We're Not from Here

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. What does Lan and Ila’s mom tell them not to call the Zhuri?

2. What song does Ila plan to sing for the inhabitants of Choom?

Short Answer

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

1. Why do the Zhuri change their minds about letting humans live on Choom?

2. Why is Lan’s family chosen as the test family to see if the humans can stay on Choom?

Paired Resource

“Essential Skills for a Career in International Relations”

• Article from Norwich University detailing the important areas to study when conducting diplomatic discussions across cultural lines
• The three key areas of importance are culture, history, and intercultural communication.
• Teacher-appropriate (not student-facing); may offer ideas and language for use in guiding students to discuss Lan’s mother’s diplomatic practices

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. What emotion does the Zhuri’s sour-milk indicate?

2. What does the chief servant say the only purpose of art is?

Short Answer

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

1. Why is Leeni offended when Lan’s mom asks about his emotion smell?

2. Why are the Zhuri kids so sure the humans are violent?

Paired Resource

“Emotions and Culture”

• An article from Maricopa University that discusses several studies from behavioral psychologists about how facial expressions and body language for emotions are similar and different across cultures
• Connects to the theme of We Can Be Both Brave and Scared
• In this article, what are the seven emotions scientists think are universally recognized? For the emotions not mentioned in We’re Not From Here, what smells might be associated with those emotions for the Zhuri, and why?

Chapters 9-12

Reading Check

1. What do Hooree and Iruu say the Ororo and Krik in the cafeteria are?

2. What does the Zhuri doughnut smell indicate?

Short Answer

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

1. Who was actually violent at Lan’s dad’s workplace, and who stood up for him?

2. What do Marf and Ezger see on Ila’s screen that each of them enjoys?

Chapters 13-16

Reading Check

1. What are the two sides of the Zhuri government?

2. What does Naya say in her message that worries Lan?

Short Answer

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

1. Why do the Zhuri try to make humans look violent?

2. Why does Lan imitate the Zhuri walk in class?

Paired Resource

Government party configurations

• An Encyclopedia Britannica description of the main three political structures (multiparty, two-party, and single-party) with special attention given to the American and British governments
• How might the human experience on Choom differ if the Zhuri government had a multiparty or single-party government, rather than a two-party one? How does the Zhuri government compare to the two-party systems of America and Britain?

Chapters 17-20

Reading Check

1. What does Marf give Lan in case they don’t see each other again?

2. What do the guards want from Lan’s house?

Short Answer

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

1. What lie does Lan give the principal for doing the Zhuri walk in the cafeteria and why?

2. Why do Lan and Ila need to bring their video about humans to school?

Paired Resource

The Seven Types of Propaganda

• Research initially conducted by the Institute of Propaganda and later expanded upon by the Southern Methodist University that details seven types of propaganda and how they might function
• Connects to the theme of The Danger of Misinformation
• In Chapter 19, the Zhuri news station takes video and audio clips from the incident at Lan’s school out of context to make the humans appear violent. What type of propaganda is in use here? How does such propaganda influence the Zhuri’s opinions of humans?

Chapters 21-24

Reading Check

1. What smell do the Zhuri make during Ila’s song?

2. What do the Zhuri believe the humans are part of a plot to disrupt?

Short Answer

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

1. Why doesn’t Marf want to overthrow the government?

2. What does Marf point out isn’t at the swarm, and why is she excited by its absence?

Chapters 25-27

Reading Check

1. What word does Ila replace “blue” with in her song?

2. What instrument do the humans and Ororo believe they’ve successfully manufactured?

Short Answer

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

1. Why does the news stop showing the swarm, and what does Lan think this means?

2. What three disciplines are new classes offered in following the humans’ settlement on Choom? Which is most important to Naya and Lan and why?

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