Study Guide
Unbroken
Chapters 1-10
Chapter 1
-Know Louie’s immigrant history. What language was spoken in his home during his childhood? Hint: It wasn’t English (pg. 5)
-What was the “tag line” that most stories about young Louie ended in? Hint: It involved running. (pg. 6)
-What was the one thing Louie was scared of? (pg. 7)
-How was Pete, Louie’s brother, different from Louie? Be specific. (pg. 7-8)
-What did the neighbors do when the Zamperinis arrived in Torrance? Hint: It involved racism. (pg. 8)
Chapter 2
-Why did Louie originally join the track team? Hint: It wasn’t his love of running. (pg. 15)
-What event did Louie specialize when he first started running? Hint: 4 times around an outdoor track (pg. 18)
-Quote (from narrative) “He felt as if he would faint, but it wasn’t from exertion. It was from the realization of what he was.” Hint: Use context. Read the previous paragraph. (pg. 19)
Chapter 3
-What was Louie’s “audacious goal?” Hint: 1936 (pg. 22)
-Why did Louie change his specialty event to the 5000 meters? (pg. 23)
-Why did Louie lose so much weight at the Olympic trials in New York? (pg. 25)
-Why did Louie’s mother, Louise, leave the room when he was racing during the Olympic trials? (pg. 26)
-What was the official result of the race in New York between Louie and Don Lash? Hint: The judges had to review photographs and film of the finish. (pg. 28)
Chapter 4
-What was Louie’s favorite thing about the cruise ship voyage to Europe? Hint: A luxury he wasn’t use to. (pg. 30-31)
-Although he didn’t win the 5000 meter race in Berlin, what historic feat did Louie accomplish that even impressed Hitler? Hint: It’s not how you start, but how you…
(pg. 36)
-What changed in Germany immediately after the Olympics had ended? Hint: Anne Frank (pg. 38)
Chapter 5
-What unthinkable feat did Pete believe Louie could do? (pg. 43)
-Why did Kunichi James Sasaki, a Japanese friend of Louie’s, make daily trips to Torrance? Hint: Pearl Harbor (pg. 40-42, pg. 48-49)
-What is the parallel between Germany and Japan during the 1930’s and 1940’s?
Hint: Seen in both actions and philosophy (pg. 45-46)
-What event halted Louie’s track career? (pg. 49-50)
Chapter 6
-What was Louie’s position/job in the air corps? Hint: Drop a ______on you. (pg. 57-58)
-What was the name of Louie’s pilot and what was his family background? Hint: Sunday morning (pg. 60)
-Contrast the B-17 and the B-24. Hint: Convertible versus minivan (pg. 63-64)
-What was the ominous nickname given to the B-24? (pg. 64)
-What was the name of Louie’s plane? (pg. 68-69)
Chapter 7
-What useful facts about bullets did the crew find out when they were shooting at whales? Hint: The whales lived (pg. 73)
-When and how did the crew find about the details of their first combat mission? (pg. 77).
-What island did the planes embark from to launch their attack? (pg. 77)
-What island did the planes attack? (pg. 77)
-What had the Japanese done to the American prisoners of war on this island? (pg. 79)
-Why did Superman almost crash on its return trip home? Hint: Exxon (pg. 80)
Chapter 8
-What was the most dangerous aspect of being in the Air Force during the war? Hint: Wright Brothers (pg. 84-85)
-Name three factors contributing to the danger mentioned above. Hint: Not the enemy. (pg. 84-87)
-What happen to Everett Almond? (pg. 89-90)
-What would the men do in honor of a fellow soldier who didn’t return from a mission? (pg. 94).
Chapters 9-10
Will be posted tomorrow morning. Study this for now.