About
The Alden children enter a contest when they go visit an old mine and get to search for gems of all kinds. But they run into trouble when Jessie’s star ruby gets stolen.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
Where did Grandfather and the children go to extend their vacation?
Page 2 — gem mine
2
What was going on that week at the mine?
Page 4 — A contest
4
Was the mine actually open anymore?
Page 6 — No
6
How do they get the ore if the mine is closed?
Page 8 — Bull doze it in from the creek and around the mine
8
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What kind of ruby did Donald find?
Page 15 — Papa Bear ruby
15
What story does Mr. Knight use to rate the size of gems that are found?
Page 17 — The Three Bears
17
What is the Goldilocks size of ruby?
Page 19 — Star ruby
19
What did the children see while taking a walk that night?
Page 23 — Lights over the mountain
23
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What did Mr. Knight say the lights were called?
Page 27 — Brown Mountain Lights
27
What were they caused from?
Page 27 — Gases in the mountain
27
Why was Donald grumpy?
Page 32 — He didn’t find any big gems
32
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What rock had Violet mined?
Page 34 — Mama Bear ruby
34
Where did Violet put the ruby and its case?
Page 35 — In her backpack
35
When the children were hiking, whose backpack went missing?
Page 39 — Jessie
39
Who has a backpack just like Jessie’s?
Page 44 — Violet
44
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Where did the children go with Jonathon to look for gems?
Page 47 — In the creek
47
What did Jonathon do to Benny’s stone?
Page 53 — He dropped it in the creek
53
What happened to the children’s collection of rocks they had found?
Page 54 — Sybil kicked them into the creek
54
What did Henry see while they were creekin’?
Page 55 — somebody in the trees
55
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What treasure did Jessie find?
Page 62 — Biggest star ruby that had ever been found at the mine
62
What did Jessie want to do with the money from selling the star ruby?
Page 65 — Buy books for the library that got struck by lightning
65
Why didn’t the children want to tell Grandfather about the note?
Page 66 — He would worry
66
What went missing when the children came in from seeing the lights?
Page 69 — Star ruby
69
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Who did Grandfather want to call when he heard about the missing ruby?
Page 71 — Police
71
What was Jonathon doing when the children saw him?
Page 75 — Looking at papers
75
Why did the children think Jonathon could’ve stolen the ruby?
Page 80 — He wants a gem for a ring
80
Was Henry able to stop the person down at the flume?
Page 82 — No
82
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What kind of stone did Violet find?
Page 86 — Amethyst
86
Did Sybil’s shirt match the scrap of cloth?
Page 88 — No
88
Where did the children go during the rainstorms?
Page 91 — Flume
91
What did they dig up?
Page 92 — Jessie’s star ruby
92
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
How did Jonathon and Sybil respond to the children talking about the ruby?
Page 99 — Surprised
99
Where did the children go to look for Donald?
Page 102 — Laundromat
102
Did the torn shirt match the scrap of cloth this time?
Page 103 — Yes
103
Who did the black pouch belong to?
Page 103 — Donald
103
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
How did the children get out of the locked laundromat?
Page 106 — Benny climbed out the window
106
Who ended up stealing the star ruby?
Page 116 — Donald
116
Who was Donald?
Page 117 — Mr. Knight’s cousin
117
Why was he causing trouble?
Page 117 — He wanted the mine
117
Downloads
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Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
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