Ataka: A Young Desert Girl

In the morning, Ataka…

• feeds the camels.

• take care of her siblings.

• prays with her family.

• cleans the tent.

Which of the following describes what Ataka and her family do during the day?

• The adults do chores, while the children play and sleep.

• The adults and children all do their share of work.

• The children go to school while the parents do the chores.

• The children take care of the camp while the parents go to work.

Sandstorms are…

• exciting for Ataka and her siblings.

• something that can easily be ignored.

• inconvenient to Ataka and her family.

• potentially deadly to people exposed to it.

Which of the following describes Ataka and her family when they come together again?

• They rest, as they are all tired from the journey.

• They are upset that they had to move again.

• They are relieved that everyone is safe and healthy.

• They are happy to be together and having fun.

PART A: Which sentence describes the main idea of the text?

• Living in the desert negatively impacts Ataka and her family's quality of life.

• Moving often makes it hard for Ataka to consider any place home.

• Ataka has an unusual way of life, but she is happy with it.

• Ataka wishes to move out of the desert, because of the dangers it presents.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the main idea of the story?

• "Ataka's mother died when Ataka was a baby. Her father, Bukush, raised her — much of the time on camelback." (Paragraph 3)

• "Ataka and her family calmly move inside and pull blankets over their heads and bodies. Sand quickly gets into their eyes, noses, and ears." (Paragraph 11)

• "Next day, the Tuareg break camp. They load their pack camels and donkeys. And they ride their saddled camels without looking back. Ataka and her family move every three or four weeks." (Paragraph 15)

• "In an ancient game of hot potatoes, they throw each other glowing red embers from the fire, catching them with bare hands before quickly passing them on. They challenge each other with riddles. And Ataka laughs, her eyes glowing with love for a father who is now home." (Paragraph 18)

PART A: Which statement best describes the relationship between Ataka and her father?

• Ataka looks forward to when her father comes home because they are very close.

• Ataka and her father are distant because he has to leave for work often.

• Ataka is not as close with her father as she is with the rest of her family.

• Ataka looks forward to her father's visit because he brings her presents.

PART B: Which detail(s) from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

THERE ARE 2 ANSWERS!

• "Ataka's mother died when Ataka was a baby. Her father, Bukush, raised her — much of the time on camelback." (Paragraph 3)

• "The January dawn air is cold. In one tent, nine-year-old Ataka is wrapped tightly in her blanket. But she wakes up and follows her grandmother and aunt Maunem outside to pray." (Paragraph 2)

• "But Bukush is not here today. Neither are his two brothers, Amud and Taleb. Days before, Bukush rode his camel south to the town of In Gall in Niger, 100 miles away." (Paragraph 4)

• "They challenge each other with riddles. And Ataka laughs, her eyes glowing with love for a father who is now home." (Paragraph 18)