Tag Archives: Fantasy

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #27 Night of the Ninth Dragon

Night of the Ninth Dragon

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades ; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

The magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie through space and time to find that the castle of Camelot has been attacked and King Arthur has been gravely wounded. To save the kingdom—and the king—Jack and Annie have only one day to solve a riddle that will help them find a missing dragon!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why did Jack and Annie go into the
    Frog Creek woods? Oki ran in, so they chased after him p.5
  2. Where did they find Oki? At the
    bottom of a tree looking at the magic tree house p.6
  3. What’s going to be the setting of
    this book? Camelot p.10

Chapter 2

  1. Who sent the tree house for Jack and
    Annie? Queen Guinevere p.16
  2. Why did the guard aim a crossbow at
    Jack and Annie as they approached Camelot? They’re under attack and didn’t
    know if the kids were friends or enemies p.20
  3. Where did the queen lead Jack and
    Annie? Morgan le Fay’s secret garden p.23

Chapter 3

  1. What were the statues of in the
    garden? Dragons p.25
  2. What’s been stolen out of the garden?
    The gold dragon; the ninth dragon p.32
  3. Why do the kids need to help find the
    ninth dragon? To get Merlin, Morgan, Teddy and Kathleen back from Avalon and
    to send King Arthur there to heal from his wound p.33

Chapter 4

  1. Why were the Jack, Annie, the king
    and queen going to Cafelle’s? She can prophesy and tell them where the ninth
    dragon is p.37
  2. Why were they traveling in a hay
    cart? No one will suspect the king riding in a hay cart p.39
  3. Why was Jack nervous when he found
    out the knights weren’t coming with them? he knew they could be attacked by
    invaders and they wouldn’t have the protection of the knights p.45

Chapter 5

  1. Describe Cafelle. She’s an old
    woman who’s blind, but could describe Jack and Annie perfectly, she’s kind and
    has a dog that cannot hear p.51
  2. What is Cafelle’s special ability? The
    leaves and wind speak to her and tell her what she desires to know p.56

Chapter 6

  1. When did the ninth dragon need to be
    returned to the garden? Dawn the next day p.59
  2. What did the seer give to both Jack
    and Annie? Red stones from the mountains of fire before time p.61
  3. Why was Jack frustrated about the
    stones? He didn’t know how to use them p.66

Chapter 7

  1. How did Annie help get rid of the
    invaders that questioned them? she put yellow spots on her face with a
    highlighter and said she had yellow fever p.72
  2. Why was Jack freezing as they
    traveled in the rain? He’d given his cloak to the king p.78
  3. What did Guinevere tell the kids
    about as they traveled? The Isle of Avalon p.78

Chapter 8

  1. Why did the kids send the oxen back
    to Camelot? The rope that connected the oxen to the cart had torn and they
    weren’t of use anymore p.83
  2. How did Jack, Annie and Guinevere get
    the cart to Munith Mor without the oxen? They pushed and pulled p.85
  3. What represented the curtain in the
    riddle? A waterfall p.88

Chapter 9

  1. What did Jack and Annie find in the
    cave behind the waterfall? The dragon statue p.96
  2. Why was the queen giving up? The
    healing water was gone, Arthur was dying, they heard the robbers coming on
    horses p.98
  3. What happened when Jack and Annie
    used their stones? A giant red dragon rose out of the erupting mountain
    above them p.101

Chapter 10

  1. Where did the portal take Jack,
    Annie, Guinevere and Arthur? To Avalon p.103
  2. How did Merlin, Morgan, Teddy and
    Kathleen respond when they first saw Jack and Annie in Avalon? Bewildered, amazed,
    surprised, astonished p.106
  3. Why did Jack and Annie need to return
    the dragon statue to Camelot before dawn? If it’s not returned by dawn, it’s
    power will be lost forever and those in Avalon will never return p.109

Chapter 11

  1. Where did Jack and Annie leave their
    magic stones? By the dragon statue in the garden p.115
  2. What message did Jack and Annie give
    the knights? That the kind and queen are healing in Avalon and will be back
    to restore order to the kingdom p.118

Comprehension Questions – Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2 The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters

by Rick Riordan

Grades 7-9; Genre - Fantasy; GRL W; AR pts: 9.0

In this highly anticipated sequel to The Lightning Thief, a magical tree protecting the borders of Camp Half-Blood is poisoned. Thirteen-year-old Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and their new friend Tyson set out to find the one item that can save the camp. The trio must survive Cyclopes, man-eating sheep, Sirens, and giant cannibals for Camp Half-Blood to have any chance at a future.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What was Percy’s dream about? Grover in trouble and running away from a monster p.1
  2. Why did Percy keep Anaklusmos under his pillow while he slept? In case he needed it for protection during the night p.3
  3. What’s going on with Camp Half-Blood and how does it affect Percy? There’s been some problems and it’s not safe for Percy to be there p.6

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Tyson and how Percy’s a good friend to him.  He’s over 6 feet tall; has a misshapen and brutal looking face; homeless and abandoned by his parents; crooked teeth; talks funny and with a deep voice; the other kids pick on him and Percy stands up for him p.9
  2. What was unusual about Sloan’s friends? There were more of them than usual and they had strange names on their name tags p. 13
  3. How did Percy figure out he was playing dodge ball with monsters? They smelled funny, called him Perseus and were growing in size right in front of him p.16

Chapter 3

  1. How did the kids travel to Camp Half-Blood? A taxi driven by three witches that shared one eye p.29
  2. What made Tyson feel like he was going to throw up? Car sickness p.32
  3. What location did Percy receive from the sisters? Four numbers p.36

Chapter 4

  1. What did Percy, Annabeth and Tyson help defeat when they arrived to Camp Half-Blood? 2 bulls p.38
  2. What did Percy learn about Tyson? He’s a cyclops and is immune to fire p.45
  3. Why were the bulls able to enter Camp Half-Blood? Thalia’s tree has been poisoned that protects the border p.47

Chapter 5

  1. Why is Chiron leaving Camp Half-Blood? He’s been fired since Mr. D thinks he poisoned Thalia’s tree p.51
  2. What’s Tantalus’ curse? He can’t eat or drink p.59
  3. Who’s Tyson’s father? Poseidon p.64

Chapter 6

  1. How did Percy feel about Tyson now that he knew he was his brother? He was embarrassed and ashamed of him p.66
  2. Who did Percy build his chariot and race with? Tyson p.71
  3. Describe Percy’s dream. Grover used an empathy link to reach Percy and tell him he was in danger and needed to be saved from Polyphemus p.73
  4. How did Percy and Annabeth defeat the pigeons or Stymphalian birds? By playing Chiron’s music p.83

Chapter 7

  1. Why would saving Grover help Thalia’s tree? Grover found the Golden Fleece and that heals nature p.87
  2. Who did Tantalus choose as champion to go on the quest? Clarisse p.92
  3. Who’s the stranger that spoke with Percy on the beach and what did he want? Hermes; to encourage Percy to go on the quest even though he wasn’t chosen p.101
  4. What gifts did Hermes give Percy? A thermos that’s a compass and carries the wind from four corners of the earth; vitamins to help him feel better if he needs it p.103

Chapter 8

  1. How did Percy and his friends get to the cruise ship? His father sent Hippocampi p.109
  2. What was wrong with the tourists on board the ship? They were all in a trance p.119
  3. Why did Percy and Annabeth decide to stay on the ship? Luke was there and they knew they needed to figure out what he was up to p.120

Chapter 9

  1. How did Annabeth and Percy know what Luke and his friends were saying in the stateroom? Tyson could hear them and recount what they were saying in their voices p.123
  2. What was in the sarcophagus? Pieces of Kronos the titan lord p.130
  3. How did Percy and his friends escape Luke and his team of monsters? They attacked them, jumped into a lifeboat and dropped to the water below, using the cannister of wind to propel them away
    from the boat p.132

Chapter 10

  1. Why did Percy get weak when they entered fresh water? only salt-water gives him strength p.137
  2. Why was Annabeth worried about the donut shop? It was a monster donut shop in the middle of the wilderness p.141
  3. What attacked the friends and who saved them? a hydra; Clarisse p.143

Chapter 11

  1. What did Percy and his friends have to go through to get into the Sea of Monsters? An island with the monster Scylla and a storm called Charybdis; they’re sisters p.156
  2. How was Tyson able to help with the engine on the ship? He could handle heat p.160
  3. Where was Percy when the ship exploded? In the air falling after freeing himself from being taken away by Scylla p.163
  4. How did Percy feel about Tyson dying? Wished he could drown p.164

Chapter 12

  1. What’s the prophecy Chiron didn’t want Percy to know about? A half-blood child of the big 3 will be a
    dangerous weapon at the age of 16 and decide the fate of Olympus, whether it fall or be saved p.167
  2. How did C.C. trick Percy and what was the consequence? She made him feel like he wasn’t good enough, so she persuaded him to drink a shake and it turned him into a guinea pig p.175
  3. How did Hermes vitamins come in handy? They made Annabeth immune to C.C.’s magic and turned Percy back into a human p.182
  4. How did Percy and Annabeth get off the island? They took Blackbeard’s boat, Percy could magically command it p.184

Chapter 13

  1. How was Percy immune to the Sirens? He put candlewax in his ears p.192
  2. What scenario had Annabeth created when she was effected by the Sirens? Having a picnic with her dad, Athena and Luke at Central Park in NYC p.196
  3. How did Percy break the spell the Sirens had on Annabeth? Kept her underwater and created a bubble for her to breathe p.197
  4. What’s Annabeth’s fatal flaw? Deadly pride; thinking you can do things better than anyone else p.199

Chapter 14

  1. Compare Polyphemus's monster sheep to regular sheep. Regular sheep are friendly and docile; the monster sheep are like piranhas p.203
  2. How did Percy and Annabeth get into the Cyclops’ cave? Annabeth wore her invisibility cap and Percy rode in hanging on to the bottom of the sheep p.210
  3. How did Annabeth get Polyphemus out of the cave? She treated him like Odysseus had and he chased her p.211

Chapter 15

  1. What do Percy and Polyphemus have in common? they are both sons of Poseidon p.219
  2. Who saved Percy from Polyphemus? Tyson p.220
  3. How did Annabeth heal so quickly from her wounds? Percy put the fleece on her p.222
  4.  What danger were the kids in as they swam for the ship? Polyphemus was in the water and coming toward them carrying boulders in each hand p.224

Chapter 16

  1. Who did Polyphemus call a traitor and why? Tyson; for helping humans p.225
  2. Why did the Queen Anne sink? Clarisse taunted Polyphemus and he through a boulder through the hull p.229
  3. Why was Percy indebted to the gods? He prayed for the fleece to heal Annabeth and it did p.231

