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Comprehension Questions- Ruby Holler

Ruby Holler

by Sharon Creech

Grades 6-8; Genre - Fiction; GRL V ; AR pts: 6.0

"Trouble Twins" Dallas and Florida are orphans who have given up believing there is such a thing as a loving home. Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric older couple who live in the beautiful, mysterious Ruby Holler, but they're restless for one more big adventure. When they invite the twins to join them on their journeys, they first linger in the Holler to prepare for their adventures, and the magic of the place takes over. Two pairs of lives grow closer, and are changed forever.

Vocabulary Words- Ruby Holler

Comprehension Questions

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What did the silver bird that Dallas saw out the window represent? A good luck charm p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Tell me about the city of Boxton.   Tired town; neglected; old homes and shacks clustered around stores and buildings p.4
  2. Describe Dallas and Florida. They’re twins; oldest children in the children’s home; tall; dark haired; dark-eyed; sturdy frames and looked rough and unkempt  p. 5
  3. Find a simile in this chapter.  Mr. and Mrs. Trepid were middle-aged, cranky and tired, and growing stiff and cold as winter-bound trees p. 5; Mr. Putrid walks like a crab scuttling across the ocean floor; the main building pgs.4-11
  4. What was the Boxton Creek Home for Children? An orphanage p. 8
  5. What did Dallas and Florida plan to do one night to escape? Jump on a freight train and ride out of town p.11

Chapter 3

  1. What do you think of the small gray bird that landed on the railing listening to the couple talk about moving?  It looked as if it were listening; it was the same silver bird Dallas saw out the window p.13

Chapter 4

  1. Why was Florida getting in trouble while eating dinner? She was talking; waving; being sassy p.15
  2. Why does Florida get upset when she thinks about the Hoppers? She felt that she and Dallas had been very bad at their home and would never be in a real family p.19
  3. How did Dallas comfort Florida from her bad dreams? Talked to her about the beautiful place they would go. P.20

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Dallas dream of beautiful green and sunny places? To comfort himself from bad memories p.22
  2. Why did Florida call the woman walking by the children’s home, “mother”? the woman had hair like Florida’s p.23

Chapter 6

  1. Why didn’t Florida want to go to a “foster place”? because they’d had bad experiences and were always brought back p.26
  2. What’s the opportunity Mr. and Mrs. T want to give the twins? One would go to Kangadoon and one would go to Rutabago and split up for three months to be a companion for an older couple p.29

Chapter 7

  1. Why was Florida hesitant to go on vacation to Rutabago? She felt like this couple would be just like every other couple and she didn’t want to be separated from Dallas p.33

Chapter 8

  1. How did Dallas feel about Ruby Holler? So excited; thought it was amazing p.36
  2. Why was Sairy apologetic about the sleeping arrangements? Because Dallas and Florida would have to sleep in the same room/loft p.37
  3. Tell me about Florida’s reaction to the Morey’s and her experience so far at their home? She keeps expecting the worst; being locked in a cupboard, having to dig a well, etc.  p.39

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Tiller want to send the twins back to the children’s home? Because he thought Sairy and he should go on each other’s vacations instead of have the kids go with them p.42

Chapter 10

  1. Why did Florida feel uneasy when Dallas asked her questions about who they were or about their future? She felt as if they had no control over who they were or their future p.44
  2. What happened to the tiny blue egg Florida found outside? She held it too tight and it cracked p.45

Chapter 11

  1. Why was Sairy so full of energy? She was happy to have the kids around p. 49
  2. Why was Tiller grumpy? He hadn’t found a way to tell Sairy he wanted her to come on the trip with him p. 49

Chapter 12

  1. Why was Florida ready to work on the boat day and night to fix it? Tiller was going to pay her $5 an hour p.52
  2. What was Dallas so excited about when he and Sairy started to plan their trip? They were going to buy new stuff p.53

Chapter 13

  1. How did Tiller help Florida feel better about the mistakes she’d made the day before with the varnish? He told her about the day he got red paint on the cat, chicken and pig p.59
  2. How did Florida continue to make Tiller think he’d been tricked? She made him talk about old stuff p.61
  3. Name some of the creative meals the Morey’s made to help them get used to their kids being gone. Getting-over-kid -stew; beat-the-blues broccoli; anti cranky crumpets p.66

