Comprehension Questions- Calvin Coconuts #1 Trouble Magnet

Trouble Magnet

By: Graham Salisbury

Grades 3-5; Genre - Fiction; GRL 410L; AR pts: 2.0

Nine-year-old Calvin catches the attention of the school bully on the day before he starts fourth grade, while at home, the unfriendly fifteen-year-old daughter of his mother's best friend has taken over his room.

Comprehension Questions (Sylvia)

Chapter 1

  1. What does a kite boarder ask the kids to do for him?   Watch his gear p. 3
  2. How did Calvin get hurt?  Calvin got dragged down the beach by the kite p. 6

Chapter 2

  1. What is the surprise that Calvin’s mom tells him and Darce?  A 15 year old girl named Stella is going to live with them p. 112.     
  2. What is the bad news that Calvin’s mom tells him?  That Calvin will have to give Stella his room and Calvin will have to move out to the storage room p. 16

Chapter 3

  1. What does Calvin find in the storage room?   A centipede p. 19
  2. What is Calvin excited about?   Being in Mr. Purdy’s 4th grade class p. 22

Chapter 4

  1. Who is Tito?   A 6th grader at Calvin’s school who has robbed Calvin p. 25
  2. What made up reason does Calvin tell Tito they were laughing at?    That the police officer had a whole in his pants p. 28

Chapter 5

  1. What two things does Calvin’s mom ask him to do for her?Keep and eye on Darce until she gets home from work and walk Darce to her class on the first day of school p. 34

Chapter 6

  1. What is Darce’s new teachers name?   Mrs. Wing p. 37
  2. What does Calvin take to school?     The centipede p. 40

Chapter 7

  1. Where does Mr. Purdy seat Calvin and his friends?   In opposite corners of the room p. 47
  2. What mistake does Calvin make?   Calvin loosens the lid of the centipede jar so it can breathe p. 48

Chapter 8

  1. What is the new boys name and where is he from?   Willey is from Pasadena in Southern California p. 50
  2. When Mr. Purdy asks Calvin what responsibility means what does Calvin say?    Calvin says it means “take out the garbage.”   P. 52

Chapter 9

  1. What dose Calvin pretend to be doing while he is looking on the floor for his centipede?    Calvin drops his pencils and is pretending to pick them up. P. 55
  2. In celebration of the student’s first day Mr. Purdy treats them to what?    Lunch from Uncle Scoop’s lunch truck.  P. 59

Chapter 10

  1. What is Tito proud of?    His new shirt that his Uncle got him. P. 62
  2. Who stands up to Tito and Frankie?    Maya p.63

Chapter 11

  1. What does Willey try that burns his mouth?       Kimchee p. 67
  2. How do the children make Mr. Purdy angry?    The children have a food fight. p. 69

Chapter 12

  1. What makes Tito so angry at Calvin?    Calvin ruins his new shirt with grape juice by accident p. 72
  2. How do the boys recognize they were wrong and have the courage?    The boys apologize to Uncle Scoop. P. 75

 Chapter 13

  1. What student is very afraid of the centipede?    Doreen p. 78
  2. What punishment does Mr. Purdy give Calvin for disrupting his class?      He makes Calvin the classroom greeter for a month. P. 82

Chapter 14

  1. Where do Calvin and Julio hide from Tito and Frankie?   They hide in huge dirty garbage bins
  2. What important thing does Calvin forget while trying to get home without getting beat up?   That he is supposed to walk Darce home. P. 89

Chapter 15

  1. After running back to school and then back home, where does Calvin find Darce?    Darce is in the kitchen, eating cereal. P. 92
  2. Who helps Calvin fix up his new room?    Calvin’s mom’s boyfriend, Ledward Young, or King Kong as Calvin nic-named him. P. 93

 Chapter 16

  1. What does Stella look like?    Stella has blond hair and light blue eyes p. 99
  2. When Stella asks Calvin’s mom if the kids are going to give her trouble what does Calvin’s mom say?   She says the kids wont give her trouble, no trouble at all. P 103.

 Chapter 17

  1. What does Calvin forget to fix?   The lock on his old bedroom’s door. P. 107
  2. How does Calvin tell Stella she’ll have to get out of his room?   She’ll have to climb out the window. P.111

 Chapter 18

  1. Who show’s up again looking for trouble?   Tito and Frankie p. 114
  2. After Tito saw Stella, he said he would be back in how long?Ten minutes p. 116

Chapter 19

  1. Where do Julio, Willy, and Calvin hide from Tito and Frankie?   In their fort, a covered pit they had made.    P. 120
  2. Where do the boys try to get away from Tito and Frankie next?   They go on Calvin’s boat and onto the river. P. 123

 Chapter 20

  1.  Calvin makes a deal with Tito to pay him back for the shirt by doing what?   Calvin will introduce him to Stella. P. 130
  2. When Stella asks Tito about his shirt what does he say?   Tito says that he is going to go pig hunting. P. 132

 Chapter 21

  1. Calvin’s mom asks Calvin to let Stella sit in what position at the table?  In the “head of the table” seat. P. 135
  2. What does Stella think Tito brought her?   A bag of bugs p. 138

 Chapter 22

  1. Stella catches Darce and Calvin doing what instead of being in bed?   Snacking in the kitchen. P. 142
  2. How does Calvin say thank you to Darce for covering up for him with their mom?  Calvin gives her his complimentary shave ice coupon. P. 146

 Chapter 23

  1. How does Calvin show he can be more responsible?   He fixes the door to Stella’s room. p. 149
  2. Who says thank you to Calvin before he goes to bed?Stella says thank you for giving her his room. P. 150