Chapter 17

  1. Why did Percy send Clarisse to the airport with the fleece? So she could fulfill the prophecy; he was being nice to her p.235
  2. After Clarisse left, who captured Percy and his friends? Luke p.236
  3. Why did Luke need the fleece? To heal Kronos p.239
  4. How did Percy arrange for everyone at Camp Half-Blood to listen to Luke’s confession? He created an Iris-message p.240

Chapter 18

  1. How did Percy and Clarisse work together in this chapter? Percy distracted Luke by challenging him to a fight so Clarisse could get away with the fleece p.242
  2. Who came to Percy’s rescue? Chiron and his centaur relatives p.245
  3. Why don’t Mr. D and others trust Chiron? His father is Kronos p.253
  4. Why is it a problem that Kronos is Chiron's father? Kronos is evil and they don't know if Chiron is teamed up with him

Chapter 19

  1. Why did Hermes visit Percy? To see if he’d talked some sense into Luke; to deliver a package p.257
  2. Predict what Poseidon meant in his letter to Percy? Listen to your child’s answers p.261
  3. Why did Tyson pray for Percy to come into his life? He was an orphan on the streets and would get beat up by monsters. He needed someone to take care of him p.263
  4. How did the watch Tyson made help Percy and Annabeth win the race? It turned into a large shield p.267

Chapter 20

  1. How did Chiron help Percy get out of trouble with the police? he used mist to convince the school that the furnace caused the explosion p.271
  2. Where was Tyson going for the rest of the summer? Underwater to learn how to work the Cyclopes forges p.273
  3. What did Poseidon mean when he told Percy to brace himself? Thalia had turned back into a human and woken up; it’s all part of Kronos’ plan hoping Thalia will be the one to fulfill the prophecy and
    destroy Olympus p.279

Comprehension Questions – #3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

J.K. Rowling

Grades 5-8; Genre - Fantasy; GRL V; AR pts: 18.0

When Harry and his best friends go back for their third year at Hogwarts, an escaped mass murderer is on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school. The plot contains profanity.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why was Harry up in the middle of the
    night doing his homework? He wasn’t supposed to have his school books p.3
  2. Who did he receive birthday presents
    from? Ron, Hermione and Hagrid p.7
  3. Why were the Weasley’s in Egypt? Their
    father had won a grand prize and they wanted to visit their son Bill in Egypt
    p.8
  4. Why was Harry finally like everyone
    else? He was glad it was his birthday p.15

Chapter 2

  1. Describe the man who escaped and was
    on the news? His name is Sirius Black, he has long black hair, he’s a prisoner,
    armed and dangerous, gaunt face p.17
  2. Why did harry hide his presents and
    send Hedwig away? To look as normal as possible while Aunt Marge was in town
    so his uncle would sign his Hogsmeade permission form p.21
  3. Why was having Aunt Marge around so
    difficult for Harry? She was very rude to him all the time p.23
  4. What did Harry do to Aunt Marge when
    she spoke badly of his father? Made her blow up like a balloon p.29

Chapter 3

  1. Why was Harry worried that he might go
    to Azkaban? He’s broken laws, like blowing up his aunt p.40
  2. How did Harry travel to London after
    leaving the Dursleys? the Knight Bus p.34
  3. What was Aunt Marge’s outcome? She
    was deflated and her memory was altered p.44
  4. Why did Harry think his conversation
    with the Minister of Magic was strange? He didn’t get punished for what he’d
    done, the minister didn’t usually deal with underage magic, the minister made
    everything right with Aunt Marge p.45

Chapter 4

  1. What item did Harry want to spend his
    gold on, but knew he couldn’t? the Firebolt broomstick p.51
  2. How did Harry feel about staying at
    the Leaky Cauldron? Why? He enjoyed it; it was great not having anyone
    telling him what to do or when to do it; he could do his homework in the sunshine;
    he could explore the shops on Diagon Alley p.49
  3. What did Hermione end up buying with
    her birthday money? A very large ginger colored cat p.60
  4. Why does Mr. Weasley and the Ministry
    of Magic think Black is after Harry? Black would say “He’s at Hogwarts” in
    his sleep p.66

Chapter 5

  1. What did Mr. Weasley tell Harry when
    he was about to get on the Hogwarts Express? About Sirius Black p.72
  2. What saved Harry and his friends from
    getting in a brawl with Malfoy on the train? The kids had a professor of
    Hogwarts in their train car p.80
  3. What happened to Harry when he saw
    the dementor on the train? He heard screaming, got cold, saw white fog and
    fainted p.83
  4. Why was Hagrid crying after
    Dumbledore announced he was a new teacher? Hagrid was so happy p.93

Chapter 6

  1. Describe what Divinations is going to
    teach? Fortune telling p.103
  2. What types of things did Professor
    Trelawney say that made the students tense and tremble? Things about their futures,
    mostly bad p.103
  3. How did Professor McGonagall feel about
    Professor Trelawney’s prediction for Harry’s future? That it’s not going to
    happen; Professor Trelawney’s not reliable p.109
  4. Why did Hagrid think he was going to
    get fired? Malfoy got hurt during his class by a hippogriff because he
    insulted it p.120

Chapter 7

  1. Why was Professor Snape so upset when
    Hermione helped Neville with his potion? He had previously told her not to
    help him p.128
  2. What does “practical” mean in this
    sentence on page 130, “today’s will be a practical lesson”? learning by application
    or personal experience p.130
  3. Why was Harry deflated after leaving
    Professor Lupin’s class? He didn’t get to fight the boggart and felt
    Professor Lupin didn’t have faith in him p.140
  4. How did the rest of the class feel
    about Lupin’s lesson? They were excited; felt it was the best lesson they’d
    ever had in that class p.140

Chapter 8

  1. Why were Hermione and Ron not
    speaking to each other? Crookshanks tried to catch Scabbers p.147
  2. What did Professor Trelawney predict
    that happened on October 16th? Lavender got a letter saying her rabbit
    died p.148
  3. Why didn’t Professor McGonagall give
    permission to Harry to go to Hogsmeade? His parent or guardian didn’t sign
    the permission form p.150
  4. What was a positive outcome from
    Harry staying home from Hogsmeade? He got to talk to Professor Lupin and
    clear up what had been bothering him p.155

Chapter 9

  1. Why are all the students sleeping in the
    Great Hall on Halloween night? For safety; The fat lady in Gryffindor’s
    password portrait was missing and she wouldn’t let in Black, so the teachers looking
    for Black p.162
  2. What was Professor McGonagall going
    to do so Harry could still practice Quidditch with his team? Have Madam Hooch
    oversee the training sessions p.168
  3. How did Ron get detention? He spoke
    out of turn and was disrespectful to Snape p.172
  4. Why did Harry miss the snitch during
    the Quidditch match? He saw dementors on the field and fainted again p.179

Chapter 10

  1. Why do the dementors affect Harry so
    badly? He has horrors in his past that others don’t p.187
  2. How did Harry find his way to Hogsmeade?
    A magical map Fred and George gave him that has secret passages to Hogsmeade
    p.195
  3. Why was Hermione upset that Harry
    came to Hogsmeade? She was worried about his safety and about getting caught
    p.198
  4. Why were Ron and Hermione lost for
    words after the professors and minister of magic left the Three Broomsticks? They
    had overheard how Sirius Black betrayed Harry’s parents to the Dark Lord p.210

Chapter 11

  1. What did Harry want to do with Black?
    Kill him; go after him p.215
  2. Why was Hagrid so upset? His
    hippogriff was under trial and could be executed p.219
  3. What was Harry’s most exciting Christmas
    present and who gave it to him? The Firebolt; he doesn’t know who gave it to
    him p.223
  4. Who did Hermione think gave the broom
    to Harry? Black p.232

Chapter 12

  1.  What happy memory finally worked when Harry
    was practicing with Professor Lupin? When he learned he was leaving the Dursleys
    for Hogwarts p.241
  2. Who did Professor Lupin attend
    Hogwarts with as a child? Harry’s mom and dad p.243
  3. Why would Professor Lupin be
    suspicious of Harry when he gave him butterbeer? He wondered how Harry would
    get some when it’s only found in Hogsmeade, and he’s not supposed to go there
    p.246
  4. Did Mrs. McGonagall find any curses
    on the Firebolt? No p.248

Chapter 13

  1. What did Harry notice about Ravenclaw’s
    seeker before the Quidditch match? She’s really pretty p.259
  2. What did Harry do when he saw the
    three dementors below him? He pulled out his wand and cast the spell he’d been
    practicing with Professor Lupin p.262
  3. Why did Ron cry out in the night? He
    awoke to Black looming over him with a knife p.266
  4. Where did Black get Gryffindor’s
    passwords? Neville wrote them down and lost them p.268

Chapter 14

  1. What did Hagrid summon Ron and Harry?
    He wanted to tell them that Hermione is lonely and overwhelmed from school
    and needs a friend p.274
  2. Why did Harry have to race back to
    the castle from Hogsmeade? Draco and his friends saw him and were going to
    tell on him p.281
  3. What did Professor Lupin do for Harry
    in Snape’s office? Covered for him so he wouldn’t get in trouble p.290
  4. Why wasn’t Lupin going to cover for
    Harry again? Harry’s gambling his parents’ sacrifice for a bag of tricks and
    he’s not going to support him if he’s going to be foolish p.290

Chapter 15

  1. Why did Hermione punch Draco? He
    was mocking Hagrid p.293
  2. Why was the Gryffindor house so
    anxious for the Quidditch game? They knew they had to win by a certain amount
    to win the Cup p.301
  3. During the Quidditch match, what did Harry
    do to distract Draco from seeing the snitch? He knew Draco was following him,
    so he led him away from it p.308
  4. Who won the Quidditch Cup? Gryffindor
    p.313

Chapter 16

  1. Why was Cornelius Fudge at Hogwarts? Buckbeak’s
    appeal and execution and to check on the Black situation p.320
  2. What did Harry say he saw during his
    final in Divinations? A hippogriff flying away p.323
  3. What happened to Professor Trelawney
    during Harry’s final? She was possessed and spoke of a servant of the Dark
    Lord breaking free and joining the Dark Lord that night p.324
  4. Why didn’t Hagrid want the kids present
    during the execution? He didn’t want them to see it and he didn’t want them
    to get caught p.328

Chapter 17

  1. Where did the dog take Ron? Into the
    secret tunnel under the Whomping Willow p.335
  2. Where did the tunnel lead? Hogsmeade
    in the Shrieking Shack p.337
  3. What can Professor Lupin turn into? A
    werewolf p.345
  4. Who is Scabbers? Peter Pettigrew
    p.348

