Hidden Figures

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 23 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. Chapter 1: What did Langley need, and how did that need create new chances for women like Dorothy Vaughan?
2. Chapter 2: How did World War II change the kinds of jobs women and African American workers could get?
3. Chapter 3: What parts of Dorothy Vaughan’s early life helped prepare her for the work she would do later?
4. Chapter 4: The chapter talks about the Double V. What did this idea mean, and why was it important to Black Americans during the war?
5. Chapter 5: Why did the women working as computers have to prove their skills again and again? What does this show about the time period?
6. Chapter 6: Choose one example of how math helped make airplanes safer or better. Explain it in your own words.
7. Chapter 7: What sacrifices did Dorothy Vaughan make for her family and her career? Would you have made the same choices? Why or why not?
8. Chapter 8: What leadership qualities does Dorothy Vaughan show as she moves forward at Langley?
9. Chapter 9: How does Mary Jackson respond when she faces unfair rules or barriers? What does this tell you about her character?
10. Chapter 10: How did the community in Hampton help the women in the story work, learn, and care for their families?
11. Chapter 11: In your own words, what was the area rule, and why was it important for airplane design?
12. Chapter 12: An unexpected chance can change someone’s path. What unexpected event or opportunity affects Katherine Johnson in this chapter, and what can readers learn from it?
13. Chapter 13: The word turbulence can mean rough air, but it can also mean trouble or confusion. How does this chapter show turbulence in more than one way?
14. Chapter 14: Why was getting the angle of attack correct so important in the work at Langley?
15. Chapter 15: How did families, schools, and teachers help young Black students believe they were gifted and capable?
16. Chapter 16: After Sputnik, what do you predict will change for the people working at Langley? Use details from the chapter to explain your thinking.
17. Chapter 17: What new problems did space travel create for the mathematicians and engineers at NASA?
18. Chapter 18: The phrase with all deliberate speed means change should happen carefully, but it often happened very slowly. How does this chapter show that progress can be slow?
19. Chapter 19: How do the women in Hidden Figures serve as role models for others? Give at least one specific example.
20. Chapter 20: What freedoms are the women in the book working toward, both in their jobs and in their everyday lives?
21. Chapter 21: How does the past connect to the future in this chapter? Think about the women’s earlier struggles and their later success.
22. Chapter 22: Do you agree with the idea that America is for everybody? How do the events in the book support your opinion?
23. Chapter 23: What is the most important lesson you learned from Hidden Figures, and how could you use that lesson in your own life?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

Chapter 4: The chapter talks about the Double V. What did this idea mean, and why was it important to Black Americans during the war?

I think the Double V meant winning two victories at the same time. One victory was against enemies in the war, and the other was against racism at home. This idea was important because Black Americans were helping their country, but they still did not have equal rights. It showed that they wanted freedom and fairness everywhere.

Chapter 16: After Sputnik, what do you predict will change for the people working at Langley? Use details from the chapter to explain your thinking.

I predict that the workers at Langley will have to work faster and solve harder problems. Sputnik made the United States worry that it was falling behind in space. I think mathematicians like Katherine Johnson will become even more important because space travel needs very exact numbers. The chapter makes me think Langley’s work will become more urgent.

Chapter 23: What is the most important lesson you learned from Hidden Figures, and how could you use that lesson in your own life?

The most important lesson I learned is that people can do amazing things even when others treat them unfairly. Dorothy, Mary, and Katherine kept learning, working hard, and helping each other. I can use this lesson by not giving up when schoolwork is difficult. I can also remember to speak up when something is unfair.