About
This is a classic story adapted from the full account of Tom Sawyer written by Mark Twain. In this simplified version children are swept away to the 1800's and the adventures of a young boy about 12 years old. Even though he's always causing trouble for his aunt and finding some mischief to get into, he ends up being a hero to all.
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
Why did Tom Sawyer get in trouble?
Page 2 — He hadn’t cut the wood or mowed the lawn and he got into the raspberry jam and had sugar filling his pockets
2
What was his consequence for not doing his chores and getting into the food?
Page 3 — Painting the fence
3
Tell me about Tom.
Page 8 — Deceitful, tricky, mischievous, troublesome, manipulative
8
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why did Tom want to earn a Bible from Sunday School?
Page 12 — the glory of winning it
12
How did Tom get all of his tickets?
Page 13 — He traded the treasures for them
13
What did Tom do to get Becky’s attention?
Page 15 — Making mischief, pulling hair, making faces
15
What did Judge Thatcher want Tom to recite after Tom received the Bible?
Page 18 — The twelve disciples
18
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Tell me about Huck Finn.
Page 21 — Trouble maker, mothers dreaded and disliked him, swore, was free to do as he wanted
21
What superstition did Huck Finn believe would come true at midnight with his medicine potion?
Page 22 — He’d make his warts go away
22
What was Tom’s punishment for being late to school?
Page 25 — Switches and sitting by the girls
25
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Who did Tom court before he met Becky?
Page 30 — Amy Lawrence
30
Why did it upset Becky when Tom mentioned Amy Lawrence?
Page 35 — She wanted to be the only and first girl he’d courted before
35
Why did Tom decide to be a pirate?
Page 37 — So Becky would be impressed by him
37
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Who did Tom and Huck see in the graveyard?
Page 43 — Injun Joe, Muff Potter, Dr. Robinson
43
Who killed Dr. Robinson?
Page 46 — Injun Joe
46
How did Injun Joe trick Muff Potter into thinking he had killed Dr. Robinson?
Page 46 — Injun Joe put the knife into Muff Potter’s hand when Muff Potter was unconscious
46
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
How did Becky react when she saw Tom showing off for her?
Page 57 — she was put off by it
57
What did Tom do when Becky said she didn’t like boys that show off?
Page 58 — Started to flirt with Amy Lawrence and pretended not to notice Becky
58
How did Becky and Tom’s actions affect each other?
Page 59 — It made them both upset
59
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why did Becky want to get into Mr. Dobbins’ desk?
Page 62 — To see what book he would get out and read
62
What did Tom do for Becky when Mr. Dobbins called on her to see if she’d ripped the book?
Page 66 — Tom confessed he had done it
66
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Tom and Huck want to tell anybody what really happened on the night Dr. Robinson died?
Page 69 — They knew they wouldn’t still be alive
69
During the trial for the murder of Dr. Robinson, who did the prosecutor call up to the stand?
Page 73 — Tom
73
As Tom was telling his story in the court room, how did Injun Joe escape?
Page 77 — Through the window
77
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
How did the prosecutor know that Tom and Huck witnessed the murder in the graveyard?
Page 78 — Tom went and told him
78
Where did Tom and Huck dig for treasure at first?
Page 83 — the tree on Cardiff Hill
83
Why did they decide to dig at midnight?
Page 84 — The moonlight would make a shadow just right and that would be where they were supposed to dig
84
How did the boys feel about digging in the haunted house at night?
Page 88 — Scared
88
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
When Tom and Huck went to the haunted house during the day, who else visited the house?
Page 92 — A Spanish man and another man
92
Who was the Spanish man?
Page 93 — Injun Joe in disguise
93
What was the “job” about that Injun Joe needed to do before leaving for Texas?
Page 97 — Revenge/ getting rid of Tom and Huck
97
What stopped Injun Joe from finding Tom and Huck up the stairs of the haunted house?
Page 99 — The stairs broke and Injun Joe fell through not being able to climb to the top
99
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
What place did Tom and Huck figure to be the Number 2 hide out Injun Joe was talking about?
Page 103 — room at an inn that was locked
103
Who was in the Number 2 room?
Page 105 — Injun Joe
105
What was Tom and Huck’s plan to get the treasure box from Injun Joe?
Page 106 — Wait till Injun Joe wasn’t there and snatch it from the room at night/ Huck would watch and Tom would snatch
106
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
What were the activities the children were involved in during the all day picnic?
Page 109 — Playing and exploring in the forest and rocky heights as well as playing in the cave
109
What was Huck’s adventure the same night Tom was at the party?
Page 113 — two men came out of the alley carrying the box and he followed them to Widow Douglas’ house
113
What was the revenge job Injun Joe was wanting to do?
Page 113 — Get back at Widow Douglas for her husband arresting Injun Joe
113
Who did Huck get to help him stop Injun Joe from hurting Widow Douglas?
Page 114 — The Welshman and his sons
114
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
How did Mrs. Thatcher and Aunt Polly feel when they both realized Tom and Becky didn’t come back with the party?
Page 121 — upset/worried
121
How did Tom and Becky get lost in the cave?
Page 123 — They got chased by bats and ran into new passages trying to escape them
123
What did Tom use to explore the passages of the cave so he wouldn’t get lost from Becky?
Page 127 — Kite line he had in his pocket
127
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
How did Tom escape the cave?
Page 131 — Took his kite line and went down two passages then saw light and dropped his line and went toward it, crawled out of a small hole right on the Mississippi River
131
Why did Tom turn white as a sheet when Judge Thatcher told him about locking up the cave door so no one could go in?
Page 132 — Injun was still in there
132
Where was the real number two hiding spot?
Page 135 — In the cave under a candle smoked cross
135
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
How did Judge Thatcher feel about Tom?
Page 141 — Had a great opinion of him, would pay for him to go to West Point
141
How did Tom get Huck to go back to the widow?
Page 144 — Said he wanted Huck respectable if was going to be a part of his gang
144
Retold from the Mark Twain original
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Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
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