Chapter 14

  1. How did Sairy react when Dallas and Florida broke the wooden bird and wooden boat? She said they would fix them later p.70
  2. What does Sairy mean, when said, “we find those just about everywhere. We pick the ones that speak to us”? She and Tiller choose to whittle something out of a stick by just knowing something can be made with it p.71

Chapter 15

  1. Who do you think the man with the gold tooth is that met another man behind the Boxton Creek Home?  Whatever ideas your child comes up with P.74
  2. Who told Sairy that the Trepids call Dallas and Florida trouble twins? A lady named Grace p.76
  3. Why is the valley they’re in called Ruby Holler? In the fall the maple tree leaves turn a scarlet red p.78

Chapter 16

  1. What does it mean to “lose your marbles”? not be thinking straight; going crazy p.81
  2. What two things did Dallas and Florida do that tested Sairy and Tiller’s patience? Chopped down Tiller’s favorite maple tree and chopped a hole in the barn wall p.83
  3. How did Sairy respond to Florida when she said she and Dallas were going to go?  She said they were just surprised and that it had been a long time since someone had done something so thoughtful p.85

Chapter 17

  1. What piece of furniture had Florida never seen before? A rocking chair p.87

Chapter 18

  1. How did the baby respond to Mrs. Trepid? The baby stiffened and stared wide eyed at her p.92
  2. What did Dallas do for Joey when he was sick? Put a cool clothe on his forehead; watched over him; spoke to him; breathed into Joey’s mouth p.94
  3. What had happened to Joey? He died  p.94

Chapter 19

  1. Where do Sairy and Tiller keep their money? They’ve buried them in holes in the ground p.98
  2. After Tiller and Sairy leave to go to their “private banks”, what do Florida and Dallas want to do? Follow them p.100

Chapter 20

  1. When had Tiller and Sairy finally shared with each other where their hiding places for their “banks” were? on their 60th birthdays. P.102

Chapter 21

  1. What did Tiller and Sairy do while they waited for Dallas and Florida to come back? Whittled p. 103
  2. Why didn’t Tiller want Sairy talking about their understone funds? It was too much temptation for kids who had so little p.109
  3. Why did Florida change her mind and not want to know where the money is? She remembered her experience at the Hoppers and that money is trouble p.110
  4. What did Dallas want to do with their money? Bury it as well p.111

Chapter 22

  1. How did the twins feel when Sairy said she needed to go to the children’s home to talk to the Trepids? they didn’t want to go back and were worried about getting thrown into a cobwebby room p.114
  2. What did Dallas and Florida tell Mr. Trepid that they probably should have? They told him about the understone funds p.116
  3. What is a passport? A document that lets you travel out of your country p.118

Chapter 23

  1. When Dallas and Florida were getting ready to catch the train, why did they want to leave money for the Morey’s? because they bought them new things p.121
  2. Why was Sairy concerned about the passport? The birthday didn’t match the day Dallas said his birthday was p.123
  3. What do you think “hit the grit” means? Left them; hit the road p.125

Chapter 24

  1. Where did Sairy go to college? New York City p.130
  2. What made Sairy move back to Ruby Holler when she was in New York City? Tiller wrote a postcard to her every week about the holler and she missed it p. 131
  3. What does Sairy wonder as she looks at a photo of her younger self? Who are you? p.132

Chapter 25

  1. Why do you think the holler felt so dark to Dallas and Florida? They had never been in the holler at night before alone; they also had only been in the city with lights around them at night p.133
  2. Why did Florida and Dallas decide to stop and pull out their sleeping bags and sleep for a few hours? They wanted to wait until there was a tiny bit of light from the sun to help them know where they were. P.138
  3. What nickname does Florida call Dallas all of the time?  Mr. Boss p.142
  4. Why did Dallas and Florida put ants, snakes, spiders and a frog into the Burgerton boys’ beds? Because they were getting blamed for things they hadn’t done and they might as well do something to get blamed p.144