Chapter 18

  1. What were the precautions Dumbledore
    took so Professor Lupin could attend Hogwarts as a child? He had the
    Whomping Willow planted, the secret tunnel made, the Shrieking Shack made with
    the tunnel leading to it; all so Lupin could go there during the full moon
    p.353
  2. What did Lupin’s friends learn and
    why? How to shape shift; to help Lupin when he turned into a werewolf p.354
  3. Why doesn’t Snape trust Lupin? He knows
    what he is and thinks he was in on the joke that almost had him killed as a
    student at Hogwarts p.357
  4. How did Snape get Harry’s
    invisibility cloak? Harry and Hermione had thrown it off at the willow tree
    so they could chase Ron and he saw it when he followed them p.357

Chapter 19

  1. How did Lupin and Black prove Peter Pettigrew
    was Scabbers? They used a spell that turned him back into a human p.366
  2. How did Black survive and escape
    Azkaban? He knew he was innocent and would change into a dog so the
    dementors wouldn’t affect him as much; he escaped by turning into a dog and
    easily slipping passed the guards when they opened his p.371
  3. Why did Black expect Peter to have
    died rather than betray his friends? Because they would have died for him
    p.375
  4. Why did it offend Ron to know that Scabbers
    really was Peter Pettigrew? Peter had used Ron’s family to hear word of the Dark
    Lord and he betrayed Harry and his parents p.377

Chapter 20

  1. How did Harry feel about the prospect
    of living with Sirius instead of the Dursleys? He was thrilled and couldn’t
    wait p.379
  2. How did Pettigrew get away as the
    group headed to the castle? The full moon came out from behind the clouds,
    Lupin changed into a werewolf and Pettigrew turned back into a rat and
    scampered away p.381
  3. What saved Harry, Hermione and Black
    from the dementors? Someone else had cast the Expecto Patronum spell and
    protected them p.385

Chapter 21

  1. Why is Sirius going to be receiving
    the dementors Kiss? Snape has convinced Fudge that Sirius is guilty and that
    the children are delusional p.391
  2. What can the hourglass do on Hermione’s
    chain? time travel p.395
  3. What innocent lives did Harry and
    Hermione save? Buckbeak, Sirius Black, and their own p.396
  4. Who really saved Harry and his
    friends? Harry did when he went back in time p.411

Chapter 22

  1. Why was Fudge going to remove the
    dementors from Hogwarts? They almost killed Harry p.421
  2. Why did Lupin need to resign? Parents
    wouldn’t stand for a werewolf teaching their children; he knows he could have
    hurt Harry and his friends p.423
  3. Why was Harry so upset he stopped Black
    and Lupin from killing Pettigrew? He’s the Dark Lord’s servant and now the
    Dark Lord will come back again p.426
  4. What did Sirius give Harry permission
    to do the next year? Go to Hogsmeade p.433

Comprehension Questions – The Dark is Rising Sequence #3 Greenwitch

Greenwitch

by Susan Cooper

Grades 6-8; Genre - Fantasy; GRL X; AR pts: 6.0

The Dark has stolen an object of great power — a golden grail that holds avital secret. Will embarks on a new quest to reclaim the grail, and to drive back the Dark once again. But first he will need the help of three former grail seekers: Jane, Simon, and Barney Drew. Learning to work together, they must take back the grail and retrieve the missing manuscript that unlocks its mystical secret. But the manuscript is located at the bottom of the sea, and their only hope of obtaining both grail and script is entangled in the mysterious ritual of the Greenwitch....

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Who are the main characters and what’s the setting of this story?  Jane, Simon & Barnabas Drew; In a museum where the grail had been stored p.2
  2. To their surprise, who was in the museum? Great-Uncle Merry p.3
  3. Who is Great-Uncle Merry? Merriman Lyon p.6
  4. Where is Jane, Barney and Simon going on Easter vacation and with who? Back to Trewissick, where they found the grail; with Merriman and Will p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Where are the families staying in Trewissick? In two cottages connected that overlook the harbor p.13
  2. How do the Drew kids feel about Will? They’re unhappy that he's with them since Gumerry gave them a secret mission. They feel he’ll get in the way, so they’ll have to ditch him p.15
  3. How did Merriman reply when Barney said Will was going to be a nuisance? Merriman told him not to dismiss anyone’s value until he knew him p.19
  4. Why was Rufus kidnapped? To keep Captain Toms away from the Greenwitch p.24

Chapter 3

  1. Who invited Jane to the Greenwitch ceremony? Mrs. Penhallow p.26
  2. Who were the only people that could attend the ceremony? Local women p.26
  3. What was the figure made with and what did it look like? Different types of tree boughs; a woman’s head and body p.28
  4. Who pushed the Greenwitch off the ledge into the ocean? The men of the village p.33

Chapter 4

  1. Why did the Drew children go out to look for Gumerry? They hadn’t seen him since the Greenwitch ceremony p.38
  2. What did Barney put together about Merriman and the man who stole Rufus along with his painting? The man is from the Dark and Merriman saved them from him p.42
  3. What secret did the Greenwitch show Jane? A small bright shining thing; something the Greenwitch guarded p.45
  4. How does Jane feel about the Greenwitch? She feels sorry for it p.46

Chapter 5

  1. Where did Rufus take Simon and Barney? Where the man from the Dark kept him prisoner; Pentreath Farm p.49
  2. Who had the boys seen come out of the gypsy caravan and why did they come out of the trees? The man from the Dark; he commanded them to come out p.50
  3. What was in the box with Barney’s picture? The grail p.53
  4. What did the painter of the Dark want Barney to do? Look in the chalice and see what he sees with water and oil p.56

Chapter 6

  1. Why are the boys so hungry? It’s past time
    for breakfast and they’d been gone a long time p.61
  2. Who took over Barney when he looked into the oil
    and water? Something from the Dark p.63
  3. Where did Will and Merriman go after hearing
    what Simon told them? jumped off the cliff into the ocean p.66
  4. What did Captain Toms do to the children after
    Will and Merriman left and why? Made them forget, so they wouldn’t realize
    Will and Merriman’s power; so they wouldn’t continue to be upset p.67

Chapter 7

  1. Describe Tethys. The Lady of the Sea, lived
    deep in the ocean, older than the land, Old Ones, and all men, she ruled her
    kingdom of waves alone, as she had since the world began p.69
  2. What gift did Merriman give to Tethys? Barney’s
    picture p.70
  3. What did Merriman and Will want from Tethys? To
    get the item from the Greenwitch p.71
  4. What are the stipulations for Will and Merriman
    to retrieve the item? They can go to the Greenwitch and try to get it from
    her, but if the Greenwitch crosses into Tethys territory, and they haven’t
    gotten it yet, they cannot enter Tethys’ territory again to get it p.72

Chapter 8

  1. Who did the children see on the quay and what
    was he doing? The painter; painting a picture p.76
  2. Why were the children upset the painting man was
    still painting after it got dark outside? He wouldn’t have been able to see
    what he was doing, so they knew he was up to something p.80
  3. What’s a beacon fire? A warning fire to those
    far away p.82
  4. What came out of the sea when the painter held
    the canvas over his head and cried out in a strange language? The Greenwitch
    p.85

Chapter 9

  1. Why did the painter summon the Greenwitch? To
    ask her for the ancient Thing of Power she is guarding p.87
  2. Why won’t she give it to him? It is her
    treasure and secret p.87
  3. What did the Greenwitch do to the painter when
    he tried to use his Dark power to command her? She overtook him and caused
    him to go unconscious p.89
  4. What did Captain Toms convince Bill Stanton to
    do with the painter? Take him to a hospital p.90

Chapter 10

  1. What did Gumerry bring to Jane and what did he
    promise her? Hot cocoa; they would all be safe p.94
  2. Why didn’t Jane throw open the window and shout
    out a warning to Merriman? She had known him for too long and knew he wasn’t
    like other men, he was of the Light p.96
  3. What did Jane realize was the reason why
    Merriman wanted them to go to sleep? So they wouldn’t see the nightmares
    that were occurring out their windows p.100
  4. What did Jane finally manage to do after hiding in
    her covers? Go to sleep p.100

Chapter 11

  1. What is the item the Greenwitch is guarding? The
    parchment needed to read the grail p.102
  2. How did Greenwitch get possession of it? Just
    after the kids had found the grail, the Dark ones came chasing them. Barney
    threw it and it fell into the ocean p.102
  3. What had captured the painter and taken him away
    for good? The Wild Magic p.107
  4. Why did the Greenwitch give the secret to Jane? Jane
    had made a wish for the Greenwitch and not for herself p.108

Chapter 12

  1. What does Merriman need to read the writing on
    the scroll? The grail p.112
  2. What was gone when the group drove out to the
    farm to get the grail? The caravan p.115
  3. What did the boys see in the barn? An old
    worn caravan just like the painter’s caravan, but older p.119
  4. How did the boys find the grail? Will told
    them to tell him exactly what the painter said when they found the grail the first
    time in the caravan p.121

Chapter 13

  1. What did Merriman check before destroying
    the parchment? If Will and Captain Toms had the poem in their memories p.124
  2. Why didn’t Will want Jane to give her bracelet
    to the Greenwitch? It would become black and dirty looking in the water p.127
  3. What did Will make for Jane to give to the
    Greenwitch? A strip of gold with a poem inside the case that held the
    manuscript.127
  4. What was in Jane’s room the night she received the
    secret? Remnants of the Greenwitch p.129

Comprehension Questions – The Dark is Rising Sequence #2 The Dark is Rising

The Dark is Rising

by Susan Cooper

Grades 6-7; Genre - Fantasy; GRL X; AR pts: 13.0

On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift — that he is destined to seek the six magical Signs of Light. He is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight.

