About
Hank Zipzer is in the fourth grade and has just had parent teacher conferences and is getting terrible grades. He is faced with the fear that maybe he won't pass the fourth grade and will be stuck in the fourth grade while all of his classmates move on to fifth grade.
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 was the excitement about?
Page 5 — there was no school Friday
5
Why is there no school?
Page 6 — parent teacher conferences
6
Why is Hank panicking for the conferences?
Page 9 — he thinks he's getting bad grades
9
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why was there a tidal wave in the bathroom?
Page 12 — Hank tried synchronized swimming in his bathtub and fell over
12
Describe Ashley's hat.
Page 13 — red baseball cap with a rhinestone smiley face
13
How was Hank going to check his grades?
Page 17 — look in the teacher's roll book
17
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What are three things on the list of this chapter?
P. 19
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
How did Ashley signal Ms. Adolf was coming?
Page 25 — knocked three times
25
Who came in the room the first time?
Page 22 — Dr. Berger/ Learning specialist
22
What had Hank never seen before?
Page 29 — Frankie speechless
29
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What was "Redo" written on?
Page 31 — the roll book
31
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why was Hank nervous?
Page 34 — he had a "redo"
34
What did Hank eat before he ate a wanton?
Page 34 — a peanut butter & jelly sandwich
34
What is Frankie's magic word?
Page 39 — zengawii
39
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
What show did Ashley's grandma never miss?
Page 42 — SpongeBob SquarePants
42
Who is Robert Upchurch's best friend?
Page 46 — Hank's sister
46
What was the last city Hank named?
Page 55 — Big Rock
55
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Where did Frankie and Ashley take Mr. Zipzer?
Page 54 — the living room
54
After the concert, what are Hank's parents going to eat with the band?
Page 62 — Philadelphia Cheesesteaks
62
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What were three reasons on the list?
p. 64-65
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What kind of movie did Hank pretend to audition for when he was telling his dad his reasons that he should go to the concert?
Page 66 — Spider-Man
66
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
What is Hank's grandpa's name?
Page 68 — Pape Pete
68
Where did Frankie travel with his family?
Page 70 — Zimbabwe
70
What plan did Hank, Frankie and Ashley get to?
Page 73 — Plan M
73
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
What does hypoallergenic mean?
Page 76 — prevents allergies
76
What does Hank have to help his sister with before she tells him her plan?
Page 80 — paint her toenails
80
What was the plan Emily had to get their parents to go on the trip and to the concert?
Page 81 — tell Mom about the trip since she loves Stone Cold Rock and she'll talk dad into it/ play the music before dinner
81
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
What is the name of the deli the Zipzer's own?
Page 85 — the Crunchy Pickle
85
What did Hank's mom do when the music started during dinner?
Page 90 — she danced
90
Why didn't Hank's parents want to go to the concert?
Page 93 — his mom loves his dad and he doesn't want to go
93
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
What did Luke Whiteman want to be when grew up?
Page 96 — he wanted to look for frogs, bugs, slugs, etc.
96
How did Hank enter the office at school?
Page 99 — he slid in on his face
99
What did Hank talk with Dr. Berger about?
Page 100 — That he has a friend (himself) who's worried about repeating a grade
100
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
How big was Hank's folder?
Page 104 — big as a stack of pancakes at IHOP
104
Why was Hank crying?
Page 108 — he didn't want to get held back
108
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
What is Papa Pete's rule?
Page 110 — if it hasn't happened, don't worry about it
110
How old is Mrs. Zipzer?
Page 111 — almost 40
111
What was Papa Pete going to buy Hank and his friends at the Crunchy Pickle?
Page 112 — a black and white cookie
112
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
Why do you need milk for your black and whites?
Page 115 — so you can dunk them
115
What did Isaac Funk do?
Page 117 — publish the standard dictionary of the English language
117
Why were Mr. and Mrs. Zipzer going to Philadelphia?
Page 119 — Mrs. Zipzer was going to tour the Funk House with him so he would do what she wanted to
119
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
What does Papa Pete say?
Page 121 — a pickle and a laugh, you can't beat that combo
121
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
What did Hank's parents leave with Hank and his sister when they went to Philadelphia?
Page 123 — a schedule of what they are going to do
123
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
What was the loud noise?
Page 127 — Hank's parents
127
What was Skeeter good at?
Page 130 — crossword puzzles
130
Where are Hank's parents going?
Page 133 — parent teacher conference
133
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
How did Hank's mom find out about the parent teacher conference?
Page 134 — Ms. Adolf called
134
What do the Zipzer's need to bring to the parent teacher conference?
Page 136 — Hank's big brown envelope
136
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
What are three things on the list?
p. 142
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
Who else came to the parent teacher conference that made Hank nervous?
Page 14 — Principal Love
14
What was Ms. Adolf's first name?
Page 146 — Fanny
146
Chapter 24
Comprehension questions
Was Hank going to be held back a grade?
Page 151 — no
151
What does Hank need to study in summer school?
Page 151 — Math and reading
151
Why does Ms. Adolf write "redo" on her things?
Page 154 — so she knows when to correct something
154
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