About
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)
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 does a kite boarder ask the kids to do for him?
Page 3 — Watch his gear
3
How did Calvin get hurt?
Page 6 — Calvin got dragged down the beach by the kite
6
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What is the surprise that Calvin’s mom tells him and Darce?
Page 112 — A 15 year old girl named Stella is going to live with them
112
What is the bad news that Calvin’s mom tells him?
Page 16 — That Calvin will have to give Stella his room and Calvin will have to move out to the storage room
16
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What does Calvin find in the storage room?
Page 19 — A centipede
19
What is Calvin excited about?
Page 22 — Being in Mr. Purdy’s 4th grade class
22
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Who is Tito?
Page 25 — A 6th grader at Calvin’s school who has robbed Calvin
25
What made up reason does Calvin tell Tito they were laughing at?
Page 28 — That the police officer had a whole in his pants
28
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What two things does Calvin’s mom ask him to do for her?
Page 34 — Keep and eye on Darce until she gets home from work and walk Darce to her class on the first day of school
34
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What is Darce’s new teachers name?
Page 37 — Mrs. Wing
37
What does Calvin take to school?
Page 40 — The centipede
40
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Where does Mr. Purdy seat Calvin and his friends?
Page 47 — In opposite corners of the room
47
What mistake does Calvin make?
Page 48 — Calvin loosens the lid of the centipede jar so it can breathe
48
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What is the new boys name and where is he from?
Page 50 — Willey is from Pasadena in Southern California
50
When Mr. Purdy asks Calvin what responsibility means what does Calvin say?
Page 52 — Calvin says it means “take out the garbage.”
52
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What dose Calvin pretend to be doing while he is looking on the floor for his centipede?
Page 55 — Calvin drops his pencils and is pretending to pick them up.
55
In celebration of the student’s first day Mr. Purdy treats them to what?
Page 59 — Lunch from Uncle Scoop’s lunch truck.
59
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What is Tito proud of?
Page 62 — His new shirt that his Uncle got him.
62
Who stands up to Tito and Frankie?
Page 63 — Maya
63
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
What does Willey try that burns his mouth?
Page 67 — Kimchee
67
How do the children make Mr. Purdy angry?
Page 69 — The children have a food fight.
69
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
What makes Tito so angry at Calvin?
Page 72 — Calvin ruins his new shirt with grape juice by accident
72
How do the boys recognize they were wrong and have the courage?
Page 75 — The boys apologize to Uncle Scoop.
75
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
What student is very afraid of the centipede?
Page 78 — Doreen
78
What punishment does Mr. Purdy give Calvin for disrupting his class?
Page 82 — He makes Calvin the classroom greeter for a month.
82
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Where do Calvin and Julio hide from Tito and Frankie?
They hide in huge dirty garbage bins
What important thing does Calvin forget while trying to get home without getting beat up?
Page 89 — That he is supposed to walk Darce home.
89
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
After running back to school and then back home, where does Calvin find Darce?
Page 92 — Darce is in the kitchen, eating cereal.
92
Who helps Calvin fix up his new room?
Page 93 — Calvin’s mom’s boyfriend, Ledward Young, or King Kong as Calvin nic-named him.
93
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
What does Stella look like?
Page 99 — Stella has blond hair and light blue eyes
99
When Stella asks Calvin’s mom if the kids are going to give her trouble what does Calvin’s mom say?
Page 103 — She says the kids wont give her trouble, no trouble at all.
103
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
What does Calvin forget to fix?
Page 107 — The lock on his old bedroom’s door.
107
How does Calvin tell Stella she’ll have to get out of his room?
Page 111 — She’ll have to climb out the window.
111
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
Who show’s up again looking for trouble?
Page 114 — Tito and Frankie
114
After Tito saw Stella, he said he would be back in how long?
Page 116 — Ten minutes
116
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
Where do Julio, Willy, and Calvin hide from Tito and Frankie?
Page 120 — In their fort, a covered pit they had made.
120
Where do the boys try to get away from Tito and Frankie next?
Page 123 — They go on Calvin’s boat and onto the river.
123
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
Calvin makes a deal with Tito to pay him back for the shirt by doing what?
Page 130 — Calvin will introduce him to Stella.
130
When Stella asks Tito about his shirt what does he say?
Page 132 — Tito says that he is going to go pig hunting.
132
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
Calvin’s mom asks Calvin to let Stella sit in what position at the table?
Page 135 — In the “head of the table” seat.
135
What does Stella think Tito brought her?
Page 138 — A bag of bugs
138
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
Stella catches Darce and Calvin doing what instead of being in bed?
Page 142 — Snacking in the kitchen.
142
How does Calvin say thank you to Darce for covering up for him with their mom?
Page 146 — Calvin gives her his complimentary shave ice coupon.
146
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
How does Calvin show he can be more responsible?
Page 149 — He fixes the door to Stella’s room.
149
Who says thank you to Calvin before he goes to bed?
Page 150 — Stella says thank you for giving her his room.
150
Lexile measure: 410L.
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