Comprehension Questions

Part One

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the Walker. A hunched over
    little old man that Will saw scuttle behind a tree p.8
  2. What birthday present did Mr. Dawson give Will
    and what were his instructions? An iron ring quartered with a cross; to
    always have it with him and to put it on his belt loop; to keep it safe and not
    talk about it; he’ll want to have it after the snow comes p.9
  3. What happened to the radio when Will went close
    to it? It would go crazy with static and erupt into high pitched screeches
    p.14
  4. What had Will found amongst the snow piled in
    his room? A rook feather p.23

Chapter 2

  1. What did Will hear and see when he first awoke
    on his birthday? Music; the country around his home had turned to a forest
    p.24
  2. Describe the man Will saw getting his horse shod.
    his horse was black as midnight, he had red brownish hair, bright blue eyes
    with a different accent than Will’s, tall, wore a long black cloak, he knew
    Will’s name and that it was his 11th birthday, p.29
  3. Why didn’t Will ride the white mare? He felt
    like he needed to find the Walker alone p.33
  4. Why was Will in danger and what saved him? He
    had left the road through Hunter’s Comb and the Rider was going to attack him;
    the white stallion p.37

Chapter 3

  1. What was inside the two huge wooden doors? A
    castle with a woman and man inside waiting for Will p.40
  2. What’s the gift Will possesses? The power of
    the Old Ones; magic p.45
  3. What’s Will’s quest? To find and guard the 6
    great signs of Light made by the Old Ones p.51
  4. When would Will see Merriman again? After
    Will has gotten the sign from the Walker p.66

Chapter 4

  1. What happens to the iron attached to Will’s belt
    when there’s evil close by? It turns so cold it burns p.70
  2. How many children are in Will’s family? 9
    p.72
  3. What did Maggie want from Will? The sign he’d
    just gotten from the Walker p.79
  4. Who saved Will and stopped Maggie from taking
    the signs? Merriman Lyon p.81

Part 2

Chapter 5

  1. What did Old George give to Will’s family and
    why? A bunch of holly with berries; he told Will to put it over a window or
    door and it will protect him from the Dark p.93
  2. Why didn’t Farmer Dawson carve a “W” for Will? Names
    are a power the Dark could use against him, so he carved a circle with the
    cross instead p.97
  3. Who was acting as Miss Greythorne’s butler? Merriman
    p.103
  4. Where did Merriman take Will after the others in
    the room were caught in time? To the hillside with the big wooden doors
    p.107

Chapter 6

  1. Why do the Old Ones use Rowan for the wood of
    the third sign? The Dark doesn’t like it p.114
  2. When can Will receive the third sign? After
    he’s finished with his Learning p.115
  3. What’s Hawkin’s and Merriman’s relationship? Merriman
    took Hawkin in as a boy when his parents died and made him his foster son and
    liege; Merriman is his lord and trusts him greatly p.119
  4. What language is the Book of Gramarye written in
    and what language do Will and Merriman converse in? the Old Speech p.123

Chapter 7

  1. Name three things Will learned as he read the Book
    of Gramarye? He learned of the sky, water and wind; spells for all of those;
    the history of the Old Ones p.125
  2. How did Will feel after learning from the book? Weighed
    down and melancholy p.130
  3. Why was Hawkin going to be betray Merriman and
    the Old Ones? Maggie told him that Merriman doesn’t love him, that Merriman
    used Hawkin and put him in danger, and would have let him die p.137
  4. How did Will protect Merriman, Paul, and
    himself from the Rider and Maggie? He threw up a wall of resistance around
    them and yelled their names out loud p.146

Chapter 8

  1. Why did Stephen send Will’s present to him for
    his birthday and Christmas present combined? An old man who named himself as
    an Old One told him to p.156
  2. Who came to visit unexpectedly on Christmas
    morning? The Black Rider p.160
  3. How did Will defeat the dark after the Christmas
    service in the church? He held up the three signs p.176
  4. What ceremony did Merriman take Will to see? The
    Lady coming back to life p.190

Part 3

Chapter 9

  1. Why was the town gathering at the Manor? Supplies
    were going to be dropped on the Manor property and it looked like the storm was
    going to get worse that night, so everyone gathered for safety, comfort and
    food p.200
  2. Why didn’t Will’s father want to go to the Manor
    when Merriman first mentioned it? He thought they were safe as they were in
    their own home; he didn’t want to crowd the Manor and take their supplies p.203
  3. Who did Will see when he stared at the fire and
    what did she tell him? The Lady; that he needed to break the power of the
    cold with the Sign of Fire p.211
  4. Who’s the Walker? Hawkin, Merriman’s liege
    p.221

Chapter 10

  1. Did Hawkin turn from the Dark and turn to the
    Light? no p.224
  2. Why is the Dark able to come into the Manor? The
    Walker had invited it in p.226
  3. How was Will able to get the Sign of Fire? The
    Doctor gave the Walker a sedative and made him sleep which stopped the Dark’s
    way into the home. The Old Ones grabbed the candles lit by the Walker with the
    power of the Dark and put them into the candle holder in the great hall with
    the Lady. The blue fire of the Dark turned vermillion red and Will’s fire from
    his candle then turned into a flower in the shape of the quartered sign p.230
  4. How had the Dark injured Will’s mother? The
    large clap of thunder they all heard startled his mom at the top of the stairs
    and made her fall down, falling unconscious p.235

Chapter 11

  1. How did Will get separated from Paul when they
    were looking for Mary? The rooks flew close around them and drove them away
    from each other p.237
  2. What were Merriman and Farmer Dawson doing at
    the Manor while Old George and Will were out in the storm? keeping everyone
    busy at the Manor so Will and George could work p.243
  3. How did Will travel in the storm to his place of
    testing? The white horse p.247
  4. How did Will save Mary from the Dark forever? He
    didn’t give the signs that he had obtained to the Black Rider and then
    retrieved the 6th sign, so he had all of the signs p.261

Chapter 12

  1. Where did the white mare take Merriman and Will
    and why? The Great Park; the horse was needed for the Hunt p.266
  2. How did the ship come out of the ground that
    held the dead king and made the head of the Hunter? The stag head that Will
    got from his brother for his birthday and Christmas p.268
  3. Who did Herne call when he sounded like a hunting
    horn? A pack of ghostly white hounds with red eyes and ears p.271
  4. What did Herne hunt? The Dark p.274

Chapter 13

  1. Why was Will anxious to go home? He thought
    of his family dealing with the floods p.280
  2. Who did the little procession of boys carry to
    the smithy on a bier? The Lady p.283
  3. What did the Lady put around Will’s neck? The
    necklace made with all the signs p.285
  4. What gifts did Miss Greythorne give to Will and
    Paul? A small hunting horn and the old flute p.292

Comprehension Questions – #2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

by J.K. Rowling

Grades 5-8; Genre - Fantasy; GRL V; AR pts: 14.0

When Harry and his best friends go back for their third year at Hogwarts, an escaped mass murderer is on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school. The plot contains profanity.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Find the simile on page five that the author
    used to describe how the Dursleys treated Harry now that he’s back home with
    them again.  “back to being treated
    like a dog that had rolled in something smelly”
  2. How was Harry spending his birthday? Doing
    chores     and in his room, making no noise and pretending he doesn’t exist
    p.6
  3. How did Dudley get Harry in trouble? He
    taunted him about not getting any cards on his birthday and asked if he had any
    friends at his school p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Dobby and the message he gave to
    Harry. Small creature with bat-like ears and bulging green eyes the size of
    tennis balls, a house elf; he warned Harry not to go back to Hogwarts because
    he’ll be in mortal danger p.12
  2. Why did Dobby come to warn him? Because Harry
    escaped Lord Voldemort twice, Dobby thinks Harry’s too great and too good to
    lose p.16
  3. What did Uncle Vernon do to punish Harry for
    ruining his deal and for not telling them that he couldn’t use magic outside of
    school? Put bars on his windows, locked him in his room, put food through a
    cat door, only let him out in the morning and evening for the bathroom, and
    told Harry he was never going back to school p.21

Chapter 3

  1. How did Harry become free from his room and the
    Durleys? Ron and his older twin brothers came to find out why Harry hadn’t
    written him all summer and broke him out of his room, ripping the bars from his
    window with their flying car p.25
  2. Why did they think Draco Malfoy could have sent
    the house elf to Harry? It wouldn’t surprise them if Draco wanted to stop
    Harry from going to school p.28
  3. What softened Mrs. Weasley’s anger when the boys
    arrived home with Harry? George told her the Dursleys were starving Harry
    p.34
  4. How did the boys get rid of the gnomes? They
    twirled them in the air to make them dizzy, then threw them over the wall p.37

Chapter 4

  1. Who was the author of the majority of the books
    Harry needed to purchase for his school year? Gilderoy Lockhart p.44
  2. Where did Harry land when using the Floo powder
    and who did he see? In a wizard’s shop on Knockturn Alley; Draco Malfoy and
    his father selling illegal items p.49
  3. Who did Harry see in Knockturn Alley? Hagrid
    p.54
  4. Who’s the new Defense Against the Dark Arts
    teacher at Hogwarts? Gilderoy Lockhart p.60

Chapter 5

  1. When Ron and Harry missed the train, how did
    they get to Hagwarts? Mr. Weasley’s flying car p.69
  2. What attacked the car after the boys crashed? The
    tree they hit into p.75
  3. What is Ron’s and Harry’s consequence for being
    seen in the flying car and crashing into the Whomping Willow? They had to
    miss the feast and detention p.81
  4. How did the other boys treat Ron and Harry after
    learning about the flying car? They cheered them on like they’d just won a marathon
    p.84

Chapter 6

  1. Explain what type of letter Ron received. It’s
    called a Howler and is a punishment letter; when you open it, the messenger is
    yelling at you and after the message is given, it burns up p.87
  2. What did Colin and Harry have in common? They
    both came from muggle homes and didn’t know how they could do the odd things
    they did. Hogwarts sent a letter to them both inviting them to wizardry school
    p.96
  3. What does Professor Lockhart think Harry’s doing
    when he arrives in a flying car and learns Colin wants a photo with him? Thinks
    he’s trying to publicize himself p.98
  4. What did Ron and Harry think about Professor
    Lockhart as he ran out of the room and left the three friends to take care of
    the pixies? That he doesn’t know what he’s doing p.103

Chapter 7

  1. Why was Wood so determined to win the Quidditch
    Cup this year? Because they lost it last year since Harry was in the
    hospital and they were short a player p.109
  2. Why did the kids go to Hagrid’s home? They
    needed help; because of Ron’s broken wand, he accidentally cast a slug spell on
    himself p.113
  3. Why were Hagrid’s pumpkins so large? He’d
    been putting an engorgement spell on them p.118
  4. What did Harry hear while in detention with
    Professor Lockhart and who do you think said it? “Come…come to me…Let me rip
    you…Let me tear you…Let me kill you…; listen to your child’s answers p.120

Chapter 8

  1. Why was Harry in Mr. Filch’s office and what did
    he read while waiting for Mr. Filch? He was in trouble for wearing his muddy
    and dripping wet robes into the building; a letter on Kwikspell to learn magic
    p.126
  2. Why does Hermione avoid the girls’ bathroom on
    the first floor? A ghost named Moaning Myrtle haunts one of the toilets,
    throws tantrums and causes the bathroom to flood p.132
  3. What did the kids find as Harry listened to the
    voice and climbed the stairs? Writing on the wall that said, “the Chamber of
    Secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir, beware,” and Mrs. Norris, the
    cat, looking dead, hanging by its tail p.138

