Tag Archives: Humorous

Comprehension Questions – The BFG

The BFG

by Roald Dahl

Grades 5-6; Genre - Fantasy; GRL U; AR pts. 6.0

Kidsnatched from her orphange by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), who spends his life blowing happy dreams to children, Sophie concocts a plan with him to save the world from nine other man-gobbling cannybull giants.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Sophie. She’s an orphan; isn’t supposed to get out of bed but she did to close the curtain; couldn’t sleep; curious and looked out the window p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Describe the thing Sophie saw. Very tall human like person that walked in the shadows, peeking in the second story windows; pale wrinkly face with huge ears, fierce and devilish eyes, wearing a black cloak and carried a thin trumpet p.14

Chapter 3

  1. Predict what will happen to Sophie. Listen to your child’s answer p.21

Chapter 4

  1. Describe the cave. The giant’s home; a gigantic rock blocks the opening; pitch black until the giant lit a light; gigantic with a high rocky roof; shelves on the walls filled with glass jars; a 12 foot table and chairs to match p.22

Chapter 5

  1. What good news did Sophie hear in this chapter? The giant who captured her doesn’t eat humans p.34

Chapter 6

  1. What did Sophie learn about giants in this chapter? They travel every night and eat humans p.40

Chapter 7

  1. What can the BFG hear with his marvelous ears? Dreams; plants, trees, spiders, butterflies, etc. p.50

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize this chapter. The BFG pulled out some food that he and Sophie thought was disgusting; giants aren’t born, they just appear and are only men; Sophie complimented the BFG and how he talks; he said he wouldn’t steal vegetables from gardens p.54

Chapter 9

  1. How is Sophie clever in this chapter? She hid from the Bloodbottler in the snozzcumber p.65

Chapter 10

  1. Describe frobscottle. A green fizzy drink; the bubbles go down instead of up; delicious; causes whizzpoppers (flatulence) p.72

Chapter 11

  1. Did the BFG have a good argument on page 91? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 12

  1. Describe how the BFG captures dreams? He uses his net like a butterfly net, puts them in jars with lids p.94
  2. Why is the BFG so excited and then so upset in this chapter? He’d caught a wonderful dream, but then he caught a nightmare p.96

Chapter 13

  1. How did the BFG put the nightmare to good use? He gave it to Fleshlumpeater; he dreamt of Jack the Giant Killer p.107
  2. Why did Sophie smile that Fleshlumpeater thought the beanstalk killed giants? Jack used the beanstalk to climb up to the world of giants, not as a weapon to kill them p.108

Chapter 14

  1. Summarize one of the dreams the BFG has captured. P.120-131
  2. How has the BFG learned to write? He borrowed a human’s book p.131
  3. Predict how Sophie and the BFG will stop the other giants from eating children in England. Listen to your child’s answer p.133

Chapter 15

  1. Were you correct in your prediction? Listen to your child’s answer 
  2. Describe Sophie’s plan. The BFG will mix a dream for the Queen of England; Sophie will be on her windowsill and when she wakes up, she’ll tell her giants are real; Sophie’s hoping the queen will send her army to defeat the giants p.141

Chapter 16

  1. Why did the dream given to the queen need to be a nightmare? Giants eating children is nightmarish p.151

Chapter 17

  1. Summarize this chapter. Sophie rode in the BFG’s ear to London; they saw the giants as they ran home from their feast and Sophie was resolved to go forward with the plan; Sophie guided the BFG to the palace p.157

Chapter 18

  1. How did Sophie and the BFG find the queen’s room? The BFG can hear the difference between men and women breathing; when they looked in the room, it looked stately and Sophie recognized the queen p.168

Chapter 19

  1. Did Sophie’s plan go as she hoped? Explain. Yes; there was an article in the paper about the children disappearing and bones below the windows that supported her and the BFG p.174

Chapter 20

  1. What did the queen do to verify Sophie’s and the BFG’s story? Called the countries the giants had visited recently p.202

Chapter 21

  1. How did the BFG help solve the issue of finding the giants? He said the soldiers in the helicopters could follow him p.211

Chapter 22

  1. Summarize this chapter. The BFG led the helicopters to the giants’ land; they drove to the sleeping giants and tied them up only waking up one; Sophie stabbed him with her brooch from the queen and the BFG pretended the giant has been bit by a snake and tied him up; they loaded up all the dreams and the helicopters came to pick up the giants p.213

Chapter 23

  1. What did the queen prepare for the giants when the helicopters arrived in London? A large pit they couldn’t climb out of
  2. How did the BFG solve what would be fed the giants? He brought snozzcumbers and snozzcumbers plants to be planted p.237

