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Questions: Preface 1. What were the Chinese crews working on? The chinese crews were working on a railroad. 2. Tell me about the Manchus group from China. Manchus was a group of people or a gang that did bad things. They were in charge for over 200 years. 3. Who were the "Strangers" and what did they do? Strangers were a group of people that gave Manchus information. 4. Why were many people from China coming to the United States? Chinese people came to help with the railroad because they wanted to get away from China and the Manchus because they wanted to kill any strangers. Chapter 1 1. Why was Otter able to leave school? What made him so special? Otter was able to leave school because he had a homecoming to go to were his father and uncle were coming home. He was special bacause his uncle is famous for collecting the most gold. 2. Why was Stumpy hit across the palm? Because he laghed when otter went to see his father and uncle. 3. Why did Uncle Bucky treat Otter like a "pet"? Because he got treated the best out of everybody. 4. What was the "work" that mother was talking about? She is talking about the work on the railroad. 5. Who was Uncle Foxfire and what was he famous for? He is otter's uncle and he is famous for collecting the most gold in the golden moutain. 6. Why do you think the village is making a big deal about Otter's father and uncle coming back home? Because they are famous for collecting a lot of gold and now they have gold. Chapter 2 1. What happened to the Golden Cat? He didnt let any of his family go to the Golden Mountain. 2. Why does Otter want to go to the Golden Mountain? He thought that china wasnt as good as America and he didnt want to get killed by Manchus. 3. Why didn't Otter give Stumpy's mother a bowl of rice? Otter didnt give Stumpys mother a bowl of rice because she is mean to him and he wanted to treat her the way he got treated by her. 4. What is the problem so far in this story? I think the the problem in this story is that Otter wants to go to America after his father and uncle just got back.

Chapter 3 1. Why was the family celebrating and having a banquet? They are having a banquet because of father and uncle's return. 2. Who is the "Watch?" The watch is a person that is like a gaurd that protects the mansion. 3. Why did the group of beggars come in and interrupt the party? They wanted money for opium. 4. What was the uncle's plan to keep the British and opium out of China? Otters uncle had a plan to get u.s wepons so they could stop the opium addicts from getting opium and they could mabey even drive out the Manchus. 5. Why was father called a clown and Uncle Foxfire called a prophet? Father was called clown because he jokes around about thingsand uncle foxfire is called prophet because he is very serious about things. 6. Why does Otter want to follow his father and uncle? Otter wants to go to the golden ountain because when his dad was telling storys he could picture the whole thing and it soundedgreat to him. 7. Why do you think the mother might listen to Uncle Foxfire more than Otter and his father? Mabey because he is famous and he knows what the right choise would be, and also knows what the wrong one would be. 8. What do you think is the main idea of this chapter? I think the main idea of this chapter is otter trying to figure out a way to let his mom and dad let him go to the golden moutain with his father and uncle foxfire.

Chapter 4 1. What was the main idea of this chapter? The main idea of this chapter is that otters mom diidnt let him go to the golden mountain and he was sad because he had to go back to living his dull life. 2. What questions do you have from chapter 4? Why did Otter say he didnt want to go if he really did want to?

Chapter 5 1. How does a goldfish turn into a dragon? For a fish to become a dragonit must cross the gate at the end of the river. 2. What happened to the drunken Manchus and Otter? Otter and the drunk manchus got in a fight and they died.

Chapter 6 1. What did it mean when mother told Otter that he was, "neither Stranger nor Young?" His mother was telling him he didnt belong anywere. 2. Describe Otter's birth mom and dad? What were they like? How did they die? His Dad was a big strong man that smelled like smoke because of his job as a blacksmith. 3. Why is it not safe for Otter to remain at home? It isnt safe for Otter to stay in China because he killed a Manchus and he now needs to hide. 4. What does it mean when it says, "Tiny never lived long enough to see ice?" It means he never lived to see winter. 5. Why does mother want Otter to study father's letters as if his life depended on it? She wants him to study them so he can learn a lot about 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?" I think that the women was Otter's imagination of his mother and ithink that he was imagining his mother saying dont go because she will be all alone.

Chapter 7 1. Why did Otter and Brush get into a fight? Because Brush was stealing his things. 2. How did the westerners make the goldfields into wastelands? They picked out all the gold. 3. Where were Shifty, Brush and Otter going? They were going to the camp. 4. How does Otter think he might find father and his uncle? When he read the letters they said that his uncle and father were working on a bridge and he had seen a picture of the bridge so he would know were to look.

Chapter 8 1. Who are the demons that they are talking about in this chapter? Westerns. 2. What was so useful about this snowplow? They cleared the snow so it was easier to get through the snow. 3. How did Sean save Otter? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">Otter was falling off the truck and Sean caught him. 4. Describe the camp. <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">There was snow, men working and there were locomotives everywhere.

