Comprehension Questions
Chapters 1 – 6
(Group 2 - 5)
1. Why does Kii Yazhi have to go away to school? (Ch. 1)
Kii Yazhi goes away to school to learn the ways of the white man.
2. Why is the act of getting a haircut painful to the Navajo students of this story? (Ch. 3)
A Navajo’s hair is thought by the Navajo to be sacred.
3. According to the novel, why do so many Navajo families have the last name of Begay?
(Ch. 3) Many Navajo’s have the same last name because when their Navajo names are
translated into English it sounds like “Begay”.
4. Once he arrives at boarding school, how does Ned Begay get his new name? (Ch. 3)
Mr. Benally, a teacher at the boarding school, attempts to translate Kii Yazhi, Ned's Navajo name,
into English. When Kii Yazhi tries to explain that he is the "son of the One with a Gray Mustache,"
Mr. Benally writes down that his last name is "Begay," not realizing that in Navajo the name Biye
means "son of." Mr. Benally then gives him the first name "Ned," after his own dead uncle.
5. Some of Ned’s classmates, including John Roanhorse, openly defy their boarding school
teachers. Ned also disobeys his teachers, but in his own quiet way. How does Ned defy his
teachers? (Ch. 4) 3 to 5 Sentences Ned defies his teachers by speaking Navajo
when he is alone with other students. He learns and teaches Navajo songs
and stories, which he shares in private when the teachers can't hear. He finds
that boarding school makes him even more determined to hold onto his
language and his culture.
6. The narrator writes, “I was stubborn in ways the teachers could not see”. What is he
referring to, and why was he so stubborn about this? (Ch. 4) – 3 to 4 sentences
7. Ned Begay spoke nothing but Navajo whenever he was alone with other Indians. He
spoke Navajo in the basement and behind the woodshed. He told stories and sang songs.
8. What are some forms of punishment students received for speaking Navajo? (Ch 4) 3 to 4
sentences
First, Navajo children would have their mouths washed out with soap. Also, students were
severely beaten with heavy sticks. John Roanhorse was taken into the basement and chained
in a dark corner. He was kept there for a week with nothing to eat but pieces of stale bread
and water to drink.
9. Why do Ned and his fellow classmates need to focus on things like sports and working hard
to get through school? (Ch. 5) The Navajo play sports and work hard at school, so they
don’t have to think of their hardships at the boarding school.
What events happened in Ned’s world on December 5 and December 7, 1941? (Ch. 6) 3
to 4 sentences On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack the American base at Pearl
Harbor. It was shocked and saddened by the attack. It reminded him of how upset he
was over the events of December 5th. On December 5th he was overheard speaking
Navajo by his teacher Mr. Straight. Mr. Straight embarrassed him and made him feel
hopeless and he would never succeed.
10.
11.Why is Ned so upset about his punishment from Mr. Straight? (Ch. 6) 3 to 4 sentences
12.The Navajos vow to help America. Why is this surprising? (Ch. 6)