Chapter 26

  1. Who is Z? Someone who worked for Mr. Trepid wanted p.145
  2. What’s the first part of the project Mr. Trepid needed Z to do in the holler? Find out when the Morey’s are leaving p.146

Chapter 27

  1. When Florida and Dallas climbed out of the sleeping bags, what did they smell? Bacon p.149
  2. Why do you think Sairy and Tiller were out cooking bacon over a fire in the morning? They found Florida and Dallas sleeping out trying to run away and came to them with the compliment of what a good idea it was to try out the equipment before their trips. P.151
  3. What was Tiller worried the kids had snuck out to get? Their money p.155

Chapter 28

  1. When the twins were babies, why were they never placed in a home? Mrs. Trepid would always keep them hidden and when someone saw them, she told them they were already taken, because she wanted them for herself p.158
  2. What made Mrs. Trepid change her mind about the twins? They would howl and squirm; she didn’t have patience for them p. 159
  3. How was Mrs. Trepid feeling about children now? She didn’t know she could live through more children p.160

Chapter 29

  1. What’s the promise Dallas and Florida made to each other? To never split up p.163

Chapter 30

  1. What was this chapter about? The nightmares Dallas, Florida, Tiller and Sairy had about their trips p.168

Chapter 31

  1. What was Sairy’s bad-dream medicine? Homemade peach ice cream on waffles p.169
  2. What is a rehearsal? To practice something to make sure you get it right p.170

Chapter 32

  1. Why is the river called Hidden River? It’s not on any maps p.173
  2. Why are there no mosquitos in the holler? The bats eat them p.175
  3. Did Dallas or Sairy know if they were different without Florida or Tiller? Not yet p.178

Chapter 33

  1. What does Mr. Trepid want Z to find? Any special stones p.180
  2. Why was Mrs. Trepid so happy to get away from children’s home? She’s tired of children p.183

Chapter 34

  1. How did Sairy respond to the way Mr. Dreep treated Dallas and Florida? She said it was criminal p.185

Chapter 35

  1. How is Tiller different from Dallas? Tiller complains a lot like Florida p.189
  2. What were Tiller and Sairy both starting to talk to the kids about as they were on their trips? The different families they were with and how they treated them. P.191

Chapter 36

  1. What do you think, would it be harder to miss a mother you had loved, or miss a mother you had never known? Listen to your child’s ideas P.194

Chapter 37

  1. Why do you think it is good that Dallas is dreamy? He can dream up a really nice future for them and helps make things positive when they’re scary and dark p.196

Chapter 38

  1. Why do you think Z wanted to stall Trepid? He didn’t want to hurt the Morey’s p.197

Chapter 39

  1. Tell me the times Dallas had cried. After Joey died; sometimes at night at the home p.200
  2. Tell me the story of the piece of wood that Sairy and Tiller both grabbed at the same time. Sairy wanted it but let Tiller have it. He put it on their dresser since he couldn’t decide what to make with it.  He gave her permission to use it but couldn’t get herself to whittle with it. It’s still there now P.201
  3. Why did Sairy and Dallas call themselves worrywarts? They were worrying Tiller and Florida miss them p.205

Chapter 40

  1. How did Florida and Dallas get their names? The box they were in on the porch of the orphanage had travel pamphlets in it and Florida was on one that said “Fly to Florida” and Dallas was on the one that said “Destination: Dallas” p.210
  2. What helped Florida be able to whittle? Not paying any attention to what she was whittling p.211

Chapter 41

  1. Explain what putting something on layaway means. Have the store hold it for you, then you pay a little each month until it’s all paid for, then you get to take it home. P.214
  2. Why do you think Mr. Trepid was in the dealership looking at cars? He wanted to buy one  P.217
  3. What was this chapter about? Mr. and  Mrs. Trepid thinking about the investments Mr. Trepid was going to receive and what they could do with the money. P.217

Chapter 42

  1. Why was Dallas mad if the Trepids didn’t tell him when his real birthday was? A person should know when their birthday was p.219

Chapter 43

  1. Why doesn’t Tiller get mad when Florida goofs up? He’s too old to get mad or what she considers goofs aren’t what he considers goofs p.222
  2. What do you think Tiller meant when he said it was interesting having Dallas and Florida in Ruby Holler?  Good or bad- let your child give their opinion. P.223

