Roots

Why does Alex Haley walk up the steps of the National Archives?

• He is working for the Census Bureau.
• He is researching Egyptian hieroglyphics. 
• He is thinking of his grandma’s stories.
• He is researching a magazine article.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

On his first visit to the National Archives, what does Haley discover in the census records?

• a map of the town in Gambia where his ancestor was born
• the names of his grandmother’s parents and older sisters
• a record of the birth of his African ancestor 
• a record of the death of his African ancestor

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What place does curiosity about his African roots have in Alex Haley’s life?

• It has become less interesting. 
• It has become his main concern.
• It is less important to him than his career. 
• It is getting in the way of his career. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What embarrasses Haley as he begins to research his African history?

• He has never thought much about Africa.
• He has returned to the National Archives.
• He has not visited Henning in a long time. 
• He has never traveled beyond Europe. 

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What draws Alex Haley to London to see if he can learn what ship brought Kunta Kinte to Annapolis?

• He is responding to information he had access to in the Coast Guard.
• He is following up on the griot’s reference to “king’s soldiers.” 
• He has been inspired by records of Kunta Kinte’s own memories. 
• He is recalling the stories told by his grandmother and his cousin. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

Which of the following sentences uses the word destination correctly?

• The Gambians celebrated Haley’s visit with a destination.
• The census records gave the destination of Haley’s ancestors. 
• The destination of Kunta Kinte’s slave ship was Annapolis. 
• Haley’s grandmother’s destination was storytelling. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

What is Alex Haley embarrassed to admit to the librarian at the National Archives?

• He cannot operate a microfilm machine.
• He cannot find the main research room. 
• He is curious about his slave ancestors. 
• He loved his grandmother’s stories.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Why are the Africans at the United Nations not helpful when Haley asks them about African languages?

• They are fearful of getting involved in a suspicious American scheme.
• They do not recognize any African language in the sounds Haley makes. 
• They do not understand English, and Haley does not understand their language. 
• They suspect that Haley wants something more from them than he says. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

What does the historical context in Haley’s account suggest is the role of a griot in African society?

• He enacts a character in a fantasy story.
• He is a highly respected elder statesman. 
• He is a living source of some clans’ history. 
• He keeps alive the customs of the back country. 

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

The Gambians celebrate with Alex Haley and other descendants of Kinte because they

• are relieved that Haley’s search is over.
• are honored to meet a black American.
• are tired from the long journey. 
• have recovered a portion of their history. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2