Category Archives: Ron Roy

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Haunted Hotel

The Haunted Hotel

By Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre – Mystery; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

A ghost has checked into the Shangri-la Hotel! It’s almost Halloween, and reports of strange sounds and even stranger sights are coming from Green Lawn’s only hotel. Every day, more and more guests are being scared away. Everyone else is getting scared, too! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose must figure out what’s going on and catch the ghost – before Green Lawn turns into a ghost town!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s the setting of this story? Dink’s
    living room on Sunday, in Green Lawn, CT p.1
  2. What did the newspaper claim was haunted? The
    Shangri-la Hotel in Green Lawn p.2
  3. Why is it the biggest week of the year for
    the hotel? Many tourists come to see the fall colors p.7

Chapter 2

  1. Where did Mr. Linkletter explain to the kids
    what’s going on? In his office p.11
  2. Who’s Livvy? The hotel maid p.15
  3. Why did the kids want to help Mr. Linkletter? He’s
    their friend p.16
  4. What did the kids think they saw when the
    elevator door opened? The ghost p.16

Chapter 3

  1. Who did the kids meet after they pushed the
    black button on the elevator and ended up on an unknown floor of the hotel? Mr.
    and Mrs. Spivets; Mr. Linkletter’s Aunt and Uncle who used to own the hotel
    p.21
  2. What’s the ghost telling Mr. and Mrs. Spivets? To
    go away and leave the hotel p.24
  3. Why are the Spivets selling the hotel? There’s
    a real estate company that’s been wanting to buy it and with the ghosts they
    don’t feel they have another choice p.25

Chapter 4

  1. What did the kids resolve to do since no one
    they talked to had seen the ghost? Find someone who had seen it p.30
  2. Who did the kids talk to that saw the ghost? Mr.
    and Mrs. Jeffers p.32
  3. What did Mr. Spivets want the kids to do that
    night? Sleep in the hotel so they can solve the mystery and maybe see the
    ghost p.35

Chapter 5

  1. Who’s the Casper Nate referred to when saying he
    wanted to see a ghost? Casper is from a cartoon called Casper the Friendly
    Ghost p.38
  2. Why is Dink able to stay up later than usual? There’s
    no school the next day p.41
  3. What’s Rose Ruth’s plan to see the ghost? Hang
    out until midnight p.42

Chapter 6

  1. Where did the kids stake out to see the ghost? In
    the cleaning closet p.44
  2. What did the ghost call out as it passed each of
    their family’s rooms? It called each of the kid’s names and said to leave,
    its dangerous, or go before its too late and to leave now p.46
  3. What clue did Ruth Rose find on the doorframe? A
    human hair p.50

Chapter 7

  1. What was the yucky smell Josh noticed in the
    hall the night before? The smell of Halloween make-up p.53
  2. What did Livvy find under the Jeffers bed that
    she thought was a rat? A wig p.57
  3.  What’s a dumbwaiter?
    Small elevator shaft used to lift small things up and down from one room to
    another p.58

Chapter 8

  1. What did the kids and Livvy find while searching
    the Jeffers’ hotel room? The wig, a tape with spooky music, a sword, Halloween
    make-up p.63
  2. Where did the kids find the Jeffers? At Ellie’s
    eating breakfast p.66
  3. How did the Jeffers react when they read the
    note from Ruth Rose? They waved the kids over to them and admitted it p.69

Chapter 9

  1. Why were the Jeffers wanting to scare the
    hotel guests away? They’re actors and had been hired by three men to scare
    them away p.72
  2. Why didn’t the Jeffers realize the hotel was
    closing? They were told the hotel was being used in a horror movie and that
    scaring guests away was huge for publicity, and the guests would get their money
    back and free tickets to the movie; the Jeffers would then have starring roles
    in the movie p.73
  3. Who hired the Jeffers’? the same men buying
    the hotel p.74

Chapter 10

  1. How did Eatch, Rail and Roock realize their plan
    had been found out? The Jeffers went up to them during the signing and asked
    about the movie. The reporter from the Green Lawn Gazette told them the entire
    town would learn about their plan to trick the Spivets and Mr. Linkletter p.80
  2. What did Mrs. the businessmen’s names become when
    Mrs. Spivets rearranged the letters? Cheat, Liar and Crook p.83
  3. What did the kids receive from the Spivets as a
    thank you for saving the hotel? Three airline tickets to Florida, three
    tickets to Disneyworld and three $50 bills p.86

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #4 Sleepy Hollow Sleepover

Sleepy Hollow Sleepover

By Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre – Fiction; GRL O; AR pts: 1.0