Chapter 44

  1. Was Mr. Trepid happy with the report Z gave him? No, because Z said he wasn’t done yet p.225

Chapter 45

  1. Tell me what happened when the boat hit the rock? It tipped over and Tiller and Florida went in the water and got pushed under. P.228

Chapter 46

  1. What did Z put into his sack? Sairy’s bank box p.230
  2. If he can also find Tiller’s box, what do you think he’s going to do with them? Listen to your child’s ideas P.230

Chapter 47

  1. How did Dallas know that Florida was in trouble? He had a bad feeling inside p.231

Chapter 48

  1. What were the Trepids doing in the jewelry store? Looking at a necklace and watch they would like p.232

Chapter 49

  1. Why was Tiller regretting that he and Florida weren’t wearing their life jackets? She couldn’t swim and they would have been keeping them afloat at that time instead of being pushed under the water. P.239

Chapter 50

  1. Who helped Sairy and Dallas find their way out of the woods? Two boys hunting a deer p.245
  2. Do you think it was a good idea for Sairy and Dallas to leave their backpacks with the two boys? No, they might steal their stuff p.246

Chapter 51

  1. Who lived in the cabin at the far side of the holler? Z p.247
  2. What two confessions did he need to make to Sairy? He was the one who got Dallas’s passport & that the twins could be his kids p.249
  3. What was the form Z read that told him the twins could be his? Hospital record p.249

Chapter 52

  1. What happened to Florida in this chapter? She found a log and was able to stay afloat as she called out for Tiller p.252

Chapter 53

  1. When Sairy and Dallas couldn’t find the diner the boys pointed them to, what did they realize and do? They realized the boys lied and stole their packs and decided to keep hiking to find a town p.253
  2. What did Dallas finally spot? A farm p.256

Chapter 54

  1. Why was Tiller holding his chest? It felt tight p.256
  2. What did Tiller think about as he was underwater? Rose his daughter and Sairy p.258

Chapter 55

  1. What did Z end up doing with the understone funds? He kept them for safe keeping p.261
  2. What did the person who went to Kangadoon get? Malaria p.263

Chapter 56

  1. Why do you think Florida was mad at Tiller for not saving her from the river? Because he was supposed to protect her and keep her safe p.265
  2. How did Florida save Tiller? Tied a rope to a tree and held on to it as she walked out to where he was p.265
  3. What does Florida mean instead of “artificial perspiration”? Artificial Respiration p.266
  4. What do you think Tiller means when he says he has a “soggy heart”? He’s having a heart attack p.267

Chapter 57

  1. Why did Z feel when Dallas asked him when the doctors were going to tell them about Tiller? Responsible, important p.269

Chapter 58

  1. Who do you think the be-nice-to-orphans brownies are for? Mr. Trepid p.272
  2. What was Mr. Trepid going to do with the Ruby Holler treasure map? Try and find Sairy and Tiller’s understone funds p.274

Chapter 59

  1. How did Mrs. Trepid feel about Mr. Trepid leaving her alone with the kids for the day?  Unhappy; mad; p.275

Chapter 60

  1. What did Sairy and Tiller discuss in this chapter? Boxton Creek Home; all of the families Dallas and Florida went to; what Z wanted to talk to Tiller about; the Trepid’s coming p.278

Chapter 61

  1. What did Mr. Trepid take with him to Ruby Holler? Shovel, trowel, sack, map p.283
  2. What are some things Mr. Trepid found while digging? Brownies; lizards; mash blackberries; stinging nettles; mousetrap; leaves & berries; etc. p.284

Chapter 62

  1. Where was Mr. Trepid going to take the gems to be appraised? The jeweler he went to look at the watch p.289

Chapter 63

  1. What does it mean to get pictures developed? Get them printed so you have the actual picture p.292
  2. How much did the jewels cost that Mr. Trepid found? $1.99 p.292
  3. What was Florida worried about at the end of the chapter? That Sairy and Tiller were going to get rid of them p.293

