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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? They are working on mining gold from the "golden mountain" in america 2. Tell me about the Manchus group from China. The manchus are the barbarian tribe that has controlled china for 200 years 3. Who were the "Strangers" and what did they do? The strangers were people who worked for the manchus. 4. Why were many people from China coming to the United States? Because if they stayed in china they would get killed because they were a stranger to the leaders. Chapter 1 1. Why was Otter able to leave school? What made him so special? He got to leave school because his father and uncle had arrived home from the golden mountain. He was special because his father and uncle were the leaders of the work. 2. Why was Stumpy hit across the palm? Because he laughed at otter when he was going to meet his father and uncle after being at the golden mountain 3. Why did Uncle Bucky treat Otter like a "pet?" He treated otter like a pet because his family had made most of the subscriptions/payments towards the new school. 4. What was the "work" that mother was talking about? The work was mining at the golden mountain 5. Who was Uncle Foxfire and what was he famous for? Uncle foxfire is famous for his knack of finding gold. 6. Why do you think the village is making a big deal about Otter's father and uncle coming back home? I think there making a big deal because they have been gone a long time mining at the gold mountain in America Chapter 2 1. What happened to the Golden Cat? He refused to send any of his family to the golden mountain 2. Why does Otter want to go to the Golden Mountain? He wants to go to the golden mountain because thats were his father and uncle are and he wants to spend time with them. 3. Why didn't Otter give Stumpy's mother a bowl of rice? Because stoopy told him no and he knew she wouldn't stop asking if he did give her some. 4. What is the problem so far in this story? Otter is getting treated poorly by stoopy and strangers because he is rich and he wants to spend more time with his father and uncle

Chapter 3

1. Why was the family celebrating and having a banquet? Because they came home from the golden mountain and wanted to celebrate

2. Who is the "Watch?" The watch are like the guards for the banquet from the drugies

3. Why did the group of beggars come in and interrupt the party? Because they wanted food and they thought it was unfair that they were celebrating and they thought they could get some money.

4. What was the uncle's plan to keep the British and opium out of China? His plan is to get rid of all the opium that is already in the village and when the british come back the will defeat them.

5. Why was father called a clown and Uncle Foxfire called a prophet? Otters dad is called a clown because he makes people laugh a lot. and his uncle foxfire is called a prophet because he saved the village.

6. Why does Otter want to follow his father and uncle? Because he thinks that it would full of adventure and he would be famous because of his uncle and father.

7. Why do you think the mother might listen to Uncle Foxfire more than Otter and his father? Because uncle foxfire is more serious than the dad and otters dad would think it might be a good idea.

8. What do you think is the main idea of this chapter? I think the main idea is that otter is trying to convince his mother and father to let him go to the golden mountain to work with his uncle and father.

Chapter 4 1. What was the main idea of this chapter? The main idea is that otters mom isn't letting him go to the golden mountain and otter is madbecause he doesn't want to live a dull life anymore and he wants adventure 2. What questions do you have from chapter 4? Why did otter lie to his mom about wanting to go to the golden mountain??? How will otter get to the golden mountain without his father noticing???

Chapter 5 1. How does a goldfish turn into a dragon? For a gold fish to turn to a dragon it must swimall the way to the end of the river. 2. What happened to the drunken Manchus and Otter? Otter and some manchus got in a fight with otter the Manchus died.

Monday, January 23rd Read chapters 6, 7 and 8 due Thursday (no school on Wednesday) It means that otter never acted like a stranger or a child. 2. Describe Otter's birth mom and dad? What were they like? How did they die? His mother and father died in a riot. His mother got killed by a mob and his father died by getting shot. His father (tiny) was big and stronwhile we his mother (aster) was more shy and nimble. 3. Why is it not safe for Otter to remain at home? Its not safe because he "killed" a manchus so hes a outlaw so they will be coming after him. 4. What does it mean when it says, "Tiny never lived long enough to see ice?" It means that he never lived untill winter. 5. Why does mother want Otter to study father's letters as if his life depended on it? So he knew what was going to happen to him if he went to the golden mountain and so he knew were he was going. 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 the woman is like an ancestor telling him not to go to America and just stay in the village because the Manchus are coming for him because he "killed" one. Chapter 7 1. Why did Otter and Brush get into a fight? Otter and brush got in a fight because brush was going to steal otters stuff out of his bag. 2. How did the westerners make the goldfields into wastelands? Because they mined all of the gold that was there so there was nothing left 3. Where were Shifty, Brush and Otter going? They were going to go find work at camps. 4. How does Otter think he might find father and his uncle? He sees a clan of his fathers and uncles people so he goes and tries to find them.I

Chapter 8 1. Who are the demons that they are talking about in this chapter? The demons are the westerners because they mine up everything. 2. What was so useful about this snowplow? So it was easier for the workers so they wouldnt freeze and it wouldn't be as hard. 3. How did Sean save Otter? Sean saved otter because otter was falling off the side of the wagon and he grabbed him. 4. Describe the camp. The camp was covered in snow and there were a lot of trains which made things much easier to pull so all of the men would have to deliver it with bulls.