Third graders Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are spending Halloween in spooky Sleepy Hollow, New York, home of the Headless Horseman. They're going to sleep in an old cabin, take a haunted hayride, and tour the old Dutch church where people claim to have seen the legendary headless horseman. But strange things start happening that don’t seem to be part of the planned Halloween fun. Is there a real Headless Horseman haunting Sleepy Hollow?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What activity were the kids going to be doing that night? A haunted hayride and going to a party p.2
  2. Who’s the Headless Horseman? A fictional character from the story, “the Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” by Washington Irving; the story is about a teacher, Ichabod Crane. He liked a woman named Katrina. Brom Bones liked Katrina as well and didn’t want Ichabod to get her, so dressed up as the headless horseman to drive him out of town. He told people it was a ghost of a soldier who’d lost his head and looked for it at night p.4
  3. Who did Dink step on after watching the mechanical headless horseman? One man wearing cowboy boots with silver toes; his name was Ace p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Where were the kids sleeping? In a cabin Dink’s father rented called the Haunted House p.11
  2. What popped out of the chest when Dink opened it to get a game? A skeleton p.13
  3. Who did the kids see out the window? The Headless Horseman p.17

Chapter 3

  1. What was suspicious about the driver of the wagon? He had a hat, wouldn’t look at the kids, deep voice, he doesn’t talk to the kids, he smacked a tree to make the bats fly out and around the kids p.23
  2. What came out of the grave as the kids passed the cemetery? A zombie p.31
  3. Who did the zombie and wagon driver end up being? Police officers Klevor and Reilly p.34

Chapter 4

  1. What police officer was in charge of the pumpkin bowling? Officer Reilly p.41
  2. What did Dink see as he ran after his pumpkin? Two men wearing masks by the wagons and horses p.44
  3. What happened in the woods where the wagons were parked? A huge fire was started p.48

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Andy think the fire started? Another prank by the police p.52
  2. How did Officer Klevor know the fire was intentional? There were match books on the ground p.54
  3. What happened to the policeman’s car tires? They were flattened p.58

Chapter 6

  1. Why was Dink flustered? He was still bothered about the two men and the flashing shoes he saw just before the fire at the wagons was started p.61
  2. How many police cruisers came to rescue the kids? 4 p.64
  3. Who was out in the field with the burned wagons as Dink and his friends drove away? The police officer dressed up as a spaceman p.66

Chapter 7

  1. What was suspicious about the cabin when the kids were dropped off by Officer Sneke? Dink’s dad said he would wait up until the kids got there, but he wasn’t there. Ice cubes were in the lemonade, Dink’s dad’s book was left opened on the chair p.69
  2. Where was Dink’s dad? Hiding in the closet dressed as a ghost p.72
  3. What did Dink realize the other man could have been who was by the wagons before they were set on fire? It could have been Officer Klevor p.75

Chapter 8

  1. Where did the kids find Officer Klevor? At the bank p.81
  2. What happened to Bonnie at the bank? Two men came to her house, told her to get her coat and took her to the bank to open the vault. She couldn’t open it and the men took money from the teller drawers p.81
  3. What was inside the mechanical horse’s belly? The money that was stolen from the bank p.87

Chapter 9

  1. Who did Ruth Rose call when they got stuck in the back of the truck with the mechanical horse? The police; 911 p.91
  2. Why did Dink want to let money out of the bags while they were driving? People might see it and call the police; the driver may stop, and they could get away p.92
  3. What did the kids feel in the dark of the barn hole? A body tied up p.100

Chapter 10

  1. Who did the children free while in the hole? The man who was originally supposed to go pick up the mechanical horse p.102
  2. Why did Dink think his dad would call the police and come find them? When the bad guys found the kids in the back of the truck, Dink had pushed the green button to the cell phone which would automatically call his dad. Then his dad would have heard the conversation and know the kids were in danger p.104
  3. Why did the kids think Bonnie was in on the bank job? She led the police to think the robbers left at midnight and had an 8 hour lead and she could get the money out after the vault opened at 8 am p.107

Chapter 11

  1. How did Dink reach up and lift the slat that covers the hole? He stood on Hank’s shoulders p.112
  2. Why did Dink want a tin can? To prop open the piece of wood p.116
  3. Why did Dink want Ruth Rose’s knife? To make the tire flat p.116

