Vocabulary from the Story
Elements of the Book
Comprehension Questions
Comprehension Questions
Comprehension Questions
100
What is a shiek?
The leader of an Arab family or village.
100
Who is the author of Nadia the Willful?
Sue Alexander
100
How did Nadia get her nickname, “Nadia the Willful?”
She had a bad temper
100
Who is the only person who calms Nadia when she becomes angry?
Her oldest brother
100
Tarik searches for his son but realizes that Hamed
Died in the desert
200
What does it mean to be gracious?
Being pleasant, courteous, and nice
200
What is the setting of the story?
The Sahara Desert
200
Comparing Tarik and Nadia reveals that they both
Love Hamed deeply
200
Why is the group afraid to mention Hamed?
Tarik will punish anyone who talks of Hamed.
200
Talking about Hamed helps Nadia do what?
Deal with her grief
300
What does console mean?
To ease someone's sorrow; to comfort.
300
What is the theme of Nadia the Willful?
Remembering someone eases sadness
300
Which conflict best reveals the story’s theme? a. Tarik’s fight to locate his son b. Hamed’s fight against the desert c. Nadia’s fight to express her memories d. the shepherd’s fight with the black sheep
c. Nadia’s fight to express her memories
300
Tarik’s banishing of the shepard shows what about Tarik? a. has difficulty dealing with his sadness b. punishes everyone in the same way c. considers every problem separately d. holds little power within the group
a. has difficulty dealing with his sadness
300
Why does Nadia confront Tarik? a. Tarik orders her to stay in her tent b. Tarik punishes the shepherd boy c. Her mother refuses to eat for seven days d. The shepherd finds a lost black lamb
b. Tarik punishes the shepherd boy
400
A fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland, made so by the presence of water.
What is an oasis?
400
What is the conflict of Nadia the Willful?
Nadia disobeys her father by speaking about Hamed because it make her feel better.
400
What did Tarik not do after hearing the news about Hamed?
He didn't eat or speak for seven days.
400
What does Nadia do that helps end her father’s conflict?
Tells stories about Hamed to her father
400
Why does Tarik tell the group that Nadia is wise?
She helps her father remember Hamed.
500
What is does to banish someone?
To send away; exile.
500
Nadia belongs to a nomadic Arab clan. What is the name of the clan?
Bedouin people
500
What does Nadia mean when she says, “You will not rob me of my brother Hamed!”
Nadia’s father cannot literally “rob” her brother away because he is already dead, but by not allowing anyone to speak of Hamed, Tarik has taken away Nadia’s memories of her brother.
500
Why did Nadia’s brothers “look around in fear”?
Because Nadia was talking about Hamed which was against her father's decree. When Nadia sees her brothers playing a game incorrectly, that Hamed had taught her, she corrects them, “without thinking…” by saying “This is not the way! Hamed said that first you jump this way and then you jump back!”
500
Allah is the name for God in the Islamic religion. What is meant by the expression, “Such is the will of Allah?”
“Such is the will of Allah” means that the God has taken Hamed because it was his time to pass. Shepherds said they saw a great white stallion fleeing without a rider. Merchants told about “the emptiness of the desert they had crossed.”
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