Olivia's+Page

Monday, January 16th Read the Preface, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 due Wednesday Create your own page using only your first name. Type out the date that the assignment was given. Type out the questions and your answers on your page.

Questions: Preface 1. What were the Chinese crews working on? The Chinese crews were working on the railroad that connected the western half of America to the eastern half. 2. Tell me about the Manchus group from China. The Manchus clan is a barbarian tribe who controlled the kingdom for two hundred some years. 3. Who were the "Strangers" and what did they do? The Strangers were the group who was believed to have provided information and aid to the Manchus. 4. Why were many people from China coming to the United States? To work on the railroad.

Chapter 1 1. Why was Otter able to leave school? What made him so special? Otter was able to leave school because his father and unle were coming home. Otter is special becuase his Uncle was famous for finding more gold than the other people. 2. Why was Stumpy hit across the palm? Because he laughed when Otter went to meet his father and uncle. 3. Why did Uncle Bucky treat Otter like a "pet?" Because he treated him better than everyone else. 4. What was the "work" that mother was talking about? Working on the railroad. 5. Who was Uncle Foxfire and what was he famous for? Uncle Foxfire is Otter's uncle who is famous for collecting more gold than all the others. 6. Why do you think the village is making a big deal about Otter's father and uncle coming back home? Because they made sacrifices for the village. (page 5-top)

Chapter 2 1. What happened to the Golden Cat? He thought he could keep one hop ahead of bad times. 2. Why does Otter want to go to the Golden Mountain? Because Otter thought that America was better than China in a differences way. 3. Why didn't Otter give Stumpy's mother a bowl of rice? Because Stumpy' Mother is mean to Otter and Stumpy's mother is on opium. 4. What is the problem so far in this story? That Otter's father and uncle come home and that Otter feels like he is going to be the only one left in Three Willows Village.

Chapter 3 1. Why was the family celebrating and having a banquet? Because Uncle Foxfire and Father have arrived home. 2. Who is the "Watch?" The Watch is like the bodyguards or like watch tower guards. 3. Why did the group of beggars come in and interrupt the party? Because they were going to steal Uncle Pine's robe in order to sell it for Opium. 4. What was the uncle's plan to keep the British and opium out of China? He will use American machines and weapons. 5. Why was father called a clown and Uncle Foxfire called a prophet? He's always joking around? 6. Why does Otter want to follow his father and uncle? Because Otter didn't want to be under he rule of his mom. 7. Why do you think the mother might listen to Uncle Foxfire more than Otter and his father? Because Uncle Foxfire is her brother and is called wise and a hero. 8. What do you think is the main idea of this chapter? That Otter feels misplaced that his mom won't let him go to America.

Chapter 4

1. What was the main idea of this chapter? The main idea is that Otter's mom doesn't let him go to the Golden Mountain.

2. What questions do you have from chapter 4? What is lattice? Why did Otter want to burn those cothes?

Chapter 5

1. How does a goldfish turn into a dragon? By becoming popular or thinking high of yourself.

2. What happened to the drunken Manchus and Otter? The Manchus misinterpreted Otter and chased him.

Chapter 6 1. What did it mean when mother told Otter that he was, "neither Stranger nor Young?" His mother was telling him that he didn't belong anywhere. 2. Describe Otter's birth mom and dad? What were they like? How did they die? Otter's birth mother was named Aster and his birth father was named Tiny. Aster died in a massacre and Tiny died because he got shot. Aster was Otter's adopted mom's best friend. Tiny was strong and muscular and Aster was nimble. 3. Why is it not safe for Otter to remain at home? Because the Manchus think he is a traitor. 4. What does it mean when it says, "Tiny never lived long enough to see ice?" He never lived long enough to go to America?? 5. Why does mother want Otter to study father's letters as if his life depended on it? So he knew where he was going.And how to find him. 6. Who do you think the woman is at the end of this chapter? Why is the wind howling, "Don't go, don't go?" The woman is probably crying because The Manchus are probably going to raid he town since Otter killed one. I think Otter's feeling for going to the Golden Mountain aren't as strong because he fears for his mother's safety.

Chapter 7 1. Why did Otter and Brush get into a fight? Because brush was trying to steal Otter's things. 2. How did the westerners make the goldfields into wastelands? They picked out all the gold and all that was left was debris. 3. Where were Shifty, Brush and Otter going? To work in the camps. 4. How does Otter think he might find father and his uncle? Otter sees a group of T'ang like him and tries desperatley to search for his father and uncle.

Chapter 8 1. Who are the demons that they are talking about in this chapter? The Westerners. 2. What was so useful about this snowplow? So the workers could go about easier without having to trudge through snow. 3. How did Sean save Otter? Otter was falling off the side of the wagon and Sean pulled him back in. 4. Describe the camp. There was snow, and men working. There were locomotives everywhere that made work easier.

Chapter 9 1. Why did Shrimp speak to them in rhymes? He was trying to distinguish their dialects. 2. What did it mean when father said, "you hopped out of the soup pot and into the fire?" That he just got himself into worse trouble that he already was in. 3. Describe Otter in this chapter. How is he changing from the beginning of the book? He is getting more mature. 4. What do you predict will happen next? Otter is going to get hurt.

Chapter 10 1. What did father mean when he said that, "Victory is 20 centimeters a shift?" If you mine 20 centimeters a shift. 2. What is the point that they are talking about? Why does no one like working at the point? It is a tunnel and it's very holey. 3. On page 110, it says that uncle was arguing "vehemently," what does this mean? Violently. 4. Who is Strobridge and Kilroy? Two westerners. 5. So what half-truths is Uncle Foxfire talking about? How he told some of truth but not all of it. 6. Why is Otter so upset at the end of this chapter? because the other workers are calling him meatball and saying he has alot to work on.