Chapter 9

  1. After analyzing the cat, what conclusion did
    Dumbledore come to? It’s not dead, but is petrified p.142
  2. Explain what a Squib is. It’s a person born
    into a wizarding family, but they themselves don’t have any magic powers p.145
  3. How did Professor Binns feel about the
    Chamber of Secrets? That it’s a myth and that there’s no truth to it p.152
  4. What’s Hermione’s idea of getting into Slytherin
    to question Draco Malfoy? Use the Polyjuice Potion to change their
    appearance to look like Draco’s friends p.159

Chapter 10

  1. What was the problem with the Bludger during the
    Quidditch match? Instead of going toward all players, it only went after
    Harry p.168
  2. How did Harry win the game for Gryffindor? He
    got the snitch p.171
  3. Who made the Bludger focus on Harry during the
    match and why? Dobby; so Harry would get hurt and be sent home p.177
  4. What happened to Colin Creevey? He was
    petrified on his way to visit Harry p.179

Chapter 11

  1. Why did the students trade talismans,
    amulets, and other protective devices? To protect themselves from the
    creature in the Chamber of Secrets     p.185
  2. What distraction did Harry cause to help
    Hermione sneak into Snape’s office? Lit a firework to land in a cauldron; Snape
    had to help those that got hurt p.187
  3. What did Harry do to stop the snake from
    attacking Justin? Told the snake to “leave him alone” p.194
  4. What did Harry trip over in the dark passage? Justin
    and Nearly Headless Nick who were both petrified p.202

Chapter 12

  1. Why was Harry happy most people were leaving
    for the Christmas holiday? He was tired of people skirting around him in the
    corridors and from hearing their hissing, pointing, and muttering p.209
  2. How were Ron and Harry supposed to get a bit
    of Crabbe and Goyle, as well as keep them out of the way while they talked
    Malfoy? Hermione filled two chocolate cakes with a sleeping potion p.213
  3. What did the boys learn when they interrogated Malfoy?
    That Malfoy didn’t do it and where his father’s hidden chamber was p.222
  4. What happened to Hermione and why couldn’t she
    go with the boys to the Slytherin common room? Her potion turned her into a
    cat p.225

Chapter 13

  1. Why was Moaning Myrtle so upset when Harry
    and Ron came into talk to her? Someone had thrown a book at her p.230
  2. What was the book and who did it belong to? A
    journal; Tom M. Riddle p.231
  3. What was odd about the journal? There wasn’t
    any writing in it. When Harry wrote in it, the ink disappeared, but reappeared onto
    the pages as Tom wrote back to him p.239
  4. What did Harry learn after following Tom Riddle
    in the book? That Tom turned in Hagrid for opening the Chamber of Secrets 50
    years before p.245

Chapter 14

  1. Why doesn’t Harry want to report the stolen
    journal? He didn’t want to expose Hagrid being expelled as a youth p.254
  2. Why was Harry more worried about what the voice
    said this time? He was worried someone would die p.255
  3. Why was the Quidditch cup match cancelled? Two
    students had been petrified, one of them being Hermione p.257
  4. What message did Dumbledore and Hagrid give the
    boys before they were accompanied off the school property? That Hogwarts
    will help anyone who comes asking for it; to follow the spiders and to feed
    Fang p.264

Chapter 15

  1. What made Ernie apologize to Harry? He
    realized Harry would never hurt Hermione p.268
  2. Where did the spiders lead Harry and Ron? Into
    the Forbidden Forest, p,272
  3. What did Harry and Ron find in the forest that
    had been lost? Ron’s family’s car p.274
  4. What saved Harry, Ron and Fang after Aragog was
    finished talking to them? Ron’s car p.279

Chapter 16

  1. Why did Harry want to speak with Moaning Myrtle?
    She might be the child that was killed the first time the Chamber of Secrets
    was opened p.287
  2. What did Harry see in Hermione’s hand? A
    paper torn out of an old book about a basilisk p.290
  3. Why do you think it was good that Harry and Ron
    found the paper before going to talk to Moaning Myrtle? They now knew what
    the monster was and how to get to it p.292
  4. How did Harry get the sink to open? By saying
    “open up” in Parseltongue p.300

Chapter 17

  1. Who did Harry see in the Chamber of Secrets? Ginny
    and     Tom Riddle who is Lord Voldemort p.307
  2. Who opened the Chamber of Secrets and how? Ginny
    Weasley; Tom Riddle had her in his power p.310
  3. How did Fawkes and the Sorting Hat help Harry
    defeat the basilisk and Tom? The phoenix poked out the basilisk’s eyes, the Sorting
    Hat gave Harry a sword to pierce the basilisk, the phoenix healed Harry with his
    tears, Fawkes dropped the diary in Harry’s lap and healed Harry p.319
  4. How did the children and Lockhart get back up to
    the bathroom? They all held onto each other and Fawkes flew/lifted them
    p.325

Chapter 18

  1. Why did the phoenix come to help Harry? He
    showed loyalty to Dumbledore p.332
  2. Why can Harry speak Parseltongue? Voldemort
    transferred some of his own power into Harry the night he gave him the scar
    p.333
  3. What did Harry do to show he belongs in the
    Gryffindor House? He chose to be there and wielded the sword from Godric
    Gryffindor p.333
  4. How did Harry free Dobby? Harry put the diary
    in his sock and gave it to Lucius Malfoy, Malfoy threw the sock and Dobby
    caught it p.338

Comprehension Questions – Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1 The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief

By Rick Riordan

Grades 6-8; Genre – Fantasy; GRL W; AR pts: 13.0

Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson's textbooks and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Percy Jackson. Percy’s 12 years old, in 6th grade, has a rough life, went to a boarding school in upstate New York, is a half-blood, always gets in trouble on field trips, smart, knows a lot about mythology, he has dyslexia and attention deficit disorder p.1
  2. Who's Percy's Latin teacher? Mr. Brunner p.2
  3. Who's Percy's best friend? Grover p.3
  4. Describe what happened when Mrs. Dodds took Percy into the museum alone. She told him to confess and he would suffer less pain, then she turned into a hag with bat wings, claws and a mouth full of yellow fangs. She attacked Percy, but he fought back and killed her with a pen that turned into a sword from Mr. Brunner p.12
  5. How did everyone react when Percy went out of the museum and asked where Mrs. Dodds was? They didn’t know who he was talking about and that there wasn’t a Mrs. Dodds at the school p.14

Chapter 2

  1. Why did Percy go down to Mr. Brunner’s office and what did he hear? He wanted help studying for the Latin test; Mr. Brunner and Grover talking about Percy, the incident at the museum and how Percy was in danger p.19
  2. Why did Percy think it was ironic when Grover said he had to protect him? All year long he’d been fighting bullies for Grover and here Grover was supposed to protect him p.24
  3. What did Grover think the snipping of the yarn meant? That Percy was going to die p.28

Chapter 3

  1. Describe Percy’s mom. Her name is Sally Jackson; her parents died when she was 5 years old; her uncle raised her; she saved money to go to a good writing program at college, but her uncle got sick and she had to quit work and high school take care of him; with no money left and no degree, she met Percy’s dad; they weren’t married, but he got lost at sea; she worked hard to get her high school diploma; worked at a candy shop in Grand Central station p.29
  2. What does Percy know about his father? Kind; tall, handsome, powerful and gentle; black hair like Percy’s p.38
  3. Why did Percy’s mom send him away for school? She thought it would be far enough away to keep him safe; he’s been in danger at every school he’s gone to p.40
  4. Why did Grover get after Percy’s mom at the cabin? She shouldn’t have taken Percy to the cabin, but didn’t know what had happened to Percy at school to know what danger he was in p.42

Chapter 4

  1. What type of creature is Grover? A satyr p.45
  2. Describe the creature after Percy? A Minotaur at least 7 feet tall; arms and legs were big with muscles; wore no clothes but white underwear; course brown hair started at his belly and got thicker as it reached his shoulders; his neck a mass of muscle with fur leading up to his enormous head; had a snout as long as Percy’s arm; snotty nostrils with a gleaming brass ring; cruel black eyes and sharp black and white horns p.50
  3. What happened to Percy’s mother as the Minotaur grabbed her? He squeezed her around her neck and she turned into a shimmering golden form and vanished in a flash of light p.53
  4. How did Percy defeat the monster? He jumped onto his head and held onto his horns; he pulled back on one of the horns and snapped it off; he was on the ground and as the Minotaur ran by Percy stabbed him in the side with the horn and the monster disintegrated like crumbling sand and blew away in the wind p.54

Chapter 5

  1. How long had Percy been unconscious from the fight with the Minotaur? 2 days p.59
  2. What did the drink with a straw and umbrella taste like and how did it make Percy feel? Percy’s mom’s chocolate chip cookies; like he could throw Nancy Bobofit 100 yards; he was full of energy p.60
  3. Why did Mr. Brunner or Chiron go to Yancy Academy? Grover had found Percy and thought he was special, so he went to see for himself and he taught him p.64
  4. What did Mr. D and Chiron explain to Percy while playing pinochle? The Greek Gods and everything in Greek mythology is real p.68
  5. What type of creature is Mr. Brunner? A centaur p.74

Chapter 6

  1. Why was Grover getting chewed out by Mr. D? He was supposed to be a protector, but Percy saved him from the Minotaur and it didn’t look like he had much courage p.76
  2. Describe Camp Half Blood. Large area with strawberry fields, a canoeing lake, stables, large barn, lots of cabins, javelin range, a sing-along amphitheater, archery range, and an arena where there are sword and spear fights p.79
  3. What did the twelve cabins represent? Each of the 12 gods p.80
  4. What was Annabeth’s explanation for Percy’s dyslexia and ADHD? He was meant to read Ancient Greek; he’s impulsive and wasn’t meant to sit for a long time because he has battlefield reflexes; his attention problems are because he sees too much, his senses are better than regular mortals p.88
  5. What did Percy do in response to Clarisse trying to shove his face into the toilet? He made the water shoot out of the toilets and showers and push her and her friends out of the bathroom p.91

Chapter 7

  1. Why do half-bloods live at the camp and how long do they stay? For safety, depending on their parent-god; monsters may chase and kill them; they stay depending on if it’s safe to out into the world p.96
  2. Where is Olympus located? Empire State Building on the 600th floor p.99
  3. Define the word prophecy and explain why Annabeth is so intent on finding “the one”. Prophecy: a prediction; Chiron was told by the Oracle that she wouldn’t be able to go on a quest until someone special came to the camp p.102
  4. Why did Percy change his drink to a blue cherry coke? In honor of his mother, since she made food blue for him p.104

