BoB Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein Quizlet Questions

How many countries are in the coalition to get Saddam out of Kuwait and to punish him?

34 countries are in the coalition

How many days has the war been going on now?

39 days

During the game Monopoly, what happened?

A loud, close bomb went off. This bomb shook the whole house, including the game board. Game over.

How does Ali find his way home?

Aisha tells him how to get to the new high school, which is near his home.

Who is the main character so far?

Ali

What happened right before they had to go to their safe room?

Ali beat his brother's high score on an Atari game.

If Ali thinks Baghdad is unsafe and dirty, why is he worried about it?

Ali has family that live there.

What does Ali do now to try and stay calm?

Ali pretends to play video games in his mind.

According to the author, which war was worse, the war with Iran or the war with America?

America, the bombs are like earthquakes where the ground beneath you shakes, knocking you off your feet.

Why do you think Baba got angry with questions about the war?

Answers will vary. He is worried for his family, he has seen unpleasant things, he is worried for his sons when they turn 18 and have to join the military.

Why do you think Ali's mom cooked a feast for Cousin Gilad?

Answers will vary. Probably because she wants to be happy in the midst of the war, to celebrate her sister's son's survival.

What does Ali call his father?

Baba

Baba came home from the military hospital, how did he look?

Baba looked rough, unshaven, dark circles under his eyes.

Basra lies between what two cities?

Baghdad and Kuwait

How do we know that Ali doesn't think that the war is a good idea?

Because Ahmed says he doesn't understand why Saddam is going to war with the United States and doesn't know what he was thinking and Ali replies, that Saddam sure wasn't thinking about his people.

The party was full of people, why did Ali seem alone?

Because he knew that the house was full of Saddam's people and Ali does not consider himself one of Saddam's people.

Why can't they speak to people about how they feel towards Saddam?

Because in Iraq, if you speak against the leader, they might cut out your tongue.

Why did they use Shirzad's room as the safe room?

Because it was the farthest from the high school. Saddam likes putting military on the roofs of schools and hospitals. Enemies may not want to bomb schools and hospitals and if they do, he can say how horrible they are for killing innocent people...when he is the one who put them in danger.

How do we know the bombs are close?

Because the bombs are rattling Ali's teeth.

Ali's mom are taking the children to the central market, why would she do that now?

Because they have no idea what is to come, they may need extra food in the house.

What are the rules of war, that parents and teachers teach kids?

Don't stop, look straight ahead, numb your emotions, and save yourself.

Why do you think they are on food rations?

During the war, food can not be brought in to the war zone areas.

Why didn't Ali help his mom's friend?

First rule of war, ignore everyone, save yourself.

The scene at the party is called what in literary terms?

Flashback

What video game does Ali dream about?

Frogger.

What is the difference between boys and girls in America and in Iraq?

Girls in America wear jeans and t shirts, in Iraq, they wear dresses and skirts. In America, girls talk to boys casually, not so in Iraq. In Iraq, they stay apart. Teenagers date, kiss and hold hands, not so in Iraq.

Why does Ali want to go to America?

He could see forests and oceans, he would get to say what he wanted to say without fear and he would be safe and free.

What is Baba's wartime work?

He has to work at the military hospital.

What is the next video game Ali dreams about?

He is Superman in the Superman video game.

Why did Ali's grandfather not want his daughter to marry Ali's baba?

He is a Kurd.

What does Ali's father do for work?

He is a dentist.

Why did Ali get so upset when Gilad told his older brother, Shirzad to sit in their Baba's chair?

He is afraid that his dad is dead from the war. He understands that until Baba gets back Shirzad is head of household, but he doesn't want to be reminded that maybe Baba won't be coming back.

When Ali went into his mother's office, what did he see?

He saw a picture of the Professor they saw get taken away by the police at the ration line.

What is the story that calms Ali's little sister when the bombs start?

He tells them a story about when he married their mother.

What does Ali think of Iraq's capital, Baghdad?

He thinks it is dirty, crowded and unsafe.

What did Ali do to try and stay calm?

He thought about things he likes, and when that didn't work, he started singing the song from a Muppet show.

Ali had a nightmare, what was it?

He was playing the video game Yar's Revenge. The evil Quotile turned into Hussein and Ali was trying to beat him in the game.

How is Ali's English so good?

He watches American TV shows.

What did the boys see at the high school?

High school students being trained for war, they even had AK-47's.

By only reading the title, what genre is Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein?

Historical Fiction

Why is Saddam bombing the oil wells in Kuwait?

If he can't have the oil, no one will have them.

When the boys reach the age of 18, what happens?

If the country is at war, they must become soldiers.

Why does Ali stutter when he talked to Aisha and her little sister?

In Iraq, boys don't talk to girls.

What was Ali forced to witness?

In the streets, three Ba'ath solders executed eight men in the streets.

Why do they have to keep cleaning ash and dust off the floor and furniture?

Iraq is very sandy, bombs are creating the dust and ash.

What does the loud speaker say three times a day?

It is a call for prayer, 3 times a day, every day.

How long was the walk to the market?

It takes 30 minutes to walk to the market.

When does this story take place?

January, 1991

Who is the author of Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein?

Jennifer Roy with Ali Fadhil

Why does Saddam want Kuwait?

Kuwait is rich with oil.

What city did Ali look at on his father's globe?

Los Angeles, California in the United States of America

What did Ali's friend tell him as he left to go home?

Mustafa said "See you tomorrow, if the bombs don't get you first."

Why are they eating and drinking everything cold?

No electricity, no wood for the stove.

Has life in Iraq always been hard?