Chapter 11 1. What happened to Shaky? He almost got blown up with the rest of his crew. 2. What is a "greenhorn?" An inexperienced person. 3. Why did father slap Otter's wrist? So he wouldn't get sick from eating snow. 4. Explain the ending of this chapter. Otter had found out that his father and Uncle Foxfire are in charge of a crew of misfits.

Chapter 12 1. How can you not like each other but still be an efficient crew? Because friendship was not necessary in a good crew. 2. What were the holes for? They put charges in the holes. 3. What was meant when they said, "Fire in the heading?" That the dynomite was going to explode. 4. What was meant when father said to Otter, "Don't be a martyr?" To not die of dedication. 5. Why did Kilroy call Uncle Foxfire, "John?" Kilroy calls all T'ang men John because he doesn't speak their language to know their real names.

Chapter 13 1. What did Uncle Foxfire mean when he said that Otter looked at the world as black and white but he looked at it in shades of gray? He meant that when you are little, you think you wont do it or you will, but when you see shades of gray that you can always wait. 2. Who is the Tiger? The mountain. 3. Why is it so important that Otter get some sort of hobby? Because Packy might trade what you make for something you need. 4. What are the three rules the cabin chose to live by? 1.)Keep warm 2.) Keep dry. 3.) Keep clean. 5. Why didn't Uncle Foxfire or father help Otter? Because Uncle Foxfire said he broke the rules. 6. Who is Sean? Why did he say, " 'Tis he that's the lucky one?" Sean is a westerner and he said that because he didn't have to be at the camp anymore. 7. Explain the last paragraph of this chapter - what did it mean? He meant that he learned when he wanted o go to America (an was'nt forced to) he wished hs dream hadn't come true.

Chapter 14 1. What does it mean when Uncle Foxfire referred to all westerners as "equal?" Poor and rich are equal. 2. Why did Otter run his arm through the bucket of tea? Because he got mad at someone and splashed the tea on them. 3. Why was Otter supposed to stay away from Sean? Because Father said his kindness doesn't match ours. 4. Why is Otter determined to disobey his father? Because it's something he has never done and he wants to be friends with Sean.

Chapter 15 1. Who was Sean fighting and what was the fight about? The fight was that a Chinese worker overheard Sean and Otter talking and got mad and started swinging at Sean. 2. Why did Kilroy tell the guy that it was ok to fight his son? Because he wanted to see if Sean could be a man. 3. On page 171 Otters states that he was, "preparing for a tirade," what did he mean? It means that he was preparing to be yelled at. 4. Why did Otter's father say he was sorry to his son? Because he doesn't talk to Otter.

Chapter 16 1. Why did Otter want to talk to Bright Star about his plan to help Doggy? Because he wanted to gather up money within the crew to pay for his Moon Guitar. 2. Why did Bright Star decide that Otter should give Doggy the moon guitar? Because Doggy's music is what kept them all going.

Chapter 17 1. What was the irony of Doggy getting frostbite on his fingers? That he could use his Moon Guitar as a drum. 2. Why did Otter stay to watch? Because he didn't want the others to think he was a coward. Chapter 18 1. What did Uncle Foxfire mean when he said, "We'll make a guest out of you yet?" That he still has more has more to handle. 2. What do you think caused the explosion? The snow did something to the charges. 3. Why wasn't Uncle Foxfire worried about Otter's father? Because he knew he is strong. Chapter 19 1. Why did Uncle Foxfire apologize to Otter? 2. What did father mean when he said, "Don't try to trick the trickster?" Becuase the mountain can play tricks on you and you do not want to trick the trickster. 3. Describe how Otter felt by the end of this chapter towards the tiger. He felt angry becaue of what it "did" to Father.

Chapter 20 1. Why do they describe their living/working situation as a battlefield? Because there is too much cold, danger, and Otter is scared that there are random explosions. 2. Why did Otter insist that he and father had quit? Becuase Kilroy was going to make Otter's dad work when he was blind. 3. Why did Kilroy have to use the whip? What was this a symbol of? Kilroy had to use the whip because Otter was yelling to quit.It was a symbol of dishonor. 4. Why did father talk Otter into standing up and giving in to Kilroy's demands? Because Otter is just making it worse. 5. Make a prediction as to what will happen next? Father is going to become 100% permanently blind.

Chapter 21 1. What does it mean when Uncle Foxfire said, "Anger is a luxury up here?" Because there is no one to get mad at. 2. Why did Uncle Foxfire let Otter say such awful things to him? Uncle Foxfire said that he owed Otter beause he hurt Father and got his birth father killed. 3. How can Uncle Foxfire make a promise that he's not sure he can keep? Because he lied about Ameria and he is not known for keeping promises.

Chapter 22 1. What did the Tiger symbolize to Otter? The mountain. 2. Why does everyone cough? Because they all have colds. 3. Why was Uncle Foxfire willing to take orders from Keg Mouth? Because they call themselves children of the T'ang. 4. Tell me about the ending of this chapter. Now what questions do you have? It was how Uncle Foxfie rebeled and started digging for bodies against Kilroy's orders. Why didn't Otter help? Where did Otter go?

Chapter 23 1. Otter once thought of Uncle Foxfire as a legend, what is a legend? A well known person for something they did. 2. Why does Otter admire Uncle Foxfire? Give examples/evidence to support your answer. On page 239 it says Otter said Uncle Foxfire has o be some kind of man because if it were him, he'd be sulking in the corner. 3. What is the plan to get off the mountain and go home? They would help get out dead bodies if they could go home after.