Chapter 24

  1. What did you like about the conclusion of this story? Listen to your child’s answer p.239

Comprehension Questions – The Chocolate Touch

The Chocolate Touch

by Patrick Skene Catling

Grades 1-6; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts. 2.0

If he could, John Midas would eat nothing but chocolate all the time, and he'd never share it with anyone. Then one day, John finds a strange coin on the sidewalk and uses it to buy a box of chocolate at a mysterious new candy store.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe John. A boy who loves candy more han any other food and loves chocolate more than any candy p.13
  2. How did John’s candy habits affect his mother? Because he ate so much candy, he doesn’t eat the food she makes; she worries about his health p.20

Chapter 2

  1. What did John do to show he was excited to eat his chocolate? Got ready for bed quickly, drank his tonic without complaint, went to bed early p.31

Chapter 3

  1. Describe what happened to John in this chapter. Why? Whatever he put into his mouth turned into chocolate; the chocolate he ate was magic p.36

Chapter 4

  1. How did John make Susan sad? He bit into her silver dollar and the part he bit turned chocolate p.54

Chapter 5

  1. Why did John think the magic was getting stronger? The entire pencil John held turned to chocolate after just one bite; entire objects are turning to chocolate p.60

Chapter 6

  1. Why is Susan ignoring John? She’s mad at him for eating her silver dollar p.67

Chapter 7

  1. Why is John craving healthy food? He’s tired of only tasting chocolate p.76

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize this chapter. John had a solo in the orchestra, but when he played his trumpet it turned to chocolate p.87

Chapter 9

  1. What made John change his mind and go to the party? Mrs. Buttercup came to pick him up p.94

chapter 10

  1. What did John find when he looked for the candy store? It wasn’t there p.103

Chapter 11

  1. Who gave John the chocolate touch? Why? the store owner; to help him be selfless instead of selfish p.118

Chapter 12

  1. Did John learn his lesson? Why or why not? Yes; he cared more for others than himself at the end of the story p.122

Comprehension Questions – Hank the Cowdog#3 It’s a Dog’s Life

By John R. Erickson

Grades 4-6; Genre - Fiction; 720L; AR pts: 3.0

Summary by Marcus Schlairet Russ (11 yrs old)

Have you ever wanted to get back at someone? Hank’s sister, Maggie, does in this story.

In the beginning, Hank gets in trouble because he messes up Sally May’s house. He was investigating something, Pete, the Barncat, told Drover.

Then, he ran away to visit his sister, Maggie. She tricked him into eating a bar of soap because he pushed her into the sewer when they were puppies.

In the end, the dogcatcher put him in the pound for rabies, because he was foaming at the mouth. He escaped and went home. He got revenge on Pete scaring him into the water trough.

You will laugh when you read about Hank’s adventures and eating the bar of soap. I know I did!

Comprehension Questions (written by Steven Schlairet)

Chapter 1

  1. What did Hank send Drover to do? Bark at the mailman. Pg. 2.
  2. Why did Hank say he had fleas? Because Loper only bought him 1 gunny sack a year. Pg. 4.
  3. Why did Hank say cowdogs barked at mailmen? Because they always did. Pg. 7.
  4. What news did Drover hear? It was the end of the world. Pg. 9.

Chapter 2

  1. What did Hank think was wrong with Pete? He swallowed a chicken bone. Pg. 11
  2. Why did Pete think it was the end of the world? Cat’s intuition. Pg. 13.
  3. What did they learn from the interrogation of Pete? Sally May wrote on her calendar. Pg. 15.
  4. What was the clicking time bomb? Drover’s chattering teeth. Pg. 16.
  5. How did Hank want to check out the problem? Penetration of the house. Pg. 18.

Chapter 3

  1. What did Hank think smelled like a skunk? Loper’s boots. Pg. 25.
  2. What did Hank find on the table? 3 T-bone steaks. Pg. 29.
  3. Why did Drover call “mayday!”? Because Sally May came home. Pg. 29.

Chapter 4

  1. What did Hank do when Sally May caught him? Knocked the jelly jar off the table. Pg. 31.
  2. Did Hank think it was his fault? No. The cowboys had plenty to eat. Pg. 34.
  3. What did Hank think of cat’s cleaning? Dirty from spit; not clean from the sewer. Pg. 37.
  4. Why was Hank going to leave to visit his sister? Let it blow over. Pg. 39.

Chapter 5

  1. Who did Hank meet playing the banjo and singing? Junior. Pg. 45.
  2. What did Hank teach Junior about singing? How to howl. Pg. 48.
  3. Who joined them in singing? Rip and Snort. Pg. 50

Chapter 6

  1. What was the clothes’ line pole with a shoe? A woman’s leg. Pg. 57.
  2. What did Maggie smell? Hank’s smell from the sewer. Pg. 59.
  3. Did Maggie want Hank to stay? No. Pg. 61.
  4. Why did Hank stay? To tell the kids stories. Pg. 63.

Chapter 7

  1. What did Maggie want to be called? Margaret; she didn’t like nick names. Pg. 65.
  2. What did Hank teach them first? To dig under the fence. Pg. 68.
  3. What did they eat from the garbage? A bunch of fish heads. Pg. 70.
  4. Who made fun of the pups? A cat on the fence. Pg. 72.

