Army Code Talkers Common Lit questions

Why did the military use Native American languages in the wars?

• Native American languages were constantly changing.

• Few Native Americans managed to preserve their languages.

• Native American languages already had many words useful to modern warfare.

• Native American languages were rarely understood by people outside of the tribes.

What was a code talker's job?

• to break enemy codes

• to send fake codes to the enemy

• to send messages in their own languages

• to teach their languages to white soldiers

During World War II, Native American soldiers...

• created a new code after theirs was cracked.

• were involved more in combat rather than communications.

• served in safe locations far from the front lines of battle.

• sent secret information throughout Europe and the Pacific.

How were code talkers treated after the war?

• They were immediately rewarded for their service.

• They were paid to never mention what they did during the war.

• They were treated with the same respect as any returning veteran.

• They weren't recognized until much later for their contributions.

PART A: What meaning of "intelligence" is used in paragraph 2 of the text?

• a high mental capacity

• the knowledge of an event

• the ability to understand information

• a group that intercepts military information

PART B: Which sentence from the article provides an example of the type of intelligence discussed in paragraph 2?

a group that intercepts military information

• "Previous to their arrival in France, the Germans had broken every American code used, resulting in the deaths of many soldiers" (par. 3).

• "The code talkers then developed their own words from military terms that never existed in their own native tongue" (par. 4).

• "From D-Day landings at Normandy in June 1944, to the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulger, they kept the lines of communications secure" (par. 5).

• "Congress recognized the remarkableness of the code talkers' achievements, despite societal discrimination against them" (par. 9).

What is the central idea of the text?

• A secure way of communicating is the most important element in achieving a military victory.

• American Indians made great contributions to United States military operations in the field of communications.

• A code using American Indian words to replace military terms helped keep soldiers safe during wartime.

• American Indians have served in combat positions in the United States military in recent wars.

How does the organization of the text help readers understand the central idea?

• The use of comparison and contrast shows how American Indians were treated differently from other citizens.

• The use of problem and resolution illustrates that effective communication is essential to victory.

• The use of cause and effect provides information about the roles American Indians played in ending U.S. wars.

• The use of chronological order describes the value of American Indians to military efforts throughout U.S. history.