Chapter 9 1. Why did Shrimp speak to them in rhymes? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">He didn't like Otter and wanted to make things harder for him. 2. What did it mean when father said, "you hopped out of the soup pot and into the fire?" <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">He was in the soup for killing a manchus and he was in the fire because he had to hide from all the manchus in bad conditions. 3. Describe Otter in this chapter. How is he changing from the beginning of the book? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">He is becoming more like his father by telling jokes and working the same work he is. He never was like his dad but now he is. 4. What do you predict will happen next? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">I think Otter will stay in the golden mountain for a while.

Chapter 10 1. What did father mean when he said that, "Victory is 20 centimeters a shift?" <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">He meant that every shift the best that they could do was get 20 centimeters to get your shift over. 2. What is the point that they are talking about? Why does no one like working at the point? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">The point is where it is really stinky, dark and the coldest place so when people work there the have a chance of freezing to death. 3. On page 110, it says that uncle was arguing "vehemently," what does this mean? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">It means that he was arguing very agresivly or 100%. 4. Who is Strobridge and Kilroy? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">Strobridge and kilroy were the leaders of the whole operation. 5. So what half-truths is Uncle Foxfire talking about? He <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">was talking about how he didn't tell his family about the bad life in america and that he did tell the truth on some things. 6. Why is Otter so upset at the end of this chapter? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">He was upset because he thought he was going to get a lot of glory from uncle foxfire, but when he got to the golden mountain he realized that his dad and uncle foxfire are just any other worker that doesnt have any fame at all.

Chapter 11 1. What happened to Shaky? <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">He had to work in cape horn were they exploded things and he got messed up. 2. What is a "greenhorn?"<span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;"> A greenhorn is the new person (Otter). 3. Why did father slap Otter's wrist?<span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;"> Father slaped otters wrist because Otter was about to eat snow that wasnt boiled which could get him sick and he could die. So Father was just trieing to help. 4. Explain the ending of this chapter. <span style="color: #e10ed7; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">Shrimp was making fun of Father and Uncle because they were put in charge of crews that had already got expeled from a differnt crew.

Chapter 12 1. How can you not like each other but still be an efficient crew? Because if you arent efficient with your crew that you wont make any progress. 2. What were the holes for? The holes were for putting charges into them and blowing them up. 3. What was meant when they said, "Fire in the heading?"<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This meant that there was about to be an explosion from the charges. 4. What was meant when father said to Otter, "Don't be a martyr?" A martyr is someone that doesnt want to admit that he/she is wrong. 5. Why did Kilroy call Uncle Foxfire, "John?" Kilroy called uncle foxfire that because he didnt know uncles language there for he couldnt say his name.

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? This meant that Otter took things for grantid. 2. Who is the Tiger? The tiger is the mountian. 3. Why is it so important that Otter get some sort of hobby? If otter doesnt get a hobby then he will go crazy with nothing to do. 4. What are the three rules the cabin chose to live by? The three rules were to keep dry, keep warm and to keep clean. 5. Why didn't Uncle Foxfire or father help Otter? Because if otter was going to live there he would have to learn how to put up with things like that. 6. Who is Sean? Why did he say, " 'Tis he that's the lucky one?" Sean is one of Otter friends who works in the tunnle and he said that because now the dead person doesnt have to put up with the conditions. 7. Explain the last paragraph of this chapter - what did it mean? It meant that his dream was coming to the golden moutian but it is becoming his worst nightmare.

Chapter 14 1. What does it mean when Uncle Foxfire referred to all westerners as "equal?" He meant that nobody had classes or levels of wealth. 2. Why did Otter run his arm through the bucket of tea? Because Otter has a short fuse for when people yell at him. 3. Why was Otter supposed to stay away from Sean? He is supposed to stay away from Sean because father thinks that he is not of their kind. 4. Why is Otter determined to disobey his father? Otter is determined to disobey father because he wants to be friends with Sean still.

Chapter 15 1. Who was Sean fighting and what was the fight about? Sean was fighting a random guy that was ordered by kilroy to fight Sean. 2. Why did Kilroy tell the guy that it was ok to fight his son? Kilroy said it was ok to fight his son because Sean needed resspect to be there. 3. On page 171 Otters states that he was, "preparing for a tirade," what did he mean? He meant that he was getting ready for craziness. 4. Why did Otter's father say he was sorry to his son? Because if he wouldnt have told half truths about the Golden Mountain Otter wouldnt have came and he wouldnt be in this sittuation.

