Comprehension Questions
Chapters 7 - 11
(Groups 3 - 5)
1. The U.S. armed forces reject most of the Navajos that want to enlist. Why does this change
in 1942? (Ch. 7)
There is a mission that only Navajos can help with
2. Describe the experience at boot camp. Why did the Navajos seem to have an easier time
than many of the white men at boot camp? (Ch. 8) – 3 to 4 sentences
The Navajos are used to being shouted at and being told they were worthless, so they are not
upset by the Marine insults. Also, the Navajos find the physical training much less challenging,
since they are used to walking in the sun with heavy packs. The Navajos don't tire as easily as
the other new recruits, and they are able to wait patiently for their orders. As children in the
boarding school, they had been taught at a young age how to line up and march, so this part of
Marine life is easy for them.
3. Compare what a Navajo already knew how to do with what a marine recruit needed to learn.
(Ch. 8) – 3 to 4 sentences
The Navajos found the physical training much less challenging, since they were used to walking in the sun
with heavy packs. The Navajos did not tire as easily as the other new recruits, and they were able to
wait patiently for their orders. There were some men that had never held or used a gun before. Navajo’s
learned to use a gun early in life in order to hunt.
4. What does Johnny help Ned understand about Navajos and the Marines? (Ch. 9)
That Navajos are strong and useful. And that Ned is good enough to be a Marine.
5. Briefly describe the Blessingway ceremony. Why was it performed for Ned Begay? (Ch. 9)
– 3 to 4 sentences
The ceremony began with the singing of various songs which continued throughout the night.
Then Housteen Mitchell took pollen from his pouch and used it to bless Ned’s body. He gave
him four pinches of pollen to eat and then sprinkled a trail that circled from Ned to the door
and around the south side of the fire. Then he handed Ned the pollen pouch. He then followed
the pollen trail outside into the sunlight. Then he took some pollen out of the pouch and
scattered it north to south. It was performed to bless him as he went to war.
6. Why did Ned almost “washout in Boot Camp? (Ch. 10)
He had to get over his fear of water and learn how to swim. He was the last in the platoon to
learn how to swim.
7. Why was the Navajo language chosen for creating a new kind of code? (Ch. 11) 3 to 4
sentences
The Navajo language was chosen for the new kind of language because the Japanese had
broken every code American forces had used. After World War I, the Japanese sent people
to America to learn English and to learn American Indian Languages. Navajo is the
hardest of all American Indian languages to learn. Only Navajo Indians could understand it
fully.
8. What new experience was so amazing to Ned after years of boarding school memories of
NOT using Navajo language? (Ch. 11) 3 to 4 sentences
He enjoyed training because he got to speak Navajo again. He felt proud and accepted. The
school required him to abandon Navajo culture. He was conflicted and unhappy about that.
9. Name the qualities that Ned displayed toward the pride he had in becoming a code talker.
Name specific things Ned and his fellow Navajo code talkers remembered. (Ch. 11) 3 to 4
sentences
He was proud and felt tall in wearing the Marine uniform. He was determined and tough in
what he was willing to face. He had read of the heroic deeds of other Marines. Marines were
considered the toughest of all the armed forces. Ned and his fellow code talkers remembered
the suffering and courage of Navajo warriors that had fought to protect their land and people.
According to Ned, they were not just fighting for the United States, but for his people, families
and land.
10.Ned argues that Philip Johnson did not develop the Navajo code. What evidence does he
use? (Ch. 11)
Johnson could not speak Navajo fluently, which was necessary for the code. He was also not in
Camp Elliot while the code was developed