Thursday, January 26th Read chapters 9, 10 and 11 due Monday, January 30th

Chapter 9 1. Why did Shrimp speak to them in rhymes? He spoke to him in rhymes because he thought it was easier for him to understand. 2. What did it mean when father said, "you hopped out of the soup pot and into the fire?" That he had gotten him in more trouble thane already was in. 3. Describe Otter in this chapter. How is he changing from the beginning of the book? otter is becoming more of a man because he is learning how to care for himself. 4. What do you predict will happen next? I think that Otter will break away from the group and he will find gold in a cave and be famous.

Chapter 10 1. What did father mean when he said that, "Victory is 20 centimeters a shift?" Victory is 20 centimeters a shift means that if you can mine up 20 centimeters in a shift that is a good job. 2. What is the point that they are talking about? Why does no one like working at the point? The point is where there is the least oxygen and its the messiest and the finest point of the mine. 3. On page 110, it says that uncle was arguing "vehemently," what does this mean? It means that uncle was arguing strongly or emotionally 4. Who is Strobridge and Kilroy? Strobidge and Kilroy are two westerners that Otter knows 5. So what half-truths is Uncle Foxfire talking about? The half truths are the "truths" that uncle foxfire only told part of. 6. Why is Otter so upset at the end of this chapter? Hes upset because uncle foxfire never told him the hole truth.

Chapter 11 1. What happened to Shaky? Shaky was almost blown up from a dynamite blast when they were mining. 2. What is a "greenhorn?" A greenhorn is a inexperienced person. 3. Why did father slap Otter's wrist? He slapped his wrist so Otter wouldn't get sick because he ate the snow. 4. Explain the ending of this chapter. Otter finds out that his father is a leader of a groups of bad miners.

Chapter 12

1. How can you not like each other but still be an efficient crew? They know that they have to get it done so they work hard not for the other people but for themselves.

2. What were the holes for? The holes were for the dynamite sticks so they could put them in and blow it up.

3. What was meant when they said, "Fire in the heading?" It means that the dynamite is about to explode.

4. What was meant when father said to Otter, "Don't be a martyr?" He meant don't be stupid.

5. Why did Kilroy call Uncle Foxfire, "John?" He called uncle foxfire John because that was his first 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? Because he was saying that Otter sees the world much differently than him.

2. Who is the Tiger? The tiger is the mountain.

3. Why is it so important that Otter get some sort of hobby? so he can trade the stuff that he makes for something they may need.

4. What are the three rules the cabin chose to live by? 1.stay clean 2.Keep warm 3.keep dry

5. Why didn't Uncle Foxfire or father help Otter? Because he needed to learn the rules and be treated like just any other worker.

6. Who is Sean? Why did he say, " 'Tis he that's the lucky one?" Sean is a westerner that is part of the work and he said that because there was a boy that was dead and he is lucky because he doesn't have to work anymore.

7. Explain the last paragraph of this chapter - what did it mean? It meant that the man at the dragons gate was right about "be careful what you wish for because it could be bad" because Otter wished he could go to the golden mountain with his father and uncle and it turned out really bad.

Chapter 14

1. What does it mean when Uncle Foxfire referred to all westerners as "equal?" Because they were all the same.

2. Why did Otter run his arm through the bucket of tea? Because he was going to get some tea for Sean but a man came and he started to drink the tea right out of the bucket so he splashed him with the tea.

3. Why was Otter supposed to stay away from Sean? He was supposed to stay away from sean because he's a westerner.

4. Why is Otter determined to disobey his father? Hes determined to disobey his father because Sean is his only friend.

Wednesday, February 1st

Read chapters 15, 16 and 17 due Friday, February 3rd

Chapter 15

1.Who was Sean fighting and what was the fight about? Sean was fighting a man that was telling him he shouldn't be learning chinese. 2. Why did Kilroy tell the guy that it was ok to fight his son? Because he wanted his son to be punished for talking to Otter. 3. On page 171 Otters states that he was, "preparing for a tirade," what did he mean? He was preparing for sean to get crushed. 4. Why did Otter's father say he was sorry to his son? He said he was sorry for his son because he got beat up by a man much bigger than him.

