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Vocabulary
Text Dependent
Text Dependent 2
Text Dependent 3
Text Dependent 4
100
Provide a definition in your own words for the tangle.
A confused mass: a snarl
100
What has Dusty changed from last year to ensure that he will do better in this year’s race? (page 188)
He has gotten rid of his glasses and replaced them with contact lenses (the glasses were coated with ice and he couldn’t see the trail last year). He also has the best dog team he has ever had which will hopefully help him stay on course and not get lost like he did last year.
100
The author calls one of Dusty’s competitors, or someone else trying to win the race, “the favorite to win this year.” What does that mean? (page 188)
This competitor, Andy Willis, is generally expected to win the race.
100
Why is number 6 a good position for Dusty to begin the race in? Use the last few sentences on page 188 and the sentences at the top of page 189 to help you answer this question.
This position places Dusty only eight minutes behind the lead racer and lets Dusty start in front of nine other racers. (Racers start two minutes apart. There isn’t a number one position, so two minutes times four racers in front of Dusty equals eight minutes. There are 15 racers, so he will be ahead of nine of them.)
100
At the bottom of the first column on page 191, the dog sled was going too fast and crashed into a tree. What does the author mean when he said, “Dusty stops dead and can’t believe he didn’t break the sled?”
It means that he was going very fast and after hitting the tree, came to a complete stop.
200
Provide a definition in your own words for the word pace.
Rate of speed, as in movement or work.
200
On page 190, the author uses many words and phrases to show how tremendously powerful the small dogs are. What are some of these words and phrases?
Dusty has to walk each dog from the truck with its front paws off the ground because with all four legs on the ground, they could pull Dusty off his feet. From the picture – it looks like this teenager is good-sized, larger than the dogs. Even when the dogs are “hooked up” to the sled, their excitement makes it difficult to keep them in place – all hands need to be holding them. Dusty’s mother rides on the sled with him to the starting line and keeps her foot on the breaks to help control the sled. Dusty “flies from the start” when the handlers step away after the announcers said, “Go!”
200
On edge is a phrase that means nervous or tense. What are some of the obstacles on the trail, and why is Dusty on edge about them? (page 191)
Snowmobiles use the same trail. Dusty has to cross four roads within 10 miles and the roads are slick. If the team gets hung up or must quickly stop because of one of these obstacles, he or the dogs could get injured, and he could fall behind and lose the race.
200
At the bottom of the first column on page 191, the dog sled was going too fast and crashed into a tree. What does the author mean when he said, “Dusty stops dead and can’t believe he didn’t break the sled?”
It means that he was going very fast and after hitting the tree, came to a complete stop.
200
How does crashing into a tree become a positive experience for Dusty? (page 191)
It reminds him to slow down and get control. He then establishes a strong, steady pace and is able to take the lead.
300
Provide a definition in your own words for the word handlers.
Those who manage, control or operate.
300
How does Dusty help out the dog team on page 191?
He runs alongside the sled when they go up hills. He jumps from the left runner to the right one to steer the sled around tight corners.
300
The dogs run into two snowmobiles and almost a third one on the narrow path on the last paragraph on page 191. How does this collision, or crash, upset Dusty’s progress?
The dogs are stopped on the path and unable to pass so they spin and run in circles, tangling their lines. It takes Dusty five minutes for him to straighten them out and get underway. They almost run into a third snowmobile which causes the lead dogs to “stop dead” and the other dogs pile into them, tangling up their lines again. Dusty is worried that another racer will catch up with him.
300
After the collision with the snowmobile, Dusty sees moose tracks in the snow and his fears “mushroom.” What does this mean? (page 192)
It means he got really worried and his fears multiplied because running into a moose is the musher’s worst nightmare. The moose can attack the dogs (thinking they are wolves) and kill several of them before the musher can frighten the moose away.
300
To get tangled means to get twisted around something. Why is a tangle a musher’s second worst nightmare, according to the author on page 192?
Getting tangled is the second worst nightmare because the dogs could be injured or strangled when the lines, or ropes, wrap around them.
400
Provide a definition in your own words for the word positions.
The places occupied by people or things.
400
Dusty was on edge on the narrow forest trail but feels “relaxed and at home” in the open meadow. Why has Dusty’s mood changed? What from the text tells you that? (pages 192-193)
On the narrow forest trail, there were many obstacles (and potential obstacles), such as snowmobiles and moose. He had also gotten tangled up twice and thought that others were going to catch up to him. In the open meadow, he can relax and take a break. It is a flat part of the route. He chooses the correct path (where he had gotten lost the year before) and notices that he has a large lead in front of the other competitors – he can see five miles behind him and there isn’t even one racer in sight.
400
On page 193, Dusty reaches a checkpoint and checks on the dogs. Why does he decide to take Annie off the lead? Was the replacement dog a good decision? Why or why not?
Annie kept looking back while running and seemed nervous. He thought that she was still upset from the encounter with the snowmobile. He puts a young dog, Jazz, in her place. He is inexperienced and in a short while, he has to replace him with another dog, Bettie. It isn’t until he replaces Jazz that they are running well as a team again.
400
What in the text tells you that Dusty is sensitive to his dogs and their needs? (pages 192-193)
During the break at the lake, he greets all the dogs and checks their feet for injuries. He gives them snacks to maintain their energy. He puts booties on their feet to protect them as they run. He changes Annie at the checkpoint because she seems nervous – and then changes Jazz because he is inexperienced.
400
At the halfway point, Dusty has little time to relax because he has several “dog chores.” What are the chores? (page 194)
He ties the sled to a small tree and makes a straw bed for the dogs. Then he fires up his stove to melt snow for water and pours the warm water over the frozen meat to prepare the dogs’ food. After dinner, he checks the dogs’ feet and treats their injuries.
500
Provide a definition in your own words for the word headquarters.
The place from which activities, such as those of an organization, are directed.
500
How does the Jr. Iditarod protect the racers and the dog teams? (page 189, 193)
There are rules about carrying emergency food and giving the dogs a certain amount of food during the rest break. Racers must rest their teams and remain at the halfway point for ten hours.
500
What is the rule of the wilderness and why is it important? (page 195)
The rule of the wilderness is that everyone helps each other – even though they are competitors. At the halfway point, Dusty doesn’t rest and helps the other competitors build a fire because of the harsh conditions.
500
Why does Dusty leave the halfway point in the dark to finish the last leg of the race? How does he feel about it? (page 195)
Because Dusty has reached the halfway point first, he gets to leave first. He will have to remain there for 10 hours (Jr. Iditarod rule) before finishing the race. He isn’t happy about leaving at 3:30 a.m. because he doesn’t like racing at night – he can’t see the trail markers or nearby moose. He places his trust in his dogs and they become his “only eyes.”
500
When Dusty comes in first place, far ahead of all other competitors, rumors fly that he has mistreated his dogs. How do you know that he has not mistreated them? (page 196)
When everyone at the finish line looked at the dogs, they saw that the dogs were still strong – barking, jumping, and eager to run further.