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)