Chapter 16 1. Why did Otter want to talk to Bright Star about his plan to help Doggy? He wanted to help Doggy because he missed his beutifull music and knew that doggy was sad about it. 2. Why did Bright Star decide that Otter should give Doggy the moon guitar? He said that Otter had good notion and he came up with the idea.

Chapter 17 1. What was the irony of Doggy getting frostbite on his fingers? I think that he was so sad the day before that he forgot to rap his fingers and then got frostbite. 2. Why did Otter stay to watch? Otter stayed to watch because he didnt want to look like a coward in front of his crew.

Chapter 18 1. What did Uncle Foxfire mean when he said, "We'll make a guest out of you yet?" He meant that he wanted to get otter home as soon as posible. 2. What do you think caused the explosion? What caused the explosion was gun powder that didnt explode originaly. 3. Why wasn't Uncle Foxfire worried about Otter's father? He wasnt worried because he knew that otters father was tough.

Chapter 19 1. Why did Uncle Foxfire apologize to Otter? He apologized for saving his crew instead of looking for father in the first place. 2. What did father mean when he said, "Don't try to trick the trickster?" 3. Describe how Otter felt by the end of this chapter towards the tiger. He was angry and scared at the same time.

Chapter 20 1. Why do they describe their living/working situation as a battlefield? Because anybodoy could die at any time. 2. Why did Otter insist that he and father had quit? Because the living enviroment was terribale and they could die so easily. 3. Why did Kilroy have to use the whip? What was this a symbol of? He had to use his whip because otter was talking back to him and he wanted to quit. This meant that Kilroy was desprate for workers and was not going to let anyone quit. 4. Why did father talk Otter into standing up and giving in to Kilroy's demands? Becaus it would only make Kilroy madder and Otter would never be able to go home. 5. Make a prediction as to what will happen next? I think that Father will get his sight back and he Otter and uncle Foxfire will trie to escape.

Chapter 21 1. What does it mean when Uncle Foxfire said, "Anger is a luxury up here?" I think it meant that anger was something to be happy about because it might be common. 2. Why did Uncle Foxfire let Otter say such awful things to him? Because he knew that Father would get even more angry and he knew it was true. 3. How can Uncle Foxfire make a promise that he's not sure he can keep? He cant make a promis because the last promis he made he didnt keep it and now nobody can trust him.

Chapter 22 1. What did the Tiger symbolize to Otter? The tiger symbolized a terrible mountain that could kill anyone at any time. 2. Why does everyone cough? Everyone is coughing because of the cold conditions up in the montains. 3. Why was Uncle Foxfire willing to take orders from Keg Mouth? He knew that if he talked back more people could get mad at him and if everybody was mad at him then his crew wouldnt work together. 4. Tell me about the ending of this chapter. Now what questions do you have? An avalanch came and killed lots of people but Kilroy came and told everybody to get back to work and then a kid said he needed to go get his brother under the snow but Kilroy refused.

Chapter 23 1. Otter once thought of Uncle Foxfire as a legend, what is a legend? A legend is someone who is usualy famous or is known for somthing he/she did. 2. Why does Otter admire Uncle Foxfire? Give examples/evidence to support your answer. He admires him because he has a lot of strength and courage to go do otters plan to escape. 3. What is the plan to get off the mountain and go home? The plan is to go on the top of the mountain, plant a charge, and cause an avalanch that gos away from the crew.

Chapter 24 1. Why did Uncle Foxfire and Otter go off into the mountain? They went to plant a charge at the top of the mountain and make the avalanche go away from the crew. 2. Why do you think that Sean followed? I think Sean followed because he was sick and tired of his father do all these things to otter and wanted to help. 3. What happened to Sean by the end of the chapter? Where is he going? He fell in a whole and twisted his ankle so he couldnt go on so he had to go back to his father.

Chapter 25 1. Otter now considers Uncle Foxfire to be a brave and modest man. Give examples/evidence of this. He is brave for coming with in the first place and he helped Sean out of the deep whole that he could have fallen into. 2. How has Otters perception of home changed? He thinks that home would be the best place to be because it is warm and more safe than in the golden mountain. 3. What does this mean, "The more I learn, the more I realize I need to know?" I think this means that maybe if you find something out you realize that there is so much more to learn. 4. Why didn't Otter blame Uncle Foxfire for his birth father's death anymore? He didnt blame him any more because he realized that before his fathers death uncle foxfire had changed. 5. What is the plan? The new Great Work? The new plan was to take it one step at a time.

Chapter 26 1. On page 283 Otters states, "He kept his promise," what does this mean? Uncle Foxfire had made a promise to get Otter home safe and he did by making otter think that he crawled back to camp but really he crawled away to die so otter could get home safe. 2. What is the big idea or main idea of this chapter? The big idea of this chapter is that uncle Foxfire gave up his life for otter to get home safe (which he did).