Chapter 8

  1. How did Percy receive strength to knock the blade out of Luke’s hand? He poured water over his head; the water made him stronger and his senses keener p.110
  2. Tell Thalia’s story. She was a daughter of Zeus, but he’d broken an oath to not have any more children, but Hades found out and sent his worst monsters after her. She almost made it to the camp, but had her keeper take the other two half-bloods and save them while she tried to fight the monsters p.114
  3. Describe the interaction between Percy and Clarisse and her gang during Capture the Flag? They ganged up on Percy; she electrocuted him with her spear and one of her gang sliced his arm with their sword and pushed him into the water; Percy received strength and he defeated Clarisse and her house mates p.121
  4. Who is Percy’s father? Poseidon the Sea God p.126

Chapter 9

  1. Describe Percy’s dream and what type of figurative language is it an example of? He was running to stop two gods from fighting, but the wind kept pushing him back, there were palm trees and buildings different from New York, the ground shook and evil laughter coming from beneath the ground said “Come down, little hero. Come down.”, the ground split and Percy fell in; foreshadowing p.130
  2. What are Poseidon and Zeus fighting over? a lightning bolt; Zeus’ master bolt; Zeus is blaming Poseidon for stealing it p.135
  3. Why does Zeus think Poseidon had Percy steal his lightning bolt? Poseidon and Zeus were fighting at winter council and the places where the bolts are created is in the ocean; Poseidon just revealed that Percy was his son and Percy was in New York City during the winter solstice p.136
  4. What did the Oracle tell Percy? You shall go west and face the god who has turned; You shall find what was stole, and see it safely returned; You shall be betrayed by one who calls you friend; and you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end p.141
  5. How is Annabeth appearing out of thin air? She has a magic baseball cap she wears to make her invisible p.148

Chapter 10

  1. What was the gift Luke had given to Percy for his quest and why did he give them to Grover? Luke’s flying shoes from his dad; Percy shouldn’t take to the air since Zeus had control of the air p.151
  2. What gift did Mr. Brunner give to Percy and where had he gotten it from? The pen sword called Riptide; he got it from Poseidon to give to his child p.153
  3. Why did Percy’s mom marry and stay with Gabe? To protect Percy; Gabe smelled so human it covered up Percy’s half-blood smell and protected him from the monsters p.158
  4. Explain the interaction between Percy, Grover, Annabeth and the Furies on the bus. They were all on the bus, the furies started to go to the back of the bus, Percy put on Annabeth’s magic hat and crept up and hid in a seat while the Furies passed; Percy got to the front of the bus, but the Furies were after Annabeth and Grover since he’d disappeared; Percy grabbed the steering wheel and made the bus crash into a tree; he took of the hat and the Furies came after him; he pulled out Riptide and defeated two of them; Mrs. Dodds was left and the kids were able to get away with lightning striking the bus and the kids running into the woods p.163

Chapter 11

  1. What was the business the three characters came to as they exited the woods and how did Grover feel about it? Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium; a strange business that had a forest of statues on the front lawn; he thought it was strange and smelled monsters p.171
  2. Why wasn’t Percy anxious to leave the shop like Annabeth and Grover? His food had made him sleepy p.176
  3. What creature was Aunty Em and describe her? Medusa; she had a head of snakes and she turned people to stone when they look her in the eyes p.180
  4. What did Percy send to Olympus and why? Medusa’s head; because he was angry at them p.186

Chapter 12

  1. What did the Furies say that confused Grover and Annabeth? Instead of saying where is he, they said where is it? P.192
  2. What was Percy’s dream in this chapter? Percy stood in a dark cavern before a large pit; spirits of the dead tried to pull him back, but Percy felt compelled to walk to the very edge of the chasm; the pit was black and seemed bottomless, but Percy could feel something huge and evil trying to rise from the abyss; a voice spoke to him calling him a little hero and that he was too weak and young, but would do; it also said he’s been mislead and to barter with it and he would give Percy what he wanted and he saw his mother before she died; the voice told Percy to help him rise and to bring him the bolt to strike a blow against the gods; the spirits of the dead whispered around him to wake up; Percy felt the thing in the pit wasn’t trying to pull him down, but was using him to pull itself out p.194
  3. What did Grover find to help them travel west? A poodle they could return to its family to get the reward money to pay for train tickets p.195

Chapter 13

  1. Why did Annabeth run away from home? Her dad and stepmom treated her like a freak and wouldn’t let her play with their mortal children, if anything dangerous happened with monsters they would look at her like, “how dare you put our family to risk” p.201
  2. Describe a time Athena and Poseidon worked together? Athena invented chariots and Poseidon created horses out of the crest of waves p.202
  3. Describe the creature the chihuahua turned into. He turned into a Chimera: a rabid, fire-breathing, poisonous creature with a head of a lion and the body and hooves of a goat, a serpent for a tail with a ten-foot long diamondback growing out of its behind p.207
  4. Why did Percy jump from the arch into the river? To escape the Chimera; Echidna tempted him to do it; he was hoping the water would help him heal and that he would find his sword p.210

Chapter 14

  1. What did Percy realize as he was underwater in the river? He could breathe and he was dry p.213
  2. What did the messenger tell Percy? His dad wanted him to go to the beach in Santa Monica before going to the Underworld; to not trust the gifts; his father believes in him p.214
  3. Why is Percy wanted by the police and being talked about on the news? He is being accused of hurting his mom, hurting the three old women on the bus, and for causing the damage to the arch p.217

Chapter 15

  1. How did Annabeth call Half-Blood Hill from Denver? They created a rainbow and threw a Drachma in to the goddess of rainbows, who carries messages for the gods, and asked to be connected p.220
  2. Who came to eat dinner with Percy, Annabeth and Grover and why? Ares; he wanted Percy to get his shield at a waterpark p.227
  3. Why didn’t Ares want to retrieve his shield himself? It was a trap Hephaestus made to make Ares and Aphrodite look like fools p.236
  4. How did Percy and Annabeth survive the prank? Percy made water come through the pipes and take their boat on the ride; they then jumped to safety with Grover trying to slow their fall p.238

Chapter 16

  1. What information about Percy’s mother did Ares tell him? That she’s not dead, but being held hostage p.244
  2. How did Percy, Annabeth and Grover travel to Las Vegas? In a big semi with animals in the back p.245
  3. What did Percy dream of in this chapter? At first, he was in school in a straight jacket trying to take a test with Thalia next to him in the same situation. The straight jacket melted off Percy and he went to give Hades a piece of his mind. He found the same voice talking to someone else about him and the bolt. The voice realized Percy was there with them and gave him a dream of his quest and he saw his mother frozen in golden light and he was turning into a skeleton p.252
  4. What casino did the kids go in and what happened to them in there? The Lotus Hotel and Casino; they were given a room and card with unlimited money and then showered and ate; they enjoyed all of the cool things and perks of the casino and Percy started talking to people and realized they didn’t know how long they’d been there and wasted 5 days in there p.258

Chapter 17

  1. What was Annabeth’s piece of evidence that they were on the right track by going to the Underworld? Percy saw spirits of the dead in his dream p.269
  2. Who did Percy talk to in the sea at Santa Monica and what did she tell him? The same messenger he met in the Mississippi River, a Nereid; She told him that they’ve been watching him grow up with interest and that Poseidon can’t play favoritism to him so can’t help Percy directly; she gave him three pearls to use in times of great need and gave advice on how to beat Hades p.271
  3. What happened in Crusty’s Waterbed Palace? Crusty is the owner and put Annabeth and Grover on a bed. The bed had ropes come out and tie them down. Then more ropes came out grabbed them and began to stretch them out to fit 6 feet long. Percy distracted Crusty and tricked him into lying onto one of the beds and gave the word to make the ropes tie him up, then he loped off his head p.277
  4. How did Percy and his friends find the location of DOA Recording Studio? On a billboard coming out of the waterbed store p.282

Chapter 18

  1. How did the kids get past Charon? Percy bribed him with a lot of Drachmas p.286
  2. As the kids traveled in the elevator on the way to the Underworld, how did the spirits of the dead and Charon change? The spirits of the dead went from wearing normal clothes to gray hooded robes and Charon transitioned to wearing a black robe, his eye sockets were black empty sockets and the flesh of his face became transparent p.288
  3. Who is Cerberus and what was the “plan” to get past him? The creature/dog guarding the Underworld; to throw a stick and hope he plays fetch to leave the entrance p.293
  4. When the plan didn’t work what did Annabeth do? She found a red ball she’d gotten from the water park and told the creature to sit and threw it to him. Grover and Percy got through, then she threw it again and the three heads fought over it, so she could sneak through as well p.295
  5. Why did Annabeth shed tears? It reminded her of her own dog and taking him to obedience school; She was sad about Cerberus and that she couldn’t help him p.298

Chapter 19

  1. Describe the Field of Asphodel. A huge area with a million people whispering and milling around, standing on black grass with clumps of black poplars, a light moist swampy breeze p.300
  2. Why did Annabeth and Percy have to chase Grover? His shoes started flying on their own and he sped ahead of them p.303
  3. Where did the shoes lead them to? A huge dark cavern with a chasm that was in Percy’s dream p.304
  4. Why did Hades send the Furies after Percy? Hades thought Percy had stolen his magic helm p.312
  5. Why had Hades taken Percy’s mother? To barter with Percy to get his helm back p.315

Chapter 20 

  1. What god did the kids run into after arriving on the beach? Ares p.321
  2. Who stole the lightning bolt and helm and why? Ares; to start a war between the three gods p.322
  3. How did Percy win and what happened to Ares? Percy was able to stab Ares in the heal and make him bleed Ichor, his godly blood, an evil came and stopped Ares from killing Percy, then he disappeared in a flash p.330
  4. How did Percy get the helm to Hades like he promised? He gave it to Mrs. Dodds since she works for Hades p.331

Chapter 21

  1. How did Percy convince the guard at the Empire State Building to let him see Zeus? Showed him the lightning bolt p.336
  2. Who was sitting on their thrones as Percy reached Olympus? Poseidon and Zeus p.339
  3. Who’s in the pit that’s been in Percy’s dreams? Kronos p.344
  4. What was on Percy’s bed and what did he decide to do with it? Medusa’s head; leave it for his mom as a weapon to turn Gabe into a statue if needed p.350

Chapter 22

  1. What did the letter from Percy’s mom say? She made Gabe a statue and sold him to an art gallery; got a new apartment and is going to go to school the next semester; she had put a down payment down for a good private school in NYC if Percy wants to go p.355
  2. Where was Grover heading? On a quest to look for the god Pan p.357
  3. Who is the friend that has betrayed Percy? Luke p.365
  4. Where did Annabeth and Percy decide to live during the winter? At their homes with their families p.374

Comprehension Questions – The Chronicles of Narnia #4 Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian

By C.S. Lewis

Grades 3-8; Genre – Fantasy; GRL T; AR pts: 7.0

Narnia…the land between the lamp-post and the castle of Cair Paravel, where animals talk, where magical things happen… and where the adventure begins. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are returning to boarding school when they are summoned from the dreary train station (by Susan’s own magic horn) to return to the land of Narnia—the land where they had ruled as kings and queens and where their help is desperately needed.

