Navajo Code Talkers

Question #1:

What does the word transmission mean as it is used in paragraph 2?

• communication

• disappearance

• invention

• replacement

Question #2:

How does the author introduce the idea that the Navajo language could be used to create a secret code?

• by explaining how the Navajo used children as interpreters when traveling to meet with government officials

• by discussing the failures of other Native American language codes that were used before the Navajo language was finally chosen

• by describing Philip Johnston’s childhood growing up with the Navajo people and how he thought their language could be used for a code

• by providing examples of how foreign students first discovered Native Americans using the Navajo language to communicate

Question #3:

What does the author mean by the phrase “took the code to the next level” in paragraph 7?

• The Marine Corps showed the code to others.

• The Marine Corps made more improvements to the code.

• The Marine Corps hid the code in a high place.

• The Marine Corps trained more people to learn the code.

Question #4:

Part A: What is a central idea of the passage?

• The Navajo Code Talkers converted the Navajo alphabet into an easily understood code that matched the English alphabet.

• The military used the Navajo language to create a secret code during World War II.

• The military was concerned that their secret code using the Navajo language would be discovered during World War II.

• The Navajo Code Talkers worked long hours translating coded messages during World War II.

Question #5:

Which detail from the passage provides support for the information in Part A?

• A. “During World War II, the Marine Corps used one of the thousands of languages spoken in the world to create an unbreakable code: Navajo.” (paragraph 1)

• B. “They were afraid the code would be easily cracked, but that was before they learned about the complexity of Navajo.” (paragraph 3)

• C. “In addition, an alphabet system was also developed by the Code Talkers. It would be used to spell out some of the words not found in Navajo vocabulary.” (paragraph 9)

• D. “Their primary job was to transmit tactical information over telephone and radio. During the invasion of Iwo Jima, six Navajo Code Talkers were operating continuously.” (paragraph 11)

Question #6:

How does paragraph 13 contribute to the development of ideas in the passage?

• It shows that the Code Talkers were celebrated for their bravery when they returned home from war.

• It shows that many presidents were impacted by the work of the Code Talkers.

• It shows that the work of the Code Talkers was not acknowledged until many years afterwards.

• It shows that very few Code Talkers made it home safely after the war.

Question #7:

What claim does the author make regarding why the Navajo language was used for the code?

• The Navajo language was chosen for the creation of the code because very few Navajo people were still alive.

• The Navajo language was selected to create the code because it was developed specifically for that purpose.

• The Navajo language was an obvious choice to create the code because it was constantly changing and developing.

• The Navajo language was the best choice for the creation of the code because so few people could speak it.

Question #8:

What is the author’s purpose for including the charts in the passage?

• to provide an example of the most commonly translated words

• to encourage readers to create their own coded messages

• to show an actual translated message from battle

• to present a sample of what made the code unbreakable

Question #9:

How does the author’s inclusion of the charts help to convey the overall purpose of the passage?

• The charts provide an example of the most commonly translated words.

• The charts encourage readers to create their own coded messages.

• The charts show an actual translated message from battle.

• The charts present a sample of what made the code unbreakable.

Question #10:

Which choice supports the inference that the Code Talkers were relied upon heavily during battle?

• “A skeptical lieutenant decided to test their skills and the code before trusting them to deliver actual combat messages.” (paragraph 10)

• “From then on, the Code Talkers were used in every major operation involving the Marines in the Pacific theater.” (paragraph 11)

• “Their primary job was to transmit tactical information over telephone and radio.” (paragraph 11)

• “They sent more than 800 messages.” (paragraph 11)