Chapter 64

  1. Where did Mr. Trepid test drive the new Cadillac to? The jewelry store p.295
  2. How did the salesman react toward Mr. Trepid when he saw the fake gems on the counter? Polite; stared at them and cleared his throat; asked if he could talk to his manager; chewed on his lip p.297

Chapter 65

  1. Why did Dallas begin packing up his things? He thought Sairy and Tiller were going to take them back to the home p.300
  2. How did Florida feel about leaving now? She didn’t want to; she wanted to say good-bye p.301
  3. Why was Sairy hesitant to keep the twins? She didn’t know if staying in the holler was the best thing for them p.303

Chapter 66

  1. Why didn’t Florida want to leave Ruby Holler? She liked it there; The Morey’s were the nicest couple so far; who would help out with things around the farm while Tiller was getting back his strength. P.307
  2. What were Dallas and Florida hoping would happen when they fell asleep in the fort made by trees? That Sairy and Tiller would find them like last time. P.309
  3. How did Dallas and Florida know that Sairy and Tiller found them? When they woke up, they smelled bacon p.310

Comprehension Questions- The Tiger Rising

The Tiger Rising

by Kate DiCamillo

Grades 5-7; Genre - Fiction; GRL T; AR pts: 3.0

Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger — a real-life, very large tiger — pacing back and forth in a cage. What's more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things — like memories, and heartaches, and tigers — can't be locked up forever.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. How did Rob's dad rip his clothes?  slapping Rob to make him stop crying  p.3
  2. Name two of Rob's "not-thoughts".  his mom's death, rash, the Threemonger brothers) p.3

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Billy and Norton.  boys who ride the bus with Rob; they were bullies to Rob; had bad breath;  p.5
  2. What does Mr. Nelson, the bus driver, do as Billy and Norton bully Rob?  nothing; whistles a tuneless song ignoring the situation p.6
  3. What gives Rob the strength to not-cry when the boys bully him on the bus? He had the extra power of the tiger with him  p.6

Chapter 3

  1. What did Rob think of Sistine?  she's strange p.8
  2. Where did the name "Sistine" come from? a chapel  p.9
  3. Describe Sistine.  wore pink lacy dress; gravelly, deep, clipped, sharp voice; sharp nose and chin; black black eyes; didn't seem bothered by the boys; confident  p.9

Chapter 4

  1. Why does Rob want to whittle the tiger? his mother taught him how to whittle and it makes stuff come alive  p.12
  2. What is Sistine's attitude toward Robert? hate's him p.12

Chapter 5

  1. Why is Mr. Phelmer, the principal, worried about Rob's legs?  parents of the other students think his rash might be contagious  p. 15
  2. Why is Rob's heart singing when the principal tells him he should stay home for a few days for the medicine to work?  he doesn't have to go to school; he can see the tiger; he can begin to whittle the tiger into wood  p.17

Chapter 6

  1. Why didn't Rob yell at Sistine to run when kids were throwing objects at her?  he knew if he did he would get bullied as well  p.19
  2. Why did Rob feel a thrill when the children were chasing him after he stopped them from ganging up on Sistine? he was saving Sistine p.21

Chapter 7

  1. What type of figurative language is this an example of? "He opened his mouth and the words fell out, one on top of the other, like gold coins."  simile  p.23
  2. Why did Sistine put her hand on Rob's leg, then rub her hand up and down her own legs?  so she would get the rash and not have to go to school  p.24

Chapter 8

  1. Will anyone catch Rob's sickness?  no p.26
  2. What will Rob do when he is out of school? work with his dad p.27
  3. How did Rob's dad feel about him missing school?  he was ok with it; thought a break from the bullies would do him good; thought it would be good to have Rob help him around the motel  p.27

Chapter 9

  1. Why does Rob not like sunshine? it reminds him of his mom's funeral p.33

Chapter 10

  1. What did Willie May say to Rob that would help him be cured of his rashes?  let the sadness from his mom's death rise up to his heart, not go down to his legs  p.37
  2. What certificate does Rob's principal not have? sense certificate  p.37

Chapter 11

  1. When Sistine had brought Rob his homework the first time, why were her clothes dirty and her knuckles bloody?  she'd been fighting at school  p.40
  2. When Rob told Sistine about the tiger, how did he know he told the right person? The only question she asked was, "where?"  p.41

