Comprehension Questions
Describe how Kek feels when he first arrives in America.
out of place, nervous, hopeful?
"Walking through the snow is hard work, like wading across a river wild with rain."
Simile
"When Elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers."
Words of the Wiser...What's the life lesson and how does it apply to the character?
Ganwar says to Kek, "You will be a man when you own a house and a car." Based on this, Ganwar thinks:
a) Americans are good neighbors
b) American are unique
c) Americans are materialistic
d) Americans are hard-working
C
At the zoo, Kek thinks about the reason he is there when others are not. What is he most likely feeling when he says this?
guilt
The name Kek chooses for the cow, Gol, means this.
family
"The icy air kicks at my chest."
Personification
"In my old home back in Africa, cattle mean life".
Memory Moment ...Why might this memory be important?
"The crocodile snaps;
Still Kek swims.
The feet bleed;
Still Kek dances
The sandstorm blinds;
Still Kek laughs."
What does this show about Kek?
Kek finds the good in any situation, is positive and perseveres.
To Kek, what symbolizes family, home, and pride?
cows
Which is not a central theme in Home of the Brave?
a) One must never give up hope.
b) Honesty is the best policy.
c) If you persevere, you can succeed.
d) When in the darkness, it helps to have a friend shine you in the right direction.
B
"Get your feet wet."
Idiom
"Dave turns to look at me. You know Kek, he says, we aren't sure where your mother is."
Tough Questions...What does the question make Kek wonder about?
Who says, "You would not believe it! They teach you and feed you and I have my own desk."
Kek
The small piece of cloth Kek carries in his pocket belong to...
his mother
The reason Kek quits working on Lou's farm.
He is mad that Lou wants to move away.
"I stand like a tree rooted firm, my eyes too full of this place with its answers to prayers on every shelf."
Simile
"I will never have the gaar, I say suddenly.My words surprise me."
AHA moment...How might this change things?
When Hannah has Kek over, she says, "Sorry, it's a dump, I know. [She sighs.]" Her voice shows that she feels this emotion.
embarrassment
What is the term for the scar Ganwar received in Sudan?
the gaar
What is the best reason Katherine Applegate included the chapter, "Helping" about washing the dishes?
a) lighten the mood of the book
b) helped the reader understand how difficult every day tasks are for a refugee
c) made the reader root for Kek
d) all of the above
D
"The stories would lift me up, the words like a breeze beneath butterfly wings..." This is a combination of two types of figurative language.
Personification and simile
The proverb at the beginning of the last section says, "A sandstorm passes; the stars remain." This proverb explains the ending of the book in this way.
Words of the Wiser... What is the life lesson, and how did it affect the character?
The character who says, "I didn't come to this country to sweep floors...A man does not wear a paper hat and hand out ketchup packets."
Ganwar
This person tells Ganwar he can "use his other hand" in order for him to work.
Lou