No, before the boys were born, they had freedom, life was different, and hopefully one day will be different again.

Is Ali poor? Explain.

No, not in Iraq. His parents are professionals (Dentist and Math Professor), they live in a big house, and use to have a nanny.

Who does Ali think the bravest people are?

Not the soldiers, but the people in the streets and neighborhoods trying to survive the war.

What are the names of Ali's siblings?

Older brother, Shirzad, younger brother - Ahmed and a yournger sister - Shireen.

What Atari game is Ali pretending to be in as they go get rations?

Pitfall Harry, who runs through a mazelike jungle, jumping over pits while collecting items.

Who are the two Presidents/countries that is involved in this story?

President Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq and President George Bush, President of the United States during 1991.

Do you think Ali loves the country he lives in, why or why not.

Probably not, he states he wishes he lived in a place where people are happy and carefree, where families are hiding and hoping to live through the night.

When the real world overwhelms Ali, what is one thing he does?

Reads his comic books, his prize possession.

Why are the boys worried about their Baba?

Saddam is bombing Kuwait City and that is where Baba is working now.

Why does Ali have to go to the restroom in a jar?

Sewage probably doesn't work due to the bombing.

How does the author tell us that Ali's sister doesn't understand what war might mean to them?

She brought a picnic to the safe room.

What was Shireen's jobs since is a girl?

She has to help with the cleaning and cooking.

What does Ali's mom do for work?

She is a respected math professor.

How did Ali and Shirzad get separated coming back home from getting their rations?

Shirzad ran into a friend he hadn't seen since the last day of school.

Explain what are smart bombs that the Americans have.

Smart bombs have technology that is supposed to have pinpoint accuracy in order to reduce collateral casualties which means they will do their best not to kill innocent people, like Ali and his family.

When Ali gets home, what news did Shirzad tell him?

That Cousin Gilad was visiting and he had news that Baba's medical unit is missing and there were bodies found where they were last set up.

What did they hear on the radio before it went dead?

That the Americans are preparing one of the largest land assaults in modern times.

What did Ali's mother tell them about the Professor?

That the Professor spoke in code, said 2 pi r, so that Ali's mother would let his friends know that the police took him so they could help out his wife and children.

What did Ali say he wasn't going to take personally?

That the United States is going to try and kill him and his family.

What did the twins tell Ali and his friend?

That they were moving, to somewhere safe.

Why is the market empty?

The Americans bombed the bridges to prevent Saddam's army from leaving the city. The farmers can not get to the market to sell things if the bridge is out.

Who are the Kurds?

The Kurds are people with their own language and culture but without a nation.

Where has the air campaign arrived?

The air campaign has arrived in Baghdad, Iraq.

Why are they trying to build a well?

The bombs destroyed the water companies.

What did the boys do to the windows to make them safer?

The boys used tape on the windows to make them stronger and hopefully not shatter during the bombing.

What about America fascinates Ali?

The food, the celebrities and the freedom.

The market is usually a very busy place, with all sorts of things being sold, what does it look like today?

The market is empty.

Why did Ali get detention in school?

The other boys were bullying him about his father being a Kurd and him being a stupid half-breed.

Tell me about Ali's school?

The school is in the old city, starts at 8, only boys, they repeat slogans, never leave one room (teachers rotate)

When they got home from the market, the boys played football with their friend, Mastafa. This should have been fun, but what happened?

The twins, Omar and Umar stopped by to join in. They are bullies, but nothing can be said because their father is on of Saddam's top men. One wrong move, wrong statement and Ali's parents could be taken away and jailed or even killed.

After 12 days of war, what is gone?

Their water and food supply.

What do we now know of the Sunni and the Shia Muslims?

They are both groups within the religion of Islam. Not much difference in their faith, but they disagree about who gets to lead the Muslim nation. The Sunnis believe the leader should be elected, the Shias believe the leader should be directly related to the Prophet Muhammed.

When Baba came home, what did the guys do?

They built a well and made Molotov lamps.

What could happen to someone taken by the Ba'athist soliers?

They could be tortured, missing an arm, leg or tongue or mind...if they come back at all.

What did Iraq do that angered the United States and other world leaders?

They invaded a neighboring country, Kuwait

Where in Iraq does Ali and his family live?

They live in Basra, Iraq.

How did they get the safe room ready?

They moved the bed away from the window, put down 5 rugs to sleep on, closed the windows and the curtains.

How did Ali's family get invited to the Governor's New Year's Eve party?

They were invited because Ali's Baba was their dentist.

What does Cousin Gilad look like?

Thin, in a soldier's uniform, gaunt, shaved head, stitches and a piece of his ear is missing.

Why is Ali so angry with the leader, the President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein?

This is the second war he has lived through, he ordered the killing (chemical weapons) of 150,000 Kurds, he does things that put the people of Iraq in danger.

How did Ali get lost?

Three boys started calling him Dirty Kurd and chased him.

Why did the Ba'ath policeman want Ali to watch?

To learn, to tell his family and friends that is what happens when you cross them.

Ali's older brother, by one year, acting as head of household, told Ali to do what?

To take out the trash.

What happened to the Professor friend of Ali's mother?

Two Ba'athist soldiers pulled him out of line and started beating him.

There is a lot of waiting when it comes to war, what kind of waiting?

Waiting in food lines, waiting for leaders to make decisions, and always waiting till the end of the war.

What ended dinner?

When Shirzad asked about how the war was going, Baba got angry.

Ali did meet someone there, who and what did they have in common?

Z, who is the Governor's son. Z and Ali both love to play video games as well as they both collect comic books.