward the speaker / coming
D) Negation
Answer: C

11. How many original Anishinaabe dodems are there?

A) 4
B) 5
C) 7
D) 13
Answer: C

12. Which body part is animate in Ojibwe?

A) Eye (inzhiw)
B) Nose (zhiigan)
C) Heart (dei')
D) Hand (nid)
Answer: C

13. What is the Ojibwe word for 'noon / midday'?

A) Naawakwe
B) Waaban
C) Dibikad
D) Onaagoshi
Answer: A

14. The VAI verb class is used for:

A) States of inanimate things
B) Actions performed by animate beings, with no direct object
C) Actions that affect inanimate objects
D) All verbs in Ojibwe
Answer: B

15. The Midewiwin is:

A) A type of traditional canoe
B) The Grand Medicine Society — a healing and spiritual institution
C) A seasonal ceremony only
D) A form of Ojibwe government
Answer: B

Part B — Fill in the Blank (30 points)

Write the correct Ojibwe word or phrase.

  1. To say "thank you" in Ojibwe: ___

  2. The Ojibwe number for "seven": ___

  3. "My clan" in Ojibwe: ___

  4. To make a VAI verb negative, add ___ before the verb AND ___ to the end.

  5. The animate plural suffix: ___; the inanimate plural suffix: ___

  6. "I am sick" using aakozi: ___

  7. "This bear" using the correct animate demonstrative: ___ makwa

  8. The four seasons in Ojibwe:
    Spring: _______ | Summer: _______ | Fall: _______ | Winter: _______

  9. "My grandmother": ___; "My grandfather": ___

  10. To say "I am well": ___

Part C — Translation (20 points)

Translate each sentence into English. (4 points each)

  1. Indizhinikaaz Mia. Indoodem Makwa.

  2. Gaawiin niwiisinissii. Niaakozi.

  3. Naawakwe, nimaajiaa gikino'amaadiiwigamigong.

  4. Wa'aw makwa miskozii. O'ow asin miskozan.

  5. Nimino-ayaa. Miigwech gaa-pi-izhaayan.

Part C Answers
  1. My name is Mia. My clan is Bear.
  2. I do not eat. I am sick.
  3. At noon, I leave for school.
  4. This bear is red. This stone is red.
  5. I am well. Thank you for coming.

Part D — Short Essay (20 points)

Prompt: Choose ONE of the following topics. Write 8–12 sentences responding to the prompt. Include at least 5 Ojibwe words or phrases used correctly in context (underline them).

Option A — Cultural: Explain the Anishinaabe dodem system. What is a dodem, how many original dodems are there, and why is it an act of introduction to share your dodem? How is identity in Anishinaabe culture different from identity in dominant American culture? Connect your answer to Ojibwe vocabulary.

Option B — Language: Explain the animate/inanimate distinction in Ojibwe grammar. Give at least three examples that might surprise an English speaker. What does this grammatical category tell us about how Anishinaabe people understand the world?

Option C — History: Describe the boarding school era and its impact on Anishinaabe families, language, and health. How does the Ojibwe vocabulary for family (nookomis, nimishoomis, ningashi) and health (mino-bimaatisiiwin) help us understand what was lost and why revitalization matters?

ACTFL Self-Assessment

After completing this exam, rate yourself on the following scale:

Skill Novice Low Novice Mid Novice High
I can greet, introduce, and say goodbye in Ojibwe ☐ ☐ ☐
I can count 1–100 in Ojibwe ☐ ☐ ☐
I can correctly identify animate vs. inanimate nouns ☐ ☐ ☐
I can conjugate a VAI verb in all seven persons ☐ ☐ ☐
I can form negative sentences ☐ ☐ ☐
I can use health and body vocabulary ☐ ☐ ☐
I can explain the dodem system and its cultural significance ☐ ☐ ☐
I can connect language features (animacy, pronouns) to Anishinaabe worldview ☐ ☐ ☐

Scoring Guide:

Score ACTFL Estimate Interpretation
90–100 Approaching Novice High Strong Novice Mid with some High features
75–89 Novice Mid Meeting expected mid-year target
60–74 Novice Low–Mid Some gaps; review Chapters 1–4 core vocabulary
Below 60 Novice Low Significant review needed; consult instructor

See also: ACTFL Proficiency Reference | Glossary