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What happened to the children at the train station and where did they find themselves? They felt a pulling and realized magic was at work; the train station disappeared and they found themselves in a thicket. They worked their way out and found a beach p.4
  2. Where did the children find a stream they could drink from? More than halfway around the island on the beach p.9
  3. What did the children find after drinking out of the stream? Apples trees and a wall with an arch leading into a large open area p.11

Chapter 2

  1. What did Susan find by the well and what did it remind her of? A gold chess piece; Being a queen in Narnia and playing chess with the fauns and giants of Narnia p.19
  2. Where were the children? At their castle in Narnia in Cair Paravel p.20
  3. What did the children find in the treasure room? Suits of armor, rings, bowls, dishes, necklaces, gems, big padlocked chests, and their gifts from Aslan p.25
  4. Describe the children’s gifts from Aslan. Lucy was a small diamond bottle full of a healing cordial; Susan’s was a bow, arrows and a horn that calls and sends for help; Peter’s is a sword and shield; Edmund didn’t get one p.27

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Susan shoot an arrow? Two soldiers were going to throw a tied-up dwarf into the water p.33
  2. Why did the soldiers want to kill the dwarf? He said he was a criminal p.36
  3. Who is the dwarf? King Caspian’s messenger p.39

Chapter 4

  1. What were the stories Caspian’s nurse told him about that his uncle didn’t like? Stories of old Narnia p.43
  2. Describe Doctor Cornelius. He was very short and fat; very old, ugly and kind with a twinkle in his eyes; knew about old Narnia and taught Caspian p.46
  3. Why did Doctor Cornelius take Caspian to the tower in the middle of the night? To show him two stars; to tell him about Narnia, the tower is the only place they should ever talk about it p.51
  4. Why is there a belief that ghosts live in the woods? The Telmarines don’t want their people to go to the sea since Aslan is from across the sea, so they let the wood grow and told them there were ghosts in it p.55

Chapter 5

  1. When did Doctor Cornelius awake Caspian in this chapter and why? In the middle of the night; because he knew Miraz was going to kill Caspian, so he helped pack food, a sword and clothing so Caspian could escape p.57
  2. Why does Miraz want to kill Caspian? Caspian is the real king. Miraz’s wife had a son so if Caspian is dead, his son will become king p.60
  3. Find a metaphor on page 61. “You must fly at once.”
  4. Where was Caspian after waking up from hitting his head while riding his horse? In a cave on a bed of heather being nourished by a badger and two dwarves p.67

Chapter 6

  1. How did the animals feel when Trufflehunter introduced Caspian to the animals of old Narnia? Excited; happy; kissed him p.73
  2. What gifts did the dwarves give to Caspian, Trumpkin and Nikabrik? Mail shirts, helmet and swords p.76
  3. How did the Fauns respond to the news of King Caspian? They were merry; danced and played their music around him p.82

Chapter 7

  1. How did Doctor Cornelius find the war council and why? He used magic; he knew Caspian had been found out and needed to tell him his life and all of Old Narnia’s was in danger p.88
  2. What’s Aslan’s How and why was it a good place to stay during a war? It’s a cave of tunnels built around a magical stone to the Narnian’s with lots of room for stores and people when needing to retreat p.91
  3. Why was the Giant Wimbleweather so sad? He ruined a battle by attacking at the wrong time and place p.93
  4. What missions were Pattertwig and Trumpkin sent on? Caspian was going to blow Susan’s horn and they were sent to different places where help would come. Pattertwig was sent to Lantern-hill and Trumpkin sent to the mouth of the river where the castle Cair Paravel is p.97

Chapter 8

  1. Why did Trumpkin feel like the horn didn’t work? It called children not warriors to help them p.102
  2. Why did the children have competitions with Trumpkin? To show him they were more than children p.107
  3. What did Lucy do for Trumpkin? Used her cordial to cure his wound p.108
  4. What did the children call Trumpkin? DLF: Dear Little Friend p.111

Chapter 9

  1. What did Lucy do when she couldn’t sleep? She got up, walked around, and spoke to the trees, trying to wake them p.116
  2. How did Trumpkin protect Lucy? He shot a bear that was sneaking up on her p.121
  3. Why did the children think they were lost? The river they came to was far below them in a gorge and they remember the river being different p.124
  4. Why was Lucy crying bitterly at the end of the chapter? She had seen Aslan and knew he wanted her to follow them, but no one would believe her p.128

Chapter 10

  1. What shot at the children and dwarf as they could see the Great River and where they fought the Battle of Beruna and why? Arrows; Miraz has an outpost in that area and they saw the traveling party p.133
  2. What were the trees doing when Lucy woke up and saw them? dancing, moving around p.138
  3. Who had called to Lucy while she was sleeping and why? Aslan; she was to wake to the others and tell them to follow her p.143
  4. How did Lucy have the strength to wake to the others and do what Aslan asked her to? Aslan gave it to her; she put her face in his mane and she could feel lion strength going into her p.143  

Chapter 11

  1. How did the children feel about following Lucy and doing what she said? Edward was the only one fully supportive of her since she’d been right before; Susan didn’t want to follow at all, but because Peter did, they all followed p.147
  2. Why did it take so long for Susan and the Dwarf to see Aslan? They didn’t believe; bad attitude p.152
  3. How did Aslan make friends with the Dwarf? Aslan called him to him, threw him in the air after grabbing him with his teeth and asked if they could be friends p.154
  4. How did Aslan call the Narnians? By roaring p.156

Chapter 12

  1. When Peter, Edmund and Trumpkin went into the Mound, what did they hear the King, Nikabrik, Doctor Cornelius and the others talking about? That the horn didn’t work and Nikabrik spoke of another way to win the battle p.163
  2. Who were the visitors that came to the war council? Nikabrik’s friends; they know black magic p.165
  3. Who did Nikabrik want to bring back so they could have power? The White Witch p.168
  4. Who died from the fight in the council room? Nikabrik, the Hag and the Wer-Wolf p.172

Chapter 13

  1. What was Peter’s strategy to winning the war? He was going to challenge Miraz to single combat (a duel) p.175
  2. Who was chosen to go with Edward to deliver the message to Miraz? Glenstorm and the Giant Wimbleweather p.178
  3. Explain what Sopespian and Glozelle spoke of as they realized Edward was bringing a challenge to Miraz. If Miraz won the challenge the war would be over, but if he died, he wouldn’t be their king anymore p.180
  4. How did these two convince Miraz to accept the challenge? They suggested he would be a coward and have no honor if he didn’t accept since Peter and Edward look so dangerous p.182

Chapter 14

  1. Who caused the first blood to be drawn in the duel and how? Peter stabbed Miraz in the armpit p.191
  2. How was Peter hurt? his wrist got sprained from the shield driving into it p.192
  3. How did the duel turn into a full battle? Spespian and Glozelle interrupted the battle when MIraz wa face down from tripping and shouted out the King Peter had killed him while he was lying down. Then Glozelle stabbed Miraz and the battle ensued p.194
  4. How did the chains loosen from the river god? Bacchus and his people made vines grow all over the bridge and it collapsed p.198
  5. Who was the old woman Aslan healed while she was in her bed? Caspian’s old nurse p.204

Chapter 15

  1. What did Lucy do for Reepicheep? He was almost dead when the other mice brought him before Aslan. He asked Lucy to heal his wounds. He revived but was still missing his tail that had been cut off p.207
  2. How did Reepicheep convince Aslan he needed his tail? Because mice have been made small, so they have to prove their honor and dignity; all of the other mice had their swords drawn to cut off their own tails; because of the love the mice have for each other and for the kindness the mice showed to Aslan long ago when they chewed the cords when the White Witch killed him p.209
  3. How did the food appear for the great feast? Wherever Bacchus, Silenus and the Maenads danced it appeared p.211
  4. Where are the Telmar’s originally from? The same world (our world) that Peter, Susan, Edward and Lucy came from p.216
  5. How did the children and Telmarines get back to their original homes? A magical doorway p.218

Comprehension Questions – My Father’s Dragon

My Father’s Dragon

By Ruth Stiles Gannett

Grades 3-5; Genre – Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

When Elmer Elevator hears about the plight of an overworked and under-appreciated flying baby dragon, he packs his knapsack with supplies and stows away on a ship headed for Wild Island. Nothing will stop Elmer from rescuing the dragon!

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What point of view is this story being told in? third person p.9
  2. Who is narrating and who is this story about? A son telling a story about his father, Elmer Elevator p.9
  3. How did Elmer’s mother feel about feeding the stray cat and why? She didn’t like it because if she fed it more stray cats would come around p.11
  4. Describe the alley cat. Old, female, can talk, traveler, good companionship for Elmer, kind p.9

Chapter 2

  1. What example of figurative language describes the cat speaking like a human? Alliteration p.15
  2. Why did the animals on the island want to catch the dragon? So they could use him as transportation instead of walking all the way around to the other side of the island p.17
  3. How did the animals treat the baby dragon if he complains? Beat him and twist his wing p.17

Chapter 3

  1. How did the author’s father get off the ship without getting caught? Hid inside a grain bag and used a rubber band to tie it on the inside p.22
  2. Why wasn’t the author’s father bothered when the fisherman shook with fear talking about Wild Island? He knew the dragon wasn’t scary p.24
  3. Why was it important for the author’s father to travel to the island at night? He was hopping over rocks and the animals on the island would have seen him in the day and he didn’t want them to see him p.25

Chapter 4

  1. How did the animals know something strange was on the island? Saw tangerine peels laying around, the “rock” had moved from its place p.32
  2. How was the main character able to stay hidden? Traveled at night and held onto his peels p.32

Chapter 5

  1. Why couldn’t the main character continue to follow the river and instead ventured further into the jungle? The river was so muddy he got stuck in the ooze and decided to travel in the jungle next to the river using his compass, but the river had a bend he didn’t know about that took him away from it p.35
  2. How many tigers crept up on Elmer? 7 p.37
  3. What knowledge did the cat give to the main character that helped him stop the tigers from eating him? The tigers love chewing gum p.38

