Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. Around what year is Abdi born?

2. From which country did Somalia gain independence in 1960?

3. Where does Abdi see Europeans for the first time?

4. Why do Abdi and his family leave Mogadishu?

5. What animal do Abdi and Hassan see in the river?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What makes Abdi comment that Hassan has always been the braver of the two of them?

2. What sets nomads apart from landed Somalis?

3. How does Somalia win its war against Ethiopia?

4. Why is Abdi’s family waved through the government checkpoints without a second thought?

5. Why do Nur Iftin and Siciid leave their families behind?

Paired Resource

“Timeline: Somalia, 1991-2008”

• This article from the Atlantic lays out the sequence of events in Somalia related to the civil war. (Subscription may be needed to view.)
• How does reading a timeline of events help you better understand the context of Abdi’s experiences?

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. What do Abdi and Hassan sell to buy food?

2. What is Abdi’s nickname?

3. What movie does Abdi watch to celebrate his graduation?

4. What are the two occupations available to boys in Mogadishu?

5.