Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House #24 Earthquake in the Early Morning

Earthquake in the Early Morning

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 3-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Jack and Annie are sent to San Francisco to find the last writing on Morgan's note, something to lend.  They get caught in an earthquake, but as they try to help those around them, they find the special writing.  Morgan takes them to her own library and Jack and Annie use the four writings they've gathered to give hope and encouragement to King Arthur.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What was Annie waiting for as she sat on the steps?  birds to sing so she could wake up Jack   p. 4
  2. What is the special writing Jack and Annie need to find this time?  something to lend  p. 5
  3. Where are they going?  San Francisco, CA  1906    p. 7

Chapter 2

  1. What time of day is it?  early morning  p. 10
  2. Why didn't Annie want Jack to do research?  so she could see the sights  p. 13
  3. What happened to the ground as they walked down the street?  shaking and rumbling  p. 17

Chapter 3

  1. Where had Annie fallen during the quaking?  into the ground  p. 20
  2. How did Annie get out of the crack?  standing on a stack of bricks  p. 22
  3. After the Great Shake, how long did fires burn in the city?  three days  p. 25

Chapter 4

  1. Why were the men taking the bank bags down to the bay?  to put them on a boat so people's money would be safe from the fires  p. 28
  2. What was the newspaper reporter looking for?  a story  p. 30
  3. What were people in town trying to do?  save their things,  get to safety  p. 33

Chapter 5

  1. What kinds of books was the librarian trying to save?  rare books, painted books, bibles  p. 36
  2. Was the building the librarian was taking the books to a safe place?  no  p.38
  3. How did Jack feel when they couldn't stop the librarian and save the books?  sad  p. 40

Chapter 6

  1. Why was the lady crying on the bench? they lost most their things in the fire  p. 43
  2. What did Jack and Annie give the young boys?  their boots  p. 44
  3. Where did Jack and Annie tell the lady to go?  Golden Gate Park  p. 46

Chapter 7

  1. What did the mayor want some buildings blown up with, hoping to control the fire?  dynamite  p. 50
  2. What were Jack and Annie covered with as a a result of the blasting?  dirt, dust  p. 51
  3. What did Betty the reporter want Fred the photographer to take a picture of?  Jack and Annie with the sign  p. 52

Chapter 8

  1. Were Jack and Annie able to find the tree house?   yes  p. 55
  2. Why was it hard for them to breathe?  smoke  p. 55

Chapter 9

  1. How quickly did the people of San Francisco rebuild their city?  10 years  p. 58
  2. Where did Morgan take the children?  her own library  p. 60
  3. How did Jack and Annie help the sad king?  used the writings to show him he shouldn't give up, he should always have hope   p. 64

Chapter 10

  1. What did Annie see a picture of in the California book?  them holding their writing  p. 70
  2. What king did Jack and Annie give hope too?  King Arthur  p. 70