About
Hank Zipzer doesn't feel great about his soccer skills, but learns with the help of Papa Pete that he really loves ping-pong. The only trouble is his father and friends don't think ping-pong is a real sport.
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
What grade is Hank Zipper in?
Page 1 — fifth grade
1
Why did Hank spit a spitball at the speaker?
Page 2 — It was making a loud screeching noise
2
Why doesn’t Hank like McKelty?
Page 3 — He wears his food on his clothes and in his teeth, laughs like a hippo snorting
3
Why were the fifth graders so glad not to be in fourth grade anymore?
Page 7 — Leave the fourth grade teacher, Ms. Adolf
7
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Who is Hank’s fifth grade teacher?
Page 9 — Ms. Adolf
9
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
How did Hank feel when he found out Ms. Adolf was his teacher again?
Page 10 — Like dead rat meat
10
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What’s the Parade of Athletes?
Page 16 — an event that honors the many sports people play
16
What sport does Ms. Adolf participate in?
Page 17 — fencing
17
Describe Mr. Rock.
Page 17 — Music teacher, cool, soccer coach, winks at kids in the hall, taught summer school
17
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Tell me about Emily.
Page 20 — Hank’s sister, fourth grade, loves reptiles
20
Who ended up with the new teacher?
Page 20 — Emily, fourth grade
20
What is Nick McKelty’s nickname?
Page 25 — Nick the Tick
25
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Who kicked the ball that hit Ms. Adolf in the backside?
Page 30 — Nick
30
Why was Hank worried about the soccer tryouts?
Page 29 — He’s not very good/ doesn’t want to get picked last
29
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Where were the soccer tryouts held?
Page 35 — Central Park
35
Why does Hank feel he’s not good at sports?
Page 37 — His learning challenges make it hard for good hand- eye coordination
37
What is the name of Hank’s soccer team?
Page 37 — Green Hornets
37
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What is a motivational speech?
Page 47 — A speech to help give someone the desire to win and do their best
47
What did Hank think about while his soccer coach was giving their team a motivational speech?
Page 47 — Random things, not what the coach was talking about
47
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Where does Hank’s mom work?
Page 49 — Crunchy Pickle deli
49
What’s Hank’s favorite snack Papa Pete gives him?
Page 53 — a giant dill pickle
53
Why does Hank not like the word “focus”?
Page 55 — it is difficult for him to do
55
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What is an Indian summer?
Page 61 — Summer days are warmer than usual
61
What did Papa Pete do when Hank didn’t like the pickle he gave him?
Page 62 — traded him his own pickle
62
What sport did Papa Peter begin that he thought Hank might like?
Page 63 — ping-pong
63
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Why does Hank think fifth grade is more difficult than fourth grade?
Page 65 — Longer vocabulary words, math problems are longer, recess is shorter
65
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
How do you know Hank was trying to learn and do better at soccer practice?
Page 66 — He kicked the ball and ran, he tried to dribble around the cone
66
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
What did Papa Peter buy Hank on the way to the ping-pong club to help him feel better?
Page 67 — Hot dog
67
What kinds of people play ping-pong?
Page 71 — Young/old, big/ little, everyone
71
Who is Sam Chin?
Page 72 — Kindergartener at Hank’s school, son of the owner of the club
72
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
How does Hank feel about ping-pong when he first tries to play?
Page 76 — Doesn’t like it
76
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
How many ways are there to hold a ping-pong paddle?
Page 77 — Two
77
What were Mr. Chin’s three C’s of ping-pong?
Page 80 — Concentration, Control, Confidence
80
How did Hank feel about ping-pong when he began to play?
Page 80 — Loved it
80
Why did Mr. Chin give Hank a paddle and two ping-pong balls?
Page 82 — To help him practice at home on the wall and get more comfortable
82
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
What is hand-eye coordination?
Page 84 — When your hand and eyes work together to do something
84
What was Kathleen the iguana’s reaction to Hank hitting the ping-pong ball on the wall?
Page 86 — Eyelids were rapidly blinking
86
What did Hank’s dad say when Hank tried to tell him ping-pong was a sport?
Page 87 — It’s a hobby
87
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
What did Hank take with him to the dentist?
Page 90 — His ping-pong paddle
90
How did Hank feel when Dr. Crumbworthy put his name and his new excitement for ping-pong on the electronic banner in his office?
Page 93 — Excited
93
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
How did Hank’s friends feel about ping-pong?
Page 99 — Weren’t impressed, thought it was for old people
99
Why doesn’t Hank want Sam to tell his friends that he plays ping-pong?
Page 102 — He doesn’t want to get teased
102
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
Why was Hank worried about Nick going to the dentist office?
Page 104 — He didn’t want him to the electronic banner with his name on it
104
After Ms. Adolf caught Hank passing a note to Joelle, why was he excited to go to the principal’s office?
Page 108 — He would be able to use the phone
108
What did Hank promise he would do if Dr. Crumbworthy changed the sign about him?
Page 110 — floss five times a day
110
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
Why doesn’t Hank want to tell Frank and Ashley that he plays ping-pong?
Page 113 — Doesn’t want to get teased/ doesn’t want them to play it since they would be good and leave him in the dust
113
How did the people in the Ping-Pong Emporium react when Hank walked in?
Page 114 — happy to see him, asked him to play
114
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
Why did Papa Pete and Hank stop for pizza every day on the way to the Ping-Pong Emporium?
Page 115 — They would be fueling up for their workout at ping-pong
115
Why didn’t Hank give up when playing ping-pong got hard?
Page 117 — He loved it
117
How was playing ping-pong helping Hank?
Page 118 — It made him feel great, learned to concentrate
118
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
How had Hank been irresponsible to his soccer coach?
Page 122 — He hadn’t showed up for practice
122
How does Hank’s dad feel about Hank missing soccer practice and playing ping-pong?
Page 124 — Disappointed/ upset
124
Why can’t Hank participate in the Parade of Athletes at the school?
Page 125 — he missed the sign-ups
125
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
Why is Robert dressed in a baby blue colored tuxedo?
Page 128 — He’s the emcee for the Parade of Athletes
128
When Hank told his friends that he’s been playing ping-pong how do they react?
Page 132 — They thought it was great
132
What did Hank ask his friends to do about his ping-pong career?
Page 134 — Keep it a secret
134
Chapter 24
Comprehension questions
Before the ceremony began, how did Hank feel that he hadn't signed up?
Page 137 — Not good
137
When it was time for Sam to do his demonstration of ping-pong, how was he feeling?
Page 145 — Upset/scared
145
When Nick kept harassing Sam during the ceremony, what did Ms. Adolf do?
Page 146 — Kick him out of the gym
146
Why did Ms. Adolf kick Nick out of the gym?
Page 146 — He didn’t have good sportsmanship
146
Chapter 25
Comprehension questions
What demonstration did Ashley and Frankie do for the ceremony?
Page 149 — Soccer
149
What did Sam want Hank to do during the ceremony?
Page 151 — Play ping-pong with him
151
Why did Sam want Hank to play with him?
Page 151 — they wouldn’t be as scared to play with each other
151
Chapter 26
Comprehension questions
How did Hank play when he and Sam played ping-pong for the ceremony?
Page 153 — Really well
153
What did Winston Chin want Hank to show everyone during the ceremony?
Page 154 — All of the cool moves he could do
154
How did Hank feel when Nick still felt ping-pong was for subhumans even after he saw Hank play?
Page 158 — Hank didn’t care
158
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