Because of Winn-Dixie
About
The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she names Winn-Dixie.
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
Describe the setting of this story.
Page 7 — In the Winn-Dixie grocery store in the produce department
7
Explain how Opal became Winn-Dixie’s owner?
Page 8 — He followed her into the store and the manager said to call the pound and she couldn’t let him go to the pound, so she said the dog was hers
8
Describe Winn-Dixie.
Page 8 — Dirty; ugly; bald patches on him; could see his ribs; big; smiles
8
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why does Opal’s father call her by her second or middle name?
Page 14 — it’s his mother’s name and he loves her a lot
14
What did Opal tell Winn-Dixie on their way home from the store?
Page 14 — How she got her name; how she had just moved to Naomi; about the preacher
14
Is your name special to you? Why or why not?
Listen to your child's answer; if they don't know where their name came from, explain why you chose to name them that
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
How are Opal and Winn-Dixie similar?
Page 21 — They’re both like orphans
21
Why did it take Opal courage to ask her father to name 10 things about her mother?
Page 25 — She didn't want to make her dad angry; he didn't like to talk about her
25
Is there something you have wanted to ask your parent/guardian, but haven't had the courage? Explain.
Listen to your child's answer
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
List 2 things about Opal’s mother that was similar to Opal.
Page 26 — She had freckles and red hair; she could run fast
26
Why do you think Opal’s mother left?
Page 28 — She didn’t like being the preacher’s wife; they fought when she drank alcohol
28
Why did Opal write down all ten things?
Page 30 — So she could memorize them and remember them, so that if her mother came back, she’d know who she was and never let her go again
30
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What happened when the preacher and Opal left Winn-Dixie home?
Page 31 — He howled or tore the house apart
31
Explain what happened when Opal brought Winn-Dixie into the church.
Page 36 — He saw a mouse, caught it and brought it to the preacher, who threw it outside
36
List the things Opal prayed for at the end of this chapter.
Page 38 — She was lonely; the mouse; her mama and that she could tell her the story of the mouse and Winn-Dixie
38
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What did Miss Franny think Winn-Dixie was as he looked in the window of the library?
Page 41 — A bear
41
Why was Miss Franny so worried about seeing a bear?
Page 42 — She had a bad experience with a bear coming into the library
42
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
How did the Herman W. Block Library come to be?
Page 46 — Miss Franny was the daughter of Herman W. Block and told her dad she wanted a little house full of books she could read and share with others
46
Explain the story of the bear in the library.
Page 47 — Miss Franny was reading her book on a hot day with all of the windows and doors open. A shadow crossed by her and she looked up when no one answered her question and saw the bear sniffing her
47
Who was Opal’s first friend in Naomi?
Page 51 — Miss Franny
51
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What plan did Opal come up to pay for the collar and leash?
Page 54 — Do jobs around the pet store
54
How did Gertrude feel about Winn-Dixie?
Page 56 — She landed on his head, so she liked him
56
Describe Sweetie Pie Thomas.
Page 57 — She’s a 5 year-old little girl; sucks on her third knuckle; wants a dog, but can’t have one; goes to Opal’s church
57
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Who was the witch Stevie and Dunlap were talking about?
Page 64 — Gloria Dump
64
Why did they call her a witch?
Page 63 — She was old, had crinkly brown skin, wore a big floppy hat and had no teeth
63
What did Gloria feed Winn-Dixie?
Page 63 — Peanut butter
63
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What does it mean to have a green thumb?
Page 69 — Being good at growing plants
69
How was Winn-Dixie helping Opal?
Page 70 — He helped her find friends; he helped her get a job
70
What was the main idea of this chapter?
Page 67 — Opal builds a greater relationship and trust with Gloria by sharing her worries about her mother, her father and the Dewberry boys
67
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Find a simile on page 74.
Barreling like a bowling ball
How did Winn-Dixie continue to behave during the thunderstorm?
Page 76 — out of his mind with fear; racing back and forth every time there was thunder
76
Opal had a difficult time talking when the preacher said they need to keep Winn-Dixie safe during thunderstorms. What was she feeling?
Page 78 — Lots of love for the preacher and felt like crying
78
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
What was Otis doing in the pet store when Opal arrived early to work?
Page 80 — Playing his guitar with every animal out of its cage
80
What effect did Otis have over the animals as he played his guitar?
Page 81 — He was like a snake charmer
81
What did Otis and the animals have in common?
Page 83 — They’d both been locked up
83
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
What was Opal’s favorite place to go that summer?
