The Indian in the Cupboard
About
A young boy discovers that his magic cupboard and key can turn toys into live people and animals. Text contains violence and racism.
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
How does Omri feel when Patrick gives him the plastic Indian?
Page 2 — Disappointed
2
What does Omri’s mum give him for the cabinet?
Page 3 — A boxful of keys
3
What does the Indian do when Omri tries to pick him up?
Page 9 — Stab him
9
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What does Omri worry happened to the Indian while at school?
Page 15 — He dies without food, drink
15
What did the Indian think was magic?
Page 21 — Electricity
21
Did Little Bear live in a tepee?
Page 21 — No, a longhouse
21
Who is the Indian?
Page 23 — Iroquois brave, son of chief, Little Bear
23
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Omri finds out that Little Bear fought in a war with whom and against whom.
Page 29 — With the English against the French and the Algonquin
29
What did Little Bear say that scared Omri?
Page 30 — He scalped 30 French soldiers
30
Why did Omri not tell anyone about Little Bear?
Page 31 — They would make him an experiment in a laboratory
31
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
How did Little Bear hurt his leg?
Page 41 — Horse kicked when box was squeezed
41
What did Little Bear call fire water?
Page 41 — Water and Listerine; disinfectant
41
What plastic figure did Omri grab to help Little Bear’s injury?
Page 42 — WW I orderly
42
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What does Omri tell Tommy so he won’t be afraid?
Page 45 — It’s just a dream
45
What supplies does Omri gather for Little Bear?
Page 47 — Seed tray, posts and bark
47
Where does Omri get an ax for Little Bear?
Page 48 — From a knight
48
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Omri sneaks away at lunchtime at school to buy what?
Page 52 — Plastic chief with bow and arrow
52
How does Little Bear check to see if the chief is dead?
Page 59 — Puts his feather in front of his mouth
59
What does Little Bear take from the dead chief and why?
Page 59 — Cape, headdress, bow and arrow and now he’s the new chief
59
What does Omri’s father make him do?
Page 60 — Replace items he used at hardware shop
60
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
When they get to Omri’s room who do they find there?
Page 65 — Gillon and Adiel
65
What did the brothers feel about the longhouse?
Page 67 — Admiration at the details
67
Why did Omri not want Patrick to put a lot of toys in the cupboard?
Page 69 — Because they are real
69
What did Patrick beg Omri for?
Page 74 — One live toy of his own
74
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What did Patrick do when Omri went to get some food for the Indian?
Page 78 — Put the cowboy in the cupboard
78
What does the cowboy do to Patrick?
Page 80 — Shoots him
80
What does Omri promise Patrick to do?
Page 85 — Bring the Cowboy to school
85
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why does Little Bear do a dance?
Page 89 — He is getting a wife
89
What happened when Omri was a sleep?
Page 90 — The cowboy escaped
90
What does Little Bear want Omri to do?
Page 94 — Take him to school too
94
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What did Omri fix for breakfast?
Page 98 — Egg, beans and bread crust
98
What did Omri make the cowboy and Indian do to eat?
Page 99 — Call a truce
99
What did Boone threaten Little Bear he’d do if he didn’t fight fair?
Page 103 — Set his hallucy-nation on him
103
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
How does April taunt Patrick?
Page 108 — She says “Lookit he’s blu-shing!”
108
Why do Omri and Patrick get thrown out of class?
Page 111 — Little Bear stabs him in the side
111
What does Omri do with the little men?
Page 114 — Puts them in the same pocket
114
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
When Omri couldn’t find Patrick where was he?
Page 119 — The music room
119
When Patrick was late to class by 20 minutes what did Miss Hilton do?
Page 120 — Sent both boys to the headmaster Mr. Jonson
120
Why did Omri attack Patrick in Mr. Johnson’s office?
Page 124 — He was going to tell him about the little men
124
Did Patrick show the little men to Mr. Johnson?
Page 126 — Yes
126
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
Why did Patrick say he had to show the little men?
Page 128 — They would tell his dad
128
How did Omri feel when the art teacher saw Boone’s drawing?
Page 133 — It was fun
133
How did Omri trick Mr. Yapp with the little men?
Page 139 — He told them to act like plastic
139
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Why did Adiel take Omri’s cupboard?
Page 142 — He thought Omri took his football shorts
142
Why was the magic gone from the cupboard?
Page 145 — Because the key was lost
145
Why does Little Bear shoot Boone with an arrow?
Page 150 — TV shows portrayed Indians as bad
150
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Why was Omri worried for the safety of the little men?
Page 155 — The rat was loose
155
What did Omri worry would happen to Little Bear under the floor?
Page 161 — the rat would eat him
161
How did Omri think he could stop the little men from fighting?
Page 167 — Become blood brothers
167
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
Why was Little Bears’ wife called Bright Stars?
Page 173 — Her shining eyes
173
Who became blood brothers?
Page 178 — Little Bear and Boone pg 176 Little Bear and Omri
178
Where was Omri’s mum going to keep the key?
Page 181 — She was going to wear it on a chain
181
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