Home of the Brave

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. In Poems 1-3, how does Kek refer to the airplane that flew him from Sudan to the United States?

A) “The flying cow”

B) “The flying car”

C) “The flying boat”

D) “The flying train”

2. Which of the following statements best describes the symbolism of Kek’s dream in Poem 16, which ends with him standing in the snow?

A) The dream symbolizes the trajectory of his life thus far—past, present, and future.

B) The dream symbolizes the “freezing” out of his options in his new, snowy home.

C) The dream symbolizes his rebirth into a full-fledged American citizen.

D) The dream symbolizes his rebuking and rejecting the rites and traditions of his home country of Sudan.

3. How do Kek’s aunt and cousin feel about Kek’s Holding on to Hope, specifically about his reuniting with his mother in Part 1?

A) They are neutral. They do not say one way or the other if they think Kek will find his mother again.

B) They are pessimistic. They treat Kek with pity and skepticism when he mentions his mother.

C) They support him. They think it is important to foster a sense of hope in Kek if he is to survive life in America.

D) They ignore him. They do not have time or energy to listen to Kek’s hopeful notions that may or may not come to pass.

4. Which of the following best describes the symbolism of Ganwar’s missing hand?

A) It symbolizes the brutality of Sudanese customs.

B) It symbolizes the brutality of capitalism and colonialism.

C) It symbolizes the futility of violence in America.

D) It symbolizes his anxiety and frustration surrounding the loss of his family and home.

5. Kek recalls the few times he was able to attend school at the refugee camp. What was Kek’s favorite activity at school and why?

A) Telling stories, which swept him away from the difficulties of his life

B) Drawing pictures, which allowed him to envision a more beautiful world

C) Studying history, which made him feel connected to important Sudanese traditions

D) Solving math equations, which satisfied him with their clarity and simplicity

6. Which two teachers serve as role models for Kek, and what common understanding brings them together? 

A) The math teachers Ms. Soncrant and Mr. Bialowicz, who also see the world in rational terms

B) The social studies teachers Mr. Dusel and Ms. Szuba, who also have an appreciation of diverse cultures

C) The ESL teachers Ms. Hernandez and Mr. Franklin, who also are immigrants and struggled with assimilation

D) The history teachers Mr. Ramos and Ms. Gersh, who also understand the challenges facing the Sudanese people

7. Why does Kek love working on the farm so much?  

A) Because he loves the smell of grass and working outdoors in general

B) Because he enjoys watching seeds grow into valuable crops 

C) Because Lou reminds Kek of his mother and keeps him company

D) Because he feels free to talk and sing to Gol about his past 

8. On the bus home from the Safeway, what terrible scene does Kek describe having witnessed in the refugee camp? 

A) A mother who watched helplessly as her child starved

B) A father who buried each of his four daughters

C) A woman who lost her most beloved cow to marauders

D) A young girl who ate dirt in an attempt to avoid starvation

9. When Kek decides to run away in Poem 59, what does he leave in the apartment for Ganwar?

A) A two-dollar bill and a piece of chocolate

B) Half of his money and a drawing of a heart 

C) His textbooks and a slice of pie

D) A piece of blue-and-yellow cloth and a shard of pottery

10. Which symbol of Holding on to Hope reappears in an unexpected way when Kek reunites with his mother in the Epilogue?

A) Gol

B) The blue and yellow fabric

C) A candy heart

D) Ganwar’s hand

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Proud to have earned enough money from work to buy his aunt new dishes, Kek is even more proud to have enough left over to purchase a chocolate candy heart for his friend, Hannah. Explain the symbolic value of this gift.

2. Why do you think the book is titled Home of the Brave? What does it refer to in American culture? What does it refer to specifically in Kek’s story?