Comprehension Questions – The Original Adventures of Hank the CowDog #1

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog

by John R. Erickson

Grades 3-5; Genre - Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts: 3.0

Hank has been accused of murder! In a fit of despair, Hank resigns his position as Head of Ranch Security and decides to join the outlaw coyotes. There he's known as Hunk (that's Hank in coyote language). Hank meets Missy Coyote, sister to Scraunch — the meanest, roughest, toughest, most notorious coyote in the whole country. If Scraunch found Hank with his sister... Well, look out for trouble.

Vocabulary (by Steve)

Comprehension Questions (by Steve)

Chapter 1

  1. What was Hank’s job? Head of Ranch Security Pg. 1.
  2. Why did Loper shoot off the gun? Hank was barking at the coyotes. Pg. 3
  3. Who was Beulah? The neighbor’s collie that Hank liked. Pg. 4.
  4. What did Hank and Drover think killed the chicken? A coyote or a coon. Pg. 8.

Chapter 2

  1. Where did the porcupine stick Hank? In the face, nose, and paws. Pg. 12.
  2. What did Pete, the barn cat,  do to Hank? Flicked his tail on his nose. Pg. 14.
  3. How did Loper feel about Hank’s quills? It was Hanks fault for messing with a porcupine. Pg. 15.
  4. Why did Loper throw the pliers at Hank? He wet on his pants. Pg. 17.

Chapter 3

  1. What did Loper feel about Hank and the dead chicken? He barked all night and was expensive to feed. Pg. 19.
  2. Why did Hank tell Drover he was useless? He was playing with a frog. Pg. 22.
  3. What did Drover find in the night? A big monster with horns. Pg. 25.
  4. What did Hank actually attack? The milk cow.  Pg. 28.

Chapter 4

  1. Why was Slim nice to Hank? He wanted to wipe the dip stick on his ear. Pg. 31.
  2. How did Hank feel about Drover’s help the night before? He was not happy he didn’t give any . Pg. 33.
  3. Why was Drover not afraid to pee on the Boxer’s truck? He was chained up. Pg. 35.
  4. Why did Bruno get in trouble? The men thought the other dogs were asleep. Pg. 39.

Chapter 5

  1. What did Hank decide to do instead of guarding the chicken house? A steak-out. Pg. 44.
  2. Why did Hank fall asleep? Because he dreamt he was awake. Pg. 45.
  3. Who found Hank with the dead chicken? Sally May. Pg. 48.
  4. What did Loper do to punish Hank? Made him wear the dead chicken head. Pg. 50.
  5. What did Hank decide to do because he was punished? Leave and become an Outlaw. Pg. 53.

Chapter 6

  1. What did Hank think Loper and Sally Mae would feel about him being gone? They’d miss him. Do anything if he’d come home.  Pg. 57.
  2. How did Hank feel about the spring pool? A sewer is better. Pg. 58.
  3. What did Junior think about Hank? Thought he was d-d-d-dead. Pg. 59.
  4. What gave the signals that something was dead? The chicken head around hank’s neck. Pg. 62.

Chapter 7

  1. Why did the dog look headless? A Hawaiian Punch can was stuck on its head. Pg. 67.
  2. Why couldn’t the coyote understand hank? It didn’t speak Doglish. Pg. 69.
  3. Did Hank like the coyote’s name? No. Girl-Who-Drink-Blood. Pg. 72.
  4. Who was the coyote’s brother? Scraunch. Pg. 73.

Chapter 8

  1. Who is Chief Gut? The coyote father of Missy and Scraunch. Pg. 75.
  2. What did the coyotes call cowboys and guns? Big-hat and boom-boom. Pg. 76.
  3. What did the coyotes call Hank that upset him? Chicken dog. Pg. 77.
  4. Why didn’t the coyotes attack Hank? They were going to make him part of the tribe. Pg. 84.

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Hank’s secret work? Coyotes are superstitious. Pg. 85.
  2. What Did Hank’s mom say about coyotes? They were lazy, sneaky, undisciplined. Pg. 87.
  3. What did Rip and Snort want to do? Go carousing in the silage pit. Pg. 88.
  4. What is silage? Grass that ferments and turns into alcohol. Pg. 88.
  5. What did Drover think about Hank with the coyotes? He was a traitor. 95.

Chapter 10

  1. What did the coyote pups do to hank? Bit his tail. Pg. 99.
  2. How did Hank feel about coyote life? Told Missy too much noise. Pg. 102.
  3. What was the mutton feast? A piece of aged meat that was green with maggots on it. Pg. 103.
  4. What did Missy’s mom think made Hank sick? Brackish water. Pg. 105.

Chapter 11

  1. What did the coyotes like to eat and why? Juicy chicken because they are easy. Pg. 107.
  2. Who made the speech to the village? Scraunch and then led the raid. Pg.107.
  3. Where did Hank hope Drover was? Hiding in a corner of the shed. Pg. 109.
  4. What did Scraunch want Hank to do? Kill Drover, but he tried to save him. Pg. 114.
  5. When Hank “heard Saint Peter blow” what did he think? He was going to die. Pg. 116.

Chapter 12

  1. What did Loper do and why to Hank? He smiled; glad he was back. Pg. 119.
  2. What did everyone think happened to Drover? He was dead. Pg. 120.
  3. What did Hank tell Drover he was doing with the coyotes? He was undercover. Pg. 122.
  4. What did the Badger tracks turn out to be? Skunk tracks. Pg. 125.
  5. What did Hank do to Sally May? Run in to her clean laundry with skunk smell. Pg. 127.