Chapter 8

  1. What does urchins mean? A mischievous child poorly dressed. Pg.74.
  2. What do the cats do? Sing a song mocking the dogs. Pg. 76.
  3. What do the dogs do back? Sing a song mocking the cats. Pg. 77.
  4. What do the dogs finally do? Start barking. Pg. 81.
  5. Who arrives after the neighbors get upset? The city dogcatcher. Pg. 83.

Chapter 9

  1. What is the bullet that Hank dodged? Getting his siter’s kids thrown in the pound. Pg. 84.
  2. What does Hank tell Maggie he did with the kids? They were just singing. Pg. 85.
  3. What does Maggie give Hank to eat? An Ivory Dog Bar. Pg. 89.
  4. Why did she give it to Hank? He pushed her into the sewer and she cried. Pg. 92.
  5. Why did the dogcatcher take Hank? He thought he was rabid. Pg. 95.

Chapter 10

  1. What did the dogcatcher do to Hank in the cage? Poke him with a stick. Pg. 99.
  2. What did the dogcatcher say about Hank? He tried to attack a child. Pg. 99.
  3. What test would they run on Hank? Cut off his head to check for rabies. Pg. 100.
  4. What did Ralph keep doing? Falling asleep. Pg. 106.

Chapter 11

  1. Did Hank believe his sister gave him soap on purpose? No. Pg. 108.
  2. What happened when Hank rammed the cell door? He passed out. Pg. 110.
  3. How did Ralph get in Hank’s cell? He just opened the latch. Pg. 110.

Chapter 12

  1. What else did the dogcatcher do besides chase hank? He started shooting at him. Pg. 116.
  2. What was Hank’s plan? To run around the Waterhole until Jimmy Joe ran out of gas. Pg. 117.
  3. Who drove Hank back to the ranch? Slim. Pg. 120.
  4. How did Hank get back at Pete? Shoved him into the water trough. Pg. 125.

Expressions used in the Story

Dodge a bullet.  Pg. 84

Mum’s the Word. Pg. 85.

Spill the beans. Pg. 87.

Toss your cookies. Pg. 94.

Comprehension Questions – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Barbara Robinson

Grades 4-6; Genre - Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 2.0

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. How does the author describe the Herdmans? the worst kids in the history of the world p.2
  2. How did the Herdmans burn down the toolshed? Leroy Herdman stole a chemistry set and they were trying it out p.3
  3. Why did Imogene write down everyone’s weight? So she could blackmail them p.14
  4. Why is Gladys the meanest Herdman? Each Herdman child taught the one younger than them everything they knew and Gladys was the youngest p.19

Chapter 2

  1. How does the author’s family feel about the Christmas Pageant? They don’t like it; it’s the same every year p.20
  2. Why did the author’s mother get put in charge of the Christmas Pageant? The woman who usually did it, Mrs. Armstrong, broke her leg p.23
  3. What did Charlie say that made the Herdmans want to attend Sunday School? That he can get all the dessert he wants there p.29
  4. How did Imogene act when told the pageant was about Jesus Christ? Uninterested p.33

Chapter 3

  1. Who volunteered to act in all the important roles of the pageant? All the Herdman kids p.41
  2. How was everyone feeling about the Herdmans taking over the pageant? They didn’t like it p.47
  3. Who motivated Mother to make this the best Christmas Pageant ever? Mrs. Armstrong p.51
  4. What did the minister say to those who complained to him? That Jesus said “suffer the little children to come unto me” and Jesus meant all the little children including the Herdmans p.51

Chapter 4

  1. Why hadn’t the Herdmans heard of the Christmas story before? They hadn’t ever been to church and their parents hadn’t taught them p.55
  2. How did the Herdmans react when Mother was telling them the story? They were interested and shocked p.57
  3. How did the kids feel about King Herod? They were really interested in him p.66

Chapter 5

  1. How did the Herdmans learn about King Herod? They went to the library p.71
  2. Name two things the Herdmans have done that have made Alice upset? Drank the communion wine, stole crayons from the Sunday School cupboards, stole pennies out of the Happy Birthday bank, and smoked cigars in the bathroom p.74
  3. Why was it difficult to get a baby for the pageant? No one wanted Imogene, who was playing Mary, to touch their babies p.79

Chapter 6

  1. Who pierced Imogene’s ears? Gladys p.85
  2. Why was the fire department called? Someone saw smoke in the bathroom when Imogene was smoking p.89
  3. Why was Reverend Hopkins worried no one would come see the pageant? Because of the Herdmans were in it and they always caused trouble p.93

Chapter 7

  1. What did the Herdmans bring for their gift to the baby Jesus? Their ham p.100
  2. Why did Imogene cry during the song Silent Night? She felt the spirit of birth of the Savior p.104
  3. What made this pageant the best one? The Herdmans p.104
  4. Why didn’t the Herdmans take back the ham? It was their true sacrifice to the baby Jesus p.106