School Days of an Indian Girl

Which best describes Zitkala-Sa’s point of view toward the other girls she encountered on her first day? (RI.6.6)

• They were friendly and playful.

• They were dressed very similar to her.

• They were judgmental and afraid.

• They were dressed inappropriately.

Which piece of evidence from the text best helps to convey Zitkala-Sa's point of view toward the other girls? (RI.6.1, RI.6.6)

• "I looked hard at the Indian girls..."

• "...who seemed not to care..."

• "I felt like singing into the floor..."

• "These were Indian girls..."

Which best describes Zitkala-Sa’s point of view toward the adults at the school? (RI.6.6)

• They were firm and emotionally attached to the children.

• They were controlling and often cruel toward the children.

• They were friendly and playful toward the children.

• They were warm and cared about the children.

Which of the following phrases from the text help convey the point of view from Part A? (RI.6.1, RI.6.6)

• “comfort me” (paragraph 9)

• “reasoned quietly” (paragraph 9)

• "dragged out" (paragraph 8) and "tied fast" (paragraph 8)

• “bell was tapped” (paragraph 3) and “keenly watched” (paragraph 3)

Reread paragraph 1, where Zitkala-Sa describes her first day at the Indian school.

The first day in the land of apples was a bitter-cold one; for the snow still covered the ground, and the trees were bare. A large bell rang for breakfast, its loud metallic voice crashing through the belfry overhead and into our sensitive ears. The annoying clatter of shoes on bare floors gave us no peace. The constant clash of harsh noises, with an undercurrent of many voices murmuring an unknown tongue, made a bedlam within which I was securely tied.

Describe Zitkala-Sa’s point of view toward what she experienced in the first paragraph. (RI.6.6)

• Zitkala-Sa’s point of view was that school was in an uncomfortable, unfriendly, and scary place.

• Zitkala-Sa's point of view was that school was a prison from which she could not escape.

• Zitkala-Sa's point of view was that school was a calm, peaceful place.

• Zitkala-Sa's point of view was that school was an annoying clatter of sounds.

Which words from the list used by Zitkala-Sa in paragraph 1 have connotations that best convey her point of view about her new school? (RI.6.1, RI.6.4, L.6.5c)

• snow, made, harsh, first

• snow, first, apples, tied

• tied, made, no peace, snow

• bitter, harsh, no peace, loud

“I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck, and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids.” (paragraph 9)

How do the connotations of the bolded phrases in the sentence above help to convey Zitkala-Sa’s point of view toward losing her hair? (RI.6.4, RI.6.6, L.6.5c)

• They imply that the adults at the school chewed off her braids.

• They imply that the cutting of her hair was violent and savage.

• They imply that the adults gave her a new hairstyle to help her fit in.

• They imply that the room in the school was frigid and uncomfortable.

“Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder” (paragraph 9).

What type of figurative language is used by Zitkala-Sa in the bolded excerpt above? (RI.6.4, L.6.5a)

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

• simile

“Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder” (paragraph 9).

How does the figurative language help to convey ZitkalaSa’s point of view toward the reality of her life at school? (RI.6.4, RI.6.6, L.6.5a)

• The simile used conveys the idea that Zitkala-Sa is peaceful and calm; she is just like a small kept as a pet. Her life is cushioned and relaxed at the hands of those in charge of her, and she cannot change what’s happening to her.

• The hyperbole used conveys the idea that Zitkala-Sa is hopeless and helpless; she is just like a sheep being herded by dogs. She is being told what to do, and she cannot change what’s happening to her.

• The metaphor used conveys the idea that Zitkala-Sa is hopeless and helpless; she is just like a small animal. Her life is at the mercy of those in charge of her, and she cannot change what’s happening to her.

• The personification used conveys the idea that Zitkala-Sa is taking on human-like qualities, even though she is an inanimate object.

What is another piece of evidence from the text that also helps to convey Zitkala-Sa's point of viewtoward the reality of her life at school?

• "A paleface woman, with white hair, came up after us" (paragraph 2)

• "Our mothers had taught us that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy" (paragraph 4)

• "Then I lost my spirit" (paragraph 9)

• "All were seated at last, and I had to crawl back into my chair again" (paragraph 3)