Tag Archives: Grades 4-5

Comprehension Questions – James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Grades 4-5; Genre - Fantasy; GRL S; AR pts. 4.0

James Henry Trotter loses his parents and is forced to live with his evil aunts. Luckily, he is given magic crystals, which he accidentally spills on his aunts' decrepit peach tree. One of the peaches begins to grow, and grow, and grow. Finally, James climbs into the peach and it rolls away from his aunts' yard and his miserably lonely life. With the giant peach, he begins a new life, making friends along the way with hilarious characters like the Grasshopper and the Earthworm.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe James’s situation. He lived near the ocean with his parents until he was 4 years old; his parents were killed by a rhinoceros in London one day and he went to live with his two horrible aunts who wouldn’t allow him to leave the garden where they lived; a peach tree was in the garden, but it never bore fruit p.1

Chapter 2

  • Describe the main character’s aunts. Selfish, lazy, thought they were beautiful, mean to James; Aunt Sponge was fat and short with piggy shaped eyes and sunken mouth; Aunt Spiker was tall and lean, would spit when she talked p.5

Chapter 3

  1. Who approached James and what did he give him? An old man; magic crystals p.10

Chapter 4

  1. What instructions did the man give James and what did he promise him? Put the crystals in a large jug of water with ten hairs from his head and drink; wonderful things will happen to him p.12

Chapter 5

  1. Where did the crystals disappear to? Why? James tripped and the crystals all disappeared into the ground near the peach tree p.13

Chapter 6

  1. What was peculiar about the peach tree? A peach was growing on it p.16

Chapter 7

  1. What did Aunt Spiker want to do with the peach? Make money by charging people to see it p.24

Chapter 8

  1. Think of a party that you have held at your home and your role during and compare it to James's role during their event. James was locked in his room and had to clean up the garbage after everyone left. Listen to your child's answer about what role they play during an event at your home p.26

Chapter 9

  1. What did James feel in the moonlight? Something more peculiar was going to happen to him p.28

Chapter 10

  1. Summarize this chapter. James found a hole in the peach and climbed into it, crawling down a tunnel to the middle of the peach, through a doorway into the peach pit p.30

Chapter 11

  1. Why was James terrified in this chapter? He thought the human sized insects were going to eat him p.34

Chapter 12

  1. How did the insects get to be so large and human like? The magic crystals p.38

Chapter 13

  1. Describe how James felt about his new friends? He liked them, they were kind and helpful p.43

Chapter 14

  1. Where were the creatures and James going? They didn’t know, they just wanted to go somewhere to get away from James’s aunts and the hill they were on p.45

Chapter 15

  1. What happened to James’s aunts? The peach rolled over them and they were smashed p.48

Chapter 16

  1. What book, also written by Roald Dahl, was referenced in this chapter? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory p.50

Chapter 17

  1. Describe the journey James and the creatures had to the ocean? They were tossed around, hitting into each other until they landed on the water p.53

Chapter 18

  1. What good news did James have for the creatures in this chapter? They wouldn’t starve because they had the peach to eat p.60

Chapter 19

  1. What attacked the peach and why were the creatures worried? Sharks; with each bite from the sharks, the peach will be eaten away p.66

Chapter 20

  1. What was James’s plan to save them from the sharks? Take string from the spider and silk worm and tie it from the peach stem to seagulls to lift the peach out of the water p.70

Chapter 21

  1. Why did James become the captain of the peach ship? He took charge p.75

Chapter 22

  1. What word would you use to describe James in this chapter? Listen to your child’s answer; determined, hard worker, clever, smart p.75

Chapter 23

  1. Why do you think the peach wasn’t damaged by the sharks? Listen to your child’s answer; magic, the sharks couldn’t get their teeth into it p.83

Chapter 24

  1. List one thing James learned in this chapter? How grasshoppers play music; where their ears are; where crickets and katydids ears are p.87

Chapter 25

  1. Summarize what James learned in this chapter? How each of his insect friends helped the world p.89

Chapter 26

  1. How did James help Centipede in this chapter? He saved him; the centipede fell over the edge of the peach into the water and James asked Silkworm to spin rope and went in after him p.95

Chapter 27

  1. Should Centipede call people names? Why, or why not? Listen to your child's answer
  2. What was the consequence of him calling the Cloud-Men names? they threw hail stones to hit the peach p.104

Chapter 28

  1. What danger were the friends in this chapter? The Cloud-Men saw them and threw whatever they could at them p.112

Chapter 29

  1. Why is Centipede upset in this chapter? The Cloud-Men hit him with paint and he was stuck p.113

Chapter 30

  1. What freed Centipede? The Cloud-Men dumped water on them and it washed the paint off p.118

Chapter 31

  1. What did the author say the weather is a result of? The Cloud-Men working their sinister magic upon the world below p.120

Chapter 32

  1. What’s James’s plan to get the peach down to the earth? Cut a few of the strings holding the peach p.122

Chapter 33

  1. What did the people in America think the peach was? A bomb p.123

Chapter 34

  1. Why did the friends think they were going to die? An airplane came through the air and sliced through every string holding the peach p.126

Chapter 35

  1. Summarize this chapter. People in the city thought they were going to die along with those in the peach p.127

Chapter 36

  1. What saved the peach? It fell onto the Empire State Building p.128

Chapter 37

  1. What helped the fire fighters and police officers not be afraid of the creatures in the peach? James spoke up for them p.134

Chapter 38

  1. Why was James so happy in this chapter? 10,000 Children asked if they could try the peach; he’d never seen so many children in his life p.141

Chapter 39

  1. Summarize the conclusion of this story. It describes what happens to each of the creatures and James; James was so happy to have so many children who wanted to meet him and hear his story p.145
  2. What is a theme of this story? Explain. Courage and friendship; James and the insects become friends that take care of each other and help each other

Comprehension Questions – Stuart Little

Stuart Little

by E.B. White

Grades 4-5; Genre – Fiction; GRL R; AR pts: 3.0

"When Mrs. Frederick C. Little's second son arrived, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse. The truth of the matter was, the baby looked very much like a mouse in every way." So begins E.B. White's tale of a sensitive, erudite mouse that is somehow born to a family of humans.