Chapter 12

  1. Who was the sculptor that painted the Sistine Chapel?  Michelangelo  p.43
  2. How did Rob feel when Sistine called him an artist?  joyful and embarrassed p.43

Chapter 13

  1. How does Sistine get Rob to tell her about his mother? starts to leave and walks away from him p.48

Chapter 14

  1. Why is Sistine upset about the tiger being caged in Florida? it was not running free  p.50-51
  2. Why didn't Rob want to do what Sistine wanted to do and let the tiger free?  It wasn't his tiger to let go p.51
  3. What emotion did Rob feel when he grabbed Sistine's hand and ran away from the car approaching them and the tiger?  happiness  p.52
  4. Why had Rob started to feel happiness again?  he had a friend  p.52

Chapter 15

  1. Why was Rob scolding himself for leaving open his "suitcase"?  now his words, feelings and emotions were out   p.55

Chapter 16

  1. How did Sistine's parents meet?  they were both looking up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and ran into each other.  p.57
  2. Why doesn't Sistine listen to, or respect her mother? she feels like she's a liar  p.60

Chapter 17

  1. What is Willie May's opinion on caged animals?  she wants to let them go p.64
  2. Tell me about the parakeet Willie May got for her birthday.  called him Cricket because he sang all the time; could feel his heart beating in her hand when she held him; let him go since she couldn't stand him being locked up; her dad beat her  p.62

Chapter 18

  1. What special job does Beauchamp want to give Rob?  taking care of the tiger  p.67
  2. What do you think the bloody meat in Beachamp's jeep is for?  to feed the tiger p.68

Chapter 19

  1. How did Beauchamp come into possession of the tiger? a fellow owed him some money and paid him with a tiger  p.70
  2. Why did Beauchamp give the entire set of keys to the tiger cage to Rob? Beauchamp trusted him not to open the door  p.71
  3. What does Rob have that will set the tiger free?  the keys p.73

Chapter 20

  1. When Sistine presses Rob into letting the tiger go, why does he resist? the tiger won't be safe  p.76
  2. Why does Sistine break down crying when Rob won't let the tiger go?  she wants to go live with her dad; she hates it in Florida; she wants to let the tiger go  p.77
  3. How does Rob comfort Sistine when she breaks down crying? put his hand on her neck like his mother used to do to him; told her to cry and that he had a good hold on her p.77

Chapter 21

  1. What does Willie May compare Sistine's anger to?  lightning that was snapping out of her  p.81
  2. What was the advice that Willie May gave to Sistine? no one was going to rescue her; she had to rescue herself  p.82

Chapter 22

  1. When Rob's dad found the rotten meat under his bed, what's a word that would describe how his dad felt? inadequate; frustrated; angry p.83
  2. Why did Rob's father stare at the gun and crack his knuckles after finding the meat?  he was thinking about using it on Beauchamp p.84
  3. What did Rob carve? Willie May's bird, Cricket  p.85

Chapter 23

  1. When Rob put the wooden carving into Willie May's hand, what was her response?  she didn't want to open her eyes for fear she would frighten the wooden bird away; she knew what it was with her eyes closed; soothed her heart  p.88
  2. Why doesn't Willie May have to dream of Cricket anymore?  now she had Rob's carving of her Cricket  p.88

Chapter 24

  1. Why does Rob like Sistine so much?  her voice changes when she sees something beautiful  p.92
  2. When Rob and Sistine first told Willie May about the tiger, what was her reaction?  surprised; shocked; wanted to see the tiger  p.93

Chapter 25

  1. What does Sistine always say when she gets sad, frustrated or doesn't get her way?  she can't wait until her father comes to get her and that he'll set the tiger free; puts the blame on other people by calling them liars  p.95
  2. After Willie May told Rob that she would like to see the tiger "rise on up out of his cage", Rob realized what he had to do.  What do you predict he'll do?  p.97

Chapter 26

  1. When Beauchamp drives up in his jeep toward Sistine and Rob, what does Sistine do that surprises Rob?  smile and sweetly say "Sissy" to Beauchamp  p.100
  2. What is the truth that Rob and Sistine learn about Beauchamp and the tiger?  Beauchamp is scared of the tiger  p.101

