About
Time-traveling brother-and-sister team Jack and Annie must find four secrets of greatness for Merlin the magician. To start, they travel back in time to meet Alexander the Great. He should know all about greatness, right? But young Alexander is bossy, vain, and not great at all! How can they learn from him? It’s going to take a wild black stallion, magic from Merlin, and a lot of bravery to succeed. Are Jack and Annie clever and bold enough to complete their mission?
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
In the first chapter, how did Jack and Annie know the tree house was back?
Page 5 — Penny was standing on the sidewalk
5
Who did Jack and Annie find in the tree house when they first climbed in?
Page 6 — Merlin
6
What question did Merlin struggle to find an answer to?
Page 9 — What makes a person great
9
What three objects did Merlin give Jack and Annie to help them on their next four missions?
Page 10-12 — The Ring of Truth, magical silver mist in a tiny glass bottle, research book on Macedonia
10-12
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
How did King Phillip II get his army to become the best fighting machine in the world?
Page 18 — He drilled his men night and day
18
Why did the boys scowl at Annie when she asked them if King Phillip and Alexander the Great live up on the hill?
Page 20 — They’re a fierce and warlike people/not friendly
20
Why did the blacksmiths glare and follow Jack and Annie when they tried to sneak away?
Page 21 — They thought they were stealing military secrets when they saw Jack writing down what they were doing
21
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
How did Annie “defy” the teacher that was teaching about the universe?
Page 24-25 — She went against what he was saying
24-25
What was the teacher’s name?
Page 26 — Aristotle
26
Why is Aristotle in Macedonia?
Page 31 — To tutor the prince, Alexander, when he turns 13
31
Why did Jack and Annie wait outside while Aristotle went into the Royal House?
Page 34 — Aristotle needed to get permission for his guests, Jack and Annie to enter into the House with him
34
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What is a mural?
Page 36 — A large picture painted or affixed onto a wall or ceiling
36
Describe Prince Alexander’s appearance and behavior when he first arrived and entered the hall everyone was gathered and eating in.
Page 39 — fair haired, muscular, purple cloak over his tunic, strode to the center of the room, tossed back his cloak, bowed
39
What is a word that describes Alexander?
Page 41 — Pompous, arrogant, egotistical, full of himself, stuck-up
41
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Why was Jack nervous to go alone with Alexander?
Page 46 — He was worried Alexander would challenge him to mounting a moving chariot, hunt a lion
46
What did Alexander want Jack to write about, when he took him and Annie to the covered porch behind the house?
Page 47 — Alexander
47
Instead of writing down what Alexander was saying about himself, what did Jack write?
Page 48-50 — Alexander is a raving nut, a show off, could never have friends, he should be locked up
48-50
Why didn’t Jack use Merlin’s magic to become the greatest athlete in the world to beat Alexander?
Page 55 — Jack didn’t want to waste it on an arrogant bully
55
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why does Alexander want to make others look like fools?
Page 58 — Because he so greatly fears looking like a fool himself/ he wants to equal his father’s power and strength
58
What is the definition of “haggle”?
Page 60 — to try make a deal
60
When Bucephalus neighed and bucked wildly, who felt they could tame him?
Page 64 — Alexander
64
Why did Annie want to restart their friendship with Alexander?
Page 66 — She felt sorry for him, his dad’s mean to him, they showed off to the king and his men, they were mean to him
66
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
When Jack and Annie sniffed the magic mist to become great horse trainers, what were they able to do with the Bucephalus?
Page 78 — Listen to his thoughts/understand him and have him understand them
78
What nickname did Annie call Bucephalus?
Page 76 — Buddy
76
After explaining what had happened to his master, what helped Buddy feel better?
Page 80 — That whatever happened to his master wasn’t his fault
80
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What does “balk” mean?
Page 81 — to stop short and refuse to go on
81
What are some examples from the book to describe how Jack felt when they were riding the horse?
Page 83 — Like they were dancing together and they had become one with the horse
83
What helped Buddy let other riders ride him?
Page 87 — He knows he doesn’t have to wait for his master anymore
87
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What was the secret of greatness Merlin wanted them to discover on this mission?
Page 94 — Humility
94
What is the definition of humility?
Page 94 — put others before yourself; have a modest opinion about yourself
94
When Alexander truly listened to Buddy, what did the horse tell him?
Page 97 — He was scared of the shadows
97
What helped Alexander look and act like a different person?
Page 97 — Thinking about the horse instead of himself
97
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Who wanted Jack and Annie to stay and help with Alexander’s education?
Page 101 — Aristotle
101
How did Alexander’s father feel about him after seeing him ride Bucephalus?
Page 104 — Happy; proud of him; The king told Alexander he had better find a larger kingdom, since the king’s kingdom was not big enough for him
104
Explain the Ring of Truth.
Page 10 — It was given to Jack and Annie from Merlin to wear on their journeys. It will glow when they discover a true secret of greatness
10
What does dappled mean?
Page 108 — having spots of a different shade, tone, or color from the background
108
Downloads
All the book’s resources, or just the ones you need, ready to read or print.
Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Download one reading section
A small printout with all the resources for the selected section.
