Amigo Brothers
Empress Theodora
The Hippdrome
Hatchet
Literacy Terms/Reading Skills
100
How do the boys have mixed feelings about the fight and how do they deal with these feelings?
The boys talk about their feelings. They each want to win the fight but they don't want to hurt their friend. They decide to each just fight their very best and not let this fight hurt their friendship.
100
How was Empress Theodora an important historical figure?
She helped Justinian to make new laws and she saved the empire by keeping Justinian from running away and fighting to save the throne.
100
What was the Hippodrome and what did it look like?
It was the biggest stadium in Constantinople. It was a place for many kinds of entertainment, mostly horse and chariot racing. It was adorned (decorated) with many monuments, statues, and artworks from the empire and from the barbarian east. (Barbarian - foreign countries, uncivilized - no manners, not polite.)
100
Where is Brian going at the beginning of the novel and why does he end up in the Canadian wilderness?
His parents are divorced and he is flying in a plane to visit his father. The pilot has a heart attack and dies and the plane crashes.
100
What is the CLIMAX of Amigo Brothers?
When the boys are fighting the final round, just fighting and punching each other as hard as they can fight.
200
What does it mean that “Felix had the habit of playing possum when hurt”?
A possum is an animal that pretends it is dead when it is threatened.
200
Explain the main events in Empress Theodora's life.
1.) She was born into a poor family. 2.) When her father, a bear keeper at the Hippodrome, died, she and her sisters became actors to support themselves. 3.) She met Justinian and asked his uncle, Justinian to repeal (change) the law that forbade high ranking, wealthy men from marrying poor, low ranking women. 4.) She and Justinian got married. 5.) Justinian became emperor and she influenced him to make many laws.
200
How do I find the main idea in the second paragraph of "The Hippodrome" and what is this main idea?
Often, main ideas are found in the sub-headings and in the beginning and ending sentences of the paragraph.
200
After the crash, Brian is in pain but he is okay. Then what is the first big conflict he faces?
Mosquitos.
200
Is "Hatchet" a biography, a short story, a fictional novel or an article?
Fictional novel. A biography is a real-life work written about a person's life. This isn't about Brian's whole life, just less than two months.
300
Describe the two boy's physical attributes and their fighting styles.
Antonio has blonde hair and is tall and thin. Felix has dark hair and is short and muscular. Antonio's body type give him a long reach and he is the better boxer. Felix's short muscular body make him the better slugger, puncher.
300
Name four laws that Justinian made because of Empress Theodora's influence.
1.) Women who were divorced could keep their children. 2.) Women could own property. 3.) A law was made that you could not abandon your baby to die of exposure. 4.) Laws were made to build hospitals, orphanages, and places to take care of the poor.
300
Look at the second paragraph on page 26. What are the supporting details of why the races were so important to the people of Constantinople?
1.) They liked to bet on them (gamble). 2.) Their loyalty to teams became loyalty to political groups.
300
Other than his friend Terry, and his mother and father, there is one adult that Brian thinks about in the novel, an adult that taught him some important lessons. Who is this adult and what did he teach Brian?
His English teacher, Mr. Perpich. He taught Brian 1.) Stay positive. Look at the good in your situation. 2.) Get motivated. Find a reason to do something. 3.) Stay on top of things: understand your situation and think about what you should do next. (Brian lists what he has.)
300
What does it mean to compare? To Contrast?
Compare - See how things are alike. Contrast - See how things are different.
400
Why do the boys want to fight? (Read the Background box on page 4)
They want to build a better life for themselves by winning the boxing tournament.
400
What was the Nika revolt?
In AD 532, two teams came together and protested Justinian's laws. The protest turned ugly and large parts of the city, Constantinople, were burned.
400
Where can I found out the size of the Hippodrome?
In the third paragraph. Page 25. 525 yards long and 129 yards wide.
400
Describe two bad experiences Brian has with nature.
1.) Eating too many gut cherries. 2.) Getting attacked by the porcupine.
400
Tell two things that we need to remember when writing notes.
1.) Look at the headings and subheadings for the main ideas. 2.) Keep it short and simple.
500
How are the boys fighting at the very end of the boxing tournament and what does the crowd think of it?
The boys are just punching punching punching each other and the crowd is silent watching them. Then when the boys rush together for a hug, the crowd thinks the boys are trying to kill each other.
500
Why did Empress Theodora give a speech and what did this speech show about her and Justinian's relationship?
In the Nika revolt, when her husband was about ready to run for his life, she encouraged him to stay and fight bravely to the death. This speech shows that she and Justinian have a very honest relationship and that she can say anything to him.
500
What does the last paragraph of the article tell us about what happened to the Hippodrome?
Over the years, the Hippodrome became less important and less beautiful.
500
How does Brian make fire?
He uses his hatchet against a stone to make sparks and then builds a little pile out of bark and grass.
500
Tell three things about writing a summary.
1.) Look in the headings and subheadings for the main ideas. 2.) Look in the beginning and ending sentence of the paragraph for the main idea. 3.) WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
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