Chapter 27

  1. When Rob unlocks the tiger cage, why do they rock it?  so the tiger will leave  p.103
  2. What did the author compare the tiger running away from Rob and Sistine to? he looked like the sun, rising, setting again and again

Chapter 28

  1. What happens to the tiger after the kids let him go?  Rob's dad shoots it p.106
  2. What was a positive outcome to Rob's dad shooting the tiger?  Rob was able to finally tell his father how he feels about his mother being gone and they could talk and cry together  p.106
  3. Why do you think it was important to touch the tiger after Rob's dad had shot it?  helps you mourn, say good-bye and accept what has happened  p.109

Chapter 29

  1. What attended both Rob's mother's and the tiger's funeral?  the sun  p.111
  2. On the way back to the motel after the funeral, Rob felt lighter, as if he had put something heavy down and walked away from it.  Why?  he and his dad had talked; he was able to cry; he felt good about his decision to let the tiger go  p.112

Chapter 30

  1. Why does Rob feel all right about going to school now? Sistine is there p.114
  2. What will Rob carve for Sistine? a tiger  p.116

Comprehension Questions – Peter Pan

Peter Pan

J.M. Barrie (Penguin Classics)

Grades 4-6; Genre - Fantasy; GRL X; AR pts: not listed

A classic and original story of "the boy who would not grow up".

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. When describing Wendy’s mother, it talks about a kiss that Wendy will never get. What does the author mean by this?  It’s a foreshadow of the interchange that Wendy and Peter will have about a thimble and a kiss. Pg. 5
  2. What was Mr. Darling’s career? Traded stocks and shares  pg 6
  3. How did Mrs. Darling “tidy up her children’s minds?” Listen to them while they slept and tried to talk to them  8 & 10
  4. Why was Mrs. Darling so concerned about the leaves in the nursery? She didn’t know how they got there, they weren’t from England pg. 11
  5. Who was the first person to see Peter Pan in the Darling family? Darling  pg. 12

Chapter 2

  1. What does “mea culpa, mea culpa” mean? It’s my fault, it’s my fault p. 15, 228 (explanatory notes)
  2. What is a word you would use to describe Mr. Darling’s behavior after Wendy fetched his medicine, when he said he would take his medicine to show Michael how “to be a man”? Childish, immature, cowardly  19
  3. Why was Mrs. Darling nervous to have Nana outside while they were away at their party? She barking her DANGER bark and was worried about the boy p. 21
  4. Why were Mr. and Mrs. Darling upset and recalling the memories of “the Friday night”? their children were gone and they didn’t know if they’d see them again. P.21

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Peter come into the nursery the night the Darlings left for the party? Did retrieve his shadow p. 23
  2. After Wendy sewed on Peter’s shadow why did she go hide under her covers? Peter took the credit for Wendy’s cleverness of sewing on his shadow  26
  3. Why did Peter give Wendy an acorn, when he “kissed” her after her offer to kiss him? He thought a kiss was giving something small away to someone because Wendy gave him a thimble instead of a kiss p.26
  4. How did the Lost Boys come to be? As babies, they fell out of their perambulators (baby carriages) p. 29
  5. Why did Peter want Wendy, John and Michael to go to Neverland with him? So Wendy could tell stories to the Lost Boys and himself p. 30

Chapter 4

  1. When the children were flying with Peter to Neverland, how did he feed them? Take food away from birds that had food suitable for humans in their mouths  37
  2. Why did Wendy urge her brothers to be nice to Peter as they flew to Neverland? She didn’t want Peter to leave them, she didn’t know the way home, they couldn’t pick up food as well, they bumped into things and Peter helped them out  38
  3. On page 40, how is the sun a good example of personification? The sun was wanting them to reach Neverland before leaving them for the night; protecting; guiding with it’s rays; being a friend p.40
  4. When they were on their tip toes in the air and looking down into Neverland, why were they familiar with the things they were seeing? They had pretended all of those things p.40
  5. When Peter Pan spoke of Captain Hook, why were the children so afraid? Hook was Blackbeard’s first officer and he was the only man Long John Silver (Barbecue) in Treasure Island was scared of  43 & 228