Page 88 — Gloria Dump’s
88
Why did the twins make Opal so mad?
Page 89 — They continued to call Gloria a witch
89
Why did Opal enjoy going over there so much?
Page 90 — Gloria would make her a sandwich and coffee/milk and talk to her
90
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Why couldn’t Gloria get glasses to see?
Page 92 — Because her eyes were too bad
92
What was hanging from the tree in Gloria’s backyard?
Page 94 — Whiskey, wine and beer bottles
94
Why were there bottles hanging from it?
Page 95 — Gloria used to drink and these were the bottles she had drunken out of; they were her ghosts of the things she’s done wrong in her life
95
Why did Gloria show Opal the tree?
Page 96 — To teach her that she shouldn’t judge Otis for being in jail
96
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Find a simile on one of the first two pages of this chapter.
Fur blowing off like a dandelion puff; stop and start shaking like a leaf; protecting her like soldiers p.98&99
Why did Opal want to tell Gloria a story?
Page 100 — To keep the ghosts away from the bottles hitting together in the wind
100
How did Miss Franny react when Amanda Wilkinson came into the library and demanded a book?
Page 102 — She told her she’d have to wait until she finished telling Opal the story of her great grandfather in the Civil War
102
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
Describe Miss Franny’s great grandfather’s experience of fighting in the war.
Page 106 — Hot or cold; covered in vermin, fleas and ticks; always hungry; always getting shot at; stinky in the summer
106
What did Littmus find after walking home from the war?
Page 107 — His home was burned; his mom and sisters dead from typhoid fever and his dad on the battlefield
107
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
What did Miss Franny’s great grandfather do with his life after the war?
Page 111 — Built the candy factory and made candy
111
What’s the secret ingredient of the candy Miss Franny gave the girls?
Page 114 — Sorrow
114
What did Opal decide to do as she passed the twins on her bike?
Page 116 — Wave to them
116
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
What did the preacher think the candy tasted like?
Page 121 — Opal’s mother; melancholy
121
What did the preacher want Opal to say to Stevie?
Page 123 — That she was sorry for calling him a bald-headed baby
123
Who is Carson and what happened to him?
Page 124 — Amanda’s five year-old brother who had drowned last year
124
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
Why did Otis go to jail?
Page 130 — He wouldn’t stop playing his guitar when the policemen asked him too and he hit one of them when they put handcuffs on him
130
How did Sweetie Pie respond to the candy Opal gave her?
Page 132 — She spit it out and tasted like not having a dog
132
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
How did Opal come up with the idea to have a party and invite her friends?
Page 125 — From the book, Gone with the Wind
125
How did Gloria respond to Opal’s idea?
Page 137 — She made her promise to invite the twins
137
What was Otis’s reaction when Opal asked him to come to the party?
Page 142 — He didn’t want to come at first, but told him she would do her jobs for free for a week and then told him to bring his guitar
142
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
What kind of sandwiches did Gloria and Opal make for the party?
Page 143 — Egg-salad sandwiches
143
Why did Miss Franny wobble when she walked and sway when standing still?
Page 145 — She was wearing high heels
145
Why was Otis hesitant to come to the party?
Page 149 — He was nervous to be around people
149
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
What did Otis do that made Sweetie Pie laugh?
Page 151 — Leaned over and his guitar on his back bonked him on the head
151
What did the weather turn into just as the party got started?
Page 154 — A rain storm
154
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
Who did Opal forget to bring inside as the thunder started to roll?
Page 157 — Winn-Dixie
157
Why was she so worried about him?
Page 157 — In thunderstorms he gets scared and this time she didn’t hold onto him, so he ran away
157
Chapter 24
Comprehension questions
Why did Opal make a list to describe Winn-Dixie?
Page 162 — If she had to make a sign about him it would tell people about him
162
Explain what the preacher told Opal when she blamed him for not trying to stop her mother from leaving.
Page 165 — He told her he did try, but he couldn’t stop her; he wished she’d come back every day; was very grateful she had left Opal
165
Chapter 25
Comprehension questions
Where had Winn-Dixie been during the thunderstorm?
Page 173 — Under Gloria’s bed
173
What helped him come out from under the bed?
Page 174 — Otis’s music
174
Chapter 26
Comprehension questions
What is a theme for this story? Explain.
Letting go; friendship; dealing with grief and abandonment
Describe how Opal's relationship with her father had changed at the end of the story.
They had grown together in understanding and were connecting with each other
What did you like about this story?
Listen to your child's answer
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Worksheets
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