Chapter 6

  1. Who was the main character careful to hide from at the beginning of this chapter? Two wild boars p.44
  2. Explain why the rhinoceros was weeping as well as how Elmer helped him. His tusk used to be white, but with age has turned yellow-gray and Elmer brushed his tusk with a toothbrush and toothpaste p.48

Chapter 7

  1. Why was the lion so upset? He had blackberry twigs stuck in his mane and was worried for his mom see him such a mess that she would stop his allowance p.52
  2. What did Elder do to help the lion? Give him a comb, brush and ribbons and showed him how to make his mane pretty p.54

Chapter 8

  1. What animal threatened to twist the main character’s arms like he does the dragon’s wings? A gorilla p.60
  2. What did Elmer give the monkeys to help them get the fleas off the gorilla and how did that help? Magnifying glasses so they could see the tiny fleas p.62
  3. Explain how the main character was freed from the gorilla. More monkeys came out of the trees and surrounded the gorilla as they were wanting to try the magnifying glasses p.64

Chapter 9

  1. Why didn’t the main character pull on the rope to have the dragon fly over to him? Elmer was worried about the gorilla twisting the dragon’s wings and stopping him from freeing him p.65
  2. Why was Elmer not interested in swimming in the river with the crocodiles? He knew he’d be eaten p.66
  3. What did Elmer do to get to the other side of the river? Used lollipops to make the crocodiles line up so he could walk across them. He put the first lollipop in the sand on the beach, then walked across the crocodile and used a robber band to tie a lollipop onto his tail for the next crocodile and so on p.68

Chapter 10

  1. Explain how the crocodiles helped Elmer have the time he needed to free the dragon? The first crocodile finished his sucker and began floating down the river with all the other crocodiles following as they wanted to finish their suckers. The animals had been crossing the river and were stuck on the crocodiles p.76
  2. Who called to the main character and the dragon from the island as they were heading to Tangerine island? The mouse p.76

Comprehension Questions – The Dark is Rising Sequence #1 Over Sea, Under Stone

Over Sea, Under Stone

By Susan Cooper

Grades 6-8; Genre – Fantasy; GRL X; AR pts: 12.0

Barney, Simon and Jane find themselves beset by deadly dangers as they embark on a great quest. Having found a crumbling parchment map, they begin their search for ancient treasure linked to King Arthur. More precious than life itself, the treasure, found by the right people, would help keep at bay the ancient forces of evil that were once again powerful in the world. They turn for help to their Great-Uncle Merry, who draws on his vast knowledge of ancient lore to protect them.

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. List the characters and describe the setting of this story. Barney, Jane, Mother, Father, Great-Uncle Merry, Simon, Rufus the dog; setting: train station, then a city called Cornwall p.1
  2. Describe Great-Uncle Merry. Not really their mother’s uncle, but an old friend her father’s, tall and straight, thick wild white hair; deep set eyes, brown nose curved like a bow, no one knew how old he was, there was something ancient about him p.3
  3. List Barney’s passion and Simon’s passion. King Arthur; boats p.4;5
  4. What is so mysterious about the yacht? Great-Uncle Merry seemed upset by it; Young Bill wouldn’t talk about the supplies he had gathered for it and was really upset after running into Jane; the old fisherman called Young Bill evil; the yacht appeared and disappeared silently and strangely p.6

Chapter 2

  1. What did the children do for entertainment while stuck inside during the rain? Pretended they were explorers and explored the house p.14
  2. Describe the adventure the children pretended they went on. They were explorers in a jungle and made sure to take food for a picnic. They worked their way through each area of the house, then pretended they heard the natives coming after them.
  3. What did they find that was curious while on their adventure? A door behind the wardrobe p.19

Chapter 3

  1. Sketch a picture of the scroll Barney found when searching for his thrown apple core. Brownish parchment springy as steel, cracks through it, another sheet stuck down in it that was darker and older, covered with small writing in strange squashed-looking dark brown letters. Below the writing was singed p.23
  2. Why did Jane and Barney expect Simon to understand the manuscript? They thought it was written in Latin and Simon has been taking Latin at school. 25
  3. Who did Barney think the scroll was written about? King Arthur and his King Mark p.26
  4. Why didn’t the children want to tell their parents about the manuscript? They feared their parents would make them put it back where they found it p.26
  5. Who came to visit the Drew’s during their supper and why? People from the yacht at sea; they invited to spend the day on the yacht out at sea p.29

Chapter 4

  1. On page 36, the author used a word to describe how Jane felt about the Withers. What is it and what does it mean? Sinister- evil or productive of evil p.36
  2. What did Jane find when coming down the stairs for lunch? A small book in the treasure chest p.38
  3. What was her discovery of the book? It had the name King Mark Head which was similar to the name on the map on the manuscript p.39
  4. Describe what a vicarage is and what this one looked like. Home of the vicar or clergy of a village; Scruffy house with neglected overgrown plants; grass as high as hay; weeds in the gravel of the drive; inside was not taken care of and worn p.41

Chapter 5

  1. What did Simon find the morning after Jane visited the vicar? Their house had been broken into and books from all of the main floor had been gone through and thrown on the floor p.48
  2. What do the children think the burglars were after? The manuscript with the map p.53
  3. Who do you think broke into the house? the Withers or Mr. Hastings the vicar p.54
  4. Who do the children feel they can tell about the manuscript? Great-Uncle Merry p.55

Chapter 6

  1. What was Great-Uncle Merry’s response after seeing the manuscript? Happy and Relieved p.58
  2. Explain the battle the children put themselves in the middle of by finding the manuscript. Between King Arthur and the evil ones from the world long ago; people who are trying to remember the world at the time of King Arthur; good and evil that still lives on and is seeking the grail p.60
  3. What do you think over sea and under stone mean?  Listen to your child’s ideas p.62
  4. What was Great-Uncle Merry doing while the children were in the house finding the manuscript? Leading the enemies on a detour and distracting them p.65
  5. Why can’t the children or their great-uncle go tell the police about the Withers? They wouldn’t believe them p.69

Chapter 7

  1. Why would the white yacht, named the Lady Mary, be following the children’s dad and uncle out to sea? The Withers were on it and they were following Great-Uncle Merry to see if he’s lead them to something about the manuscript p.72
  2. Who did the children see as they were sitting on the grass halfway up the Kemare Head? Mrs. Withers and Bill p.74
  3. Where was the clue the children were looking for as the sun was setting? On a large rock on the opposite headland on Kemare Head p.79
  4. Who was the man Bill saw and spoke to while trying to find Simon? Mr. Hastings p.84
  5. How did Simon get away from Bill and the man? Great-Uncle Merry came driving up, Simon got in the car and drove away p.86

Chapter 8

  1. What type of figurative language did the author use on page 89 in the phrase, “He would have given his ears to be the hero of the chase.”? An idiom p.89
  2. What did Jane realize the blodge mark was on the map? The moon p.92
  3. When the children’s parents left for the night, what did that mean the children could do? To go wander out at night to see if the clue worked with the moon p.95
  4. What did Simon and Jane find using the moon as a guide? That the rocks on the end of the headland is where the grail is buried p.100
  5. What was the threat on the hill that night? There were people there trying to get to Jane and Simon p.103

Chapter 9

  1. What is your conclusion about Mrs. Palk sneaking around Barney’s room? That she was looking for the map p.107
  2. Why didn’t Barney want to talk about the grail or map around Mrs. Palk? He was suspicious of her being a part of the evil p.108
  3. Where did Mrs. Palk tell Gumerry where the children went? To St. Austell    Why? To get rid of Gumerry so the evil ones could get to the children p.112

Chapter 10

  1. Why were the rocks at the end of the headland called the Gravestones? The children figured the Knight Bedwin was buried there as well as the grail p.115
  2. What did Rufus find? An area to dig in the ground next to a rock; the children found a large hole in the ground under that area p.119
  3. What could Jane hear in the gaping hole? The sea p.122
  4. What was Simon’s conclusion as he realized the Withers hadn’t seen a cave while scoping out the area? The cave might be under water p.124

Chapter 11

  1. Explain the connection between Bill and Mrs. Palk. She is Bill’s auntie p.130
  2. How had the children missed seeing Barney as he came down the hill? The procession was in the way and the other children were on a stone wall at the corner of the front quay instead of being in inner quay p.131

Chapter 12

  1. What happened to Barney when he couldn’t find Simon and Jane? He was kidnapped p.136
  2. Who had kidnapped Barney and where did they take him? The Withers; to a big deserted looking house p.138
  3. Describe the interaction between Barney and Mr. Hastings. Mr. Hastings asked Barney where the grail was hiding and Barney said he didn’t know what he was talking about. Mr. Hastings was shocked when Barney asked for another sandwich and excused Mr. Withers.  Mr. Hastings tried to convince Barney that he wasn’t bad, but that Gumerry was bad instead and hoping to get information about the grail p.142
  4. What did Barney say in his conversation with Mr. Hastings? He questioned him and said that Gumerry was doing it in the name of King Arthur and the old world before the dark came p.147

Chapter 13

  1. Why did Barney relax and heed his new master, Mr. Hastings? Mr. Hastings hypnotized him p.150
  2. What snapped him out of his trance? Rufus’ howl p.151
  3. How did the children get away from the men chasing them? They hid in a field p.154
  4. Why were the children nervous when they heard the owl hooting? Jane realized it was the enemy and not an owl and they feared the enemy had seen them p.160
  5. What did the children do to take extra precautions at the cave? Tie fishing line around Barney; had matches to light; figured out signals to communicate to each other p.165

Chapter 14

  1. Choose a word that describes Barney as he’s finding his way through the cave. Brave, courageous, determined, P.168
  2. What did Barney find in the cavern with the natural cupboard? The grail p.173
  3. Sketch the grail and describe it. P.173
  4. Summarize what Jane experienced while waiting outside for her brothers while they were in the cave. She felt a significant amount of responsibility holding the manuscript; anxious and worried as she let the string out; worried about the enemies; worried about the tide p.176
  5. What did the boys find with the grail? Another manuscript p. 178
  6. Summarize the battle in the last chapter. The children were starting to head back to the beach and saw the yacht. As they hurried, they saw another dinghy at the shore blocking them off. They were intercepted by the two enemy groups. Mr. Hastings and Mr. Withers were on the rocks with the children and Barney threatened to throw both artifacts into the water. Gumerry came to their rescue in a speed boat with Mr. Penhallow driving. Simon grabbed the artifacts and tried to throw them to Gumerry. Gumerry caught the Grail, but an oar intercepted the telescope case and broke it, sending its contents into the sea. The children all got into the boat and the enemies retreated and left the bay p.179

Epilogue

  1. Who do the children think Great-Uncle Merry is? Merlin p.193