Chapter 12

  1. How did Josh, Ruth Rose and Hank get out of the hole? Dink had seen a rope when he was on Hank’s shoulders and tied it to the bumper of the truck. Hank climbed out, then he pulled the kids out one by one p.120
  2. Who came to the rescue and helped Dink out of the hole? The police; Officer Klevor p.123
  3. Who ended up being the Headless Horseman the night the kids went to the party? They don’t know; it’s a mystery p.128

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Jaguar’s Jewel

The Jaguar’s Jewel

By Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre – Mystery; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

When the kids visit Dink’s uncle in New York City, they’re dazzled by his museum’s latest treasure – a statue of a gold jaguar with a precious emerald between its paws. But when the jewel is swapped for a fake, the police name Dink’s uncle as a suspect! It’s up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to uncover the real crook. Who stole the jaguar’s jewel?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the setting of this story. New York
    City also called the Big Apple; very crowded, loud, and the feeling that everyone
    is rushing p.4
  2. What does Uncle Warren do for a living and
    what is he expecting? He owns a museum; A shipment from South America that
    is made of priceless gold p.8
  3. Who are Uncle Warren’s friends? Jean-Paul and
    his wife Yvonne p.10

Chapter 2

  1. What did Uncle Warren pull out of the crate? Several
    gold items; A golden drinking cup made by the Incas in the 1500’s and a golden jaguar
    with an emerald between its paws p.16
  2. Why did Uncle Warren put the golden items back
    in the crate and nail it closed? Dr. Pitts was going to be coming by the
    next day to check out the items and make sure they were in good order, so Uncle
    Warren wanted to keep everything safe and together p.18
  3. Who’s Roger? Uncle Warren’s apartment
    building doorman. He opens doors for tenants and whistles for taxis p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Where did Uncle Warren take the kids for dinner?
    A Chinese restaurant called the Panda Palace p.21
  2. Why did Uncle Warren and the kids throw money
    into a saxophone case? A man was playing the saxophone on the street and you
    throw money in if you like his playing p.23
  3. What was wrong with the jaguar? The emerald
    stone was a fake p.32

Chapter 4

  1. How did Dr. Pitts know the jewel was a fake? The
    light didn’t penetrate into the jewel it just bounced off of it p.35
  2. Why did Dr. Pitts look at the lock on the door
    and write something on a small pad of paper? He noticed something about the
    lock; that it hadn’t been forced open p.37
  3. Who are the suspects for the missing jewel? Jean-Paul,
    James Pride and Uncle Warren p.40

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Uncle Warren remind Dink to remember his
    cookie? His fortune cookie said his eyes would play tricks on him p.42
  2. What did Yvonne make for the kids while
    Uncle Warren was at the police station? Hot chocolate p.43
  3. What strange things happened in this chapter? Yvonne
    slipped through a door that disappeared into the wall; Ms. Wu went back to
    Uncle Warren’s office and left again; Dink remembered what his uncle said and
    found the key to the office in his pocket p.44

Chapter 6

  1. What was strange about the wall in Dr. Price’s
    office? It didn’t have any pictures or anything against it, it was just bare;
    it had hidden seams on it p.53
  2. What did Dink think was hidden in the wall? A
    secret door p.54
  3. Were the kids able to make the door open or find
    anything else? No p.56

Chapter 7

  1. What did Ruth Rose find in the fish tank? A glowing
    jewel stone; the emerald that’s supposed to be with the jaguar p.59
  2. What was the buzzing noise the kids heard? A VCR
    hidden in a secret compartment of the bookshelves p.62
  3. What was the conclusion after watching the tape?
    That Uncle Warren was the thief p.67

Chapter 8

  1. What did Josh realize happened to the letter
    opener? Before the lights went out it was facing the window; after the
    lights came back on, it was facing the other direction; someone had moved it p.69
  2. Who came into the office while the kids were
    there? Dr. Pitts p.72
  3. Where did the kids hide? In James’ office
    p.72

Chapter 9

  1. Who saved the kids when Dr. Pitts was coming
    into James’ office and where did she take them? Yvonne; to her restaurant
    through the secret passage p.76
  2. What did Josh realize would be on the letter
    opener? Dr. Pitts’ fingerprints p.77
  3. What did Yvonne want to do when she realized Ruth
    Rose had the jewel? Call the police p.78

Chapter 10

  1. Who was the real crook? Dr. Pitts p.79
  2. Why is there a secret passage between the office
    and Yvonne’s restaurant? It used to be a home and the servants would use it
    as a back-stairway p.82
  3. Who all played a part in solving the mystery?
    The kids, James with the camera, Yvonne saving the kids, Uncle Warren for giving
    the key to Dink and reminding him to remember his fortune cookie p.83