Chapter 16 1. Why did Otter want to talk to Bright Star about his plan to help Doggy? Because he was the most stubborn so if he got him to agree he had high hopes that everyone else would too. 2. Why did Bright Star decide that Otter should give Doggy the moon guitar? Because he was the one that thought of the idea.

Chapter 17 1. What was the irony of Doggy getting frostbite on his fingers? It was irony because he won't be able to play the moon guitar. 2. Why did Otter stay to watch? Because nobody else left so he doesn't want to look like a baby.

Chapter 18

1. What did Uncle Foxfire mean when he said, "We'll make a guest out of you yet?" He meant that otter was still not used to the golden mountain.

2. What do you think caused the explosion? I think that a pieces of dynamite were struck and they blew up.

3. Why wasn't Uncle Foxfire worried about Otter's father?

Because he needed to save the rest of the people.

Chapter 19

1. Why did Uncle Foxfire apologize to Otter? Because he was the one that told his north father because he told him to go back to the golden mountain.

2. What did father mean when he said, "Don't try to trick the trickster?" He meant that he shouldn't pretend when when he knows whats happening.

3. Describe how Otter felt by the end of this chapter towards the tiger. He absolutely hated the tiger.

Chapter 20

1. Why do they describe their living/working situation as a battlefield?

2. Why did Otter insist that he and father had quit? He insisted because they were treated so poorly here.

3. Why did Kilroy have to use the whip? What was this a symbol of? He had to use the whips because Otter was leaving. He wanted them to know who was in charge.

4. Why did father talk Otter into standing up and giving in to Kilroy's demands? Because otherwise otter would get seriously injured.

5. Make a prediction as to what will happen next? I think that the chinese will attack the westerners.

Chapter 21 1. What does it mean when Uncle Foxfire said, "Anger is a luxury up here?" it means that anger is what everybody does and it feels good to be mad 2. Why did Uncle Foxfire let Otter say such awful things to him? He let him say awful things to him because he knew he deserved it. 3. How can Uncle Foxfire make a promise that he's not sure he can keep? He makes the promise because he thinks that he will keep it until he doesnt so Otters father says that he should'nt make a promise hecant keep.

Chapter 22 1. What did the Tiger symbolize to Otter?

2. Why does everyone cough?

3. Why was Uncle Foxfire willing to take orders from Keg Mouth?

4. Tell me about the ending of this chapter. Now what questions do you have? Uncle foxfire was digging for that boys brother under the snow. Why didnt anyone want to help the boy thaat was under the snow???

Chapter 23 1. Otter once thought of Uncle Foxfire as a legend, what is a legend? A legend is a person that is very high pwered and famous 2. Why does Otter admire Uncle Foxfire? Give examples/evidence to support your answer. He admires uncle foxfire because he was acting like a true man because he was accepting what he deserves. 3. What is the plan to get off the mountain and go home? The plan was that Uncle Foxfire and otter were going to go to the top of the mountain and

Wednesday, February 8th Read chapters 24, 25 and 26 due Friday, February 10th

Chapter 24 1. Why did Uncle Foxfire and Otter go off into the mountain? Because they were going to get all of the snow of the top of the mountain. 2. Why do you think that Sean followed? Because he wanted to help do something rather than sit around doiong nothing. 3. What happened to Sean by the end of the chapter? Where is he going? Sean twisted his ankle when he fell so he had to follow all of the markers and crawl back down the mountain. Chapter 25 1. Otter now considers Uncle Foxfire to be a brave and modest man. Give examples/evidence of this. He said this because uncle Foxfire wasnt wining and crying like Otter was so he thought of him as powerful and brave. 2. How has Otters perception of home changed? it changed because it was so cold on the mountain so he wanted to be home much more because he was so cold. 3. What does this mean, "The more I learn, the more I realize I need to know?" 4. Why didn't Otter blame Uncle Foxfire for his birth father's death anymore? 5. What is the plan? The new Great Work?

Chapter 26 1. On page 283 Otters states, "He kept his promise," what does this mean? It means that Uncle Foxfire kept his promise of getting Otter home 2. What is the big idea or main idea of this chapter?