Vocabulary

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Stuart. He is a two-inch tall human boy that has a mouse's sharp nose, whiskers and tail; he's born to a human family p.1
  2. Why is it concerning that Stuart wasn't gaining very much weight? He only gained a third of an ounce and it is important for babies to gain weight to show that they are thriving and growing in healthy ways p.3
  3. How did Stuart serve and help his mom in this chapter? To find her ring p.4
  4. How did the family feel when Stuart recovered the ring? That he was “awfully good” p.6

Chapter 2

  1. How did Stuart help around the house? Retrieving ping-pong balls, sticky piano keys p.7
  2. Give two examples in this chapter that show that Stuart's family protects and loves him. they tear up the nursery rhyme and change "The Night Before Christmas" words p.9

Chapter 3

  1. Define personification. A literary device that gives humans traits, emotions, or actions to non-human entities - such as animals, objects, or abstract ideas.
  2. Gives three examples from this chapter of how the author illustrates this literary device. Stuart exercises and touches his toes 10 times; Stuart turns on the light with a long string and turns on the water faucet; animals don't exhibit these behaviors p.13

Chapter 4

  1. Compare and contrast Stuart and Snowbell. Similarities: They are both part of the Little household, they are both small creatures living in a large human world, interact with humans and have human feelings; Contrast: Stuart is noble, adventurous, helpful; Snowbell is selfish, manipulative, jealous; Stuart is the hero and Snowbell is the villain; Stuart takes responsibility and solves problems and Snowbell causes problems p.18

Chapter 5

  1. What did George want to do to find Stuart? Rip up the floor p.21
  2. What did they end up doing? All called together and waited to hear his answer p.22
  3. Why did George pull down the shades? To respect Stuart who was “dead” p.25

Chapter 6

  1. Why is Stuart taking a risk when he goes outside? He is so small and vulnerable that cats, dogs, cars, etc. put him in danger p.27
  2. How did Stuart step up onto a bus? He held onto a man’s pants p.28
  3. What boat did Stuart want to sail on and beat? The Wasp, The Lillian B. Womarth  p.33

Chapter 7

  1. What accident happened at the beginning of the race? The policeman fell into the water p.38
  2. What did the policeman cause? A big wave pg 39
  3. What caused the crash between the boats? A paper bag p.43
  4. Why did Stuart win? He sailed the Wasp “straight and true” p.45

Chapter 8

  1. How did Stuart catch bronchitis? He got locked in the refrigerator p.47
  2. What did Stuart do for Margalo? Take her temperature p.52
  3. What did Stuart do to Snowbell’s ear? Shoot it with an arrow p.55

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Stuart jump into the garbage can? To avoid the Irish Terrier p.57
  2. Where was the garbage truck going? To dump the load on the scow p.60
  3. Why was Stuart sad that he might die? He would miss his home p.61

Chapter 10

  1. What did the Angora cat tell Snowbell? You have more self-control than me p.69
  2. Who overheard the plot to kill Margalo? The pigeon p.71
  3. What did Margalo do when she read the note? Fly away p.71

Chapter 11

  1. Why did Stuart run away from home? To look for Margalo p.73
  2. Who did he go see for advice? Dr. Carey p.75
  3. Why wouldn’t Stuart’s car attract attention? It was invisible p.79

Chapter 12

  1. Why were the scholars delighted at #7 School? They would have a substitute for Mrs. Gunderson p.87
  2. What would be a fine law? Absolutely no being mean p.94
  3. Is this a realistic law? Why or why not? Explain. Listen to your child's answer

Chapter 13

  1. What is sarsaparilla? It's a drink made from a tropical, woody vine that has medicinal properties and is found in South America, Jamaica, and Mexico p.102
  2. Why did the storekeeper want Stuart to meet Harriet Ames? They were similar size and he thought they would have a lot in common; He thought they might like each other in a romantic way; Hopefully, they could be friends and support each other p.103

Chapter 14

  1. What was the conclusion to the date? Never happened; Stuart was too discouraged that his boat was ruined to go with Harriet, he never saw her again p.124
  2. Have you ever had plans that got ruined by someone else? Explain. Listen to your child's answer

Chapter 15

  1. What is a theme of this story? Example: Stuart Little has many physical limitations, but learns to overcome them
  2. What did you like about this story? Listen to your child's answer

Comprehension Questions – Stone Fox

Stone Fox

By John Reynolds Gardiner

Grades 4-5; Genre - Fiction; GRL P; AR pts: 1.0

Grandfather is sick and ten year old Little Willie is left to care for the farm and find a way to pay the taxes.  His only hope to keep the farm is to win a dog sled race, but the legendary dog sled racer, Stone Fox, has also entered the race.  Continue reading →