Chapter 5

  1. What happens to Neverland when Peter is away? It goes to sleep, things are quiet p.47
  2. What are the four main groups that inhabit Neverland? Pirates, redskins, beasts, Lost Boys p. 47
  3. Name three of the Lost Boys and one characteristic of each. Tootles-kind, melancholy, humblest of them all; Nibs-happy debonair; Slightly-whistles and most conceited; Curly-he’s a pickle and always in trouble; Twins-apologetic, vague and hard to describe since Peter didn’t know what twins were  48
  4. Describe Mr. Smee. Genial, stabbed without offence, nonconformist p.49
  5. Who is the leader of the redskins or Piccaninny tribe? Princess Tiger Lilly p.50,52
  6. How does Hook know when the crocodile he fears is near? It swallowed a clock and it makes a ticking sound  54
  7. How did the pirates discover the home of the Lost Boys? They sat on the hidden chimney and felt heat p.54
  8. How did the Lost Boys defeat the pack of wolves running toward them? Looked between their legs and flatulated  55

Chapter 6

  1. What saved Wendy when Tootles his her with the arrow? The button on the chain she put around her neck p.59
  2. Why did Slightly leave and pretend to come back as a doctor when Peter told him to fetch a doctor? Peter believed make believe was true and if they broke down in their make believe he would rap them on their knuckles p. 61
  3. When Peter wanted to build Wendy a house and she was lying on the ground with her eyes closed, how do you know she wasn’t still injured? She answered Peter in song, the kind of house she would like  62
  4. How did Wendy feel about being the Lost Boys mother? Delighted  How do you know? She was shining when they asked p.65

Chapter 7

  1. Describe 3 things about the tree house Wendy and her brothers stayed in with Peter and the Lost Boys. It had one large room; the colorful mushrooms used as stools; the Never tree grew every morning in the middle of the floor: they’d put a door on top to make a table and sawed it off after tea time to make room to play; bed tilted by the wall in the day and let down at 6:30: all of the boys slept in it except Michael and was tight they had to give a signal to turn over; enormous fireplace; had a private apartment for Tinker Bell  P.68
  2. What did Wendy do to make sure her brothers wouldn’t forget their mother and father back home when they were living in Neverland?  Give them tests/examinations about them  p. 70

Chapter 8

  1. Why did the mermaids treat Peter differently than Wendy and the boys?  They liked him p.73
  2. After Hook swam aboard in the Mermaid’s Lagoon, why was he melancholy?  He found out Peter and the boys have a mother (Wendy) p.77
  3. When Hook was trying to guess who the voice was, what game did he play with it to figure it out?  20 questions p.80
  4. Why did Hook withdraw in the fight with Peter on the rock?  The crocodile was after him p.82
  5. What made Peter become resolute in surviving his wounds and not drowning on the rock? He realized that dying would be an adventure in itself and he was ready to face that adventure  p.84

Chapter 9

  1. Who tried to save Peter when he was wounded and trapped on the rock? The Never bird p.86
  2. When they couldn’t understand each other’s language, how did Peter and the Never bird treat each other?  With insults, calling names, bad manners  p.84
  3. After Peter was in the nest, why was the Never bird watching him closely? To see what Peter would do with her eggs p.86
  4. What did Peter do with the Never bird’s eggs? Put them in Starkey’s hat and used it for a boat to float upon the water p.87

Chapter 10

  1. Why did the redskins call Peter the Great White Father?  He saved Tiger Lilly from the pirates p.88
  2. How did Tiger Lilly, Wendy and Tinkerbell feel about Peter? They loved him p.94
  3. Give me two examples in which the author prepares the reader for the terrible events that are coming up in the story?  The author called the evening the Night of Nights; Wendy snapping, but wouldn’t have if she knew what was to happen before the night was out; none of them knew, perhaps it best not to know; their ignorance gave them one more glad hour; it was to be their last hour on the island; Peter stayed and sat on the stool and listened to the story;  p.89;93
  4. Why does this author give us hints that something terrible is going to happen in the story?  To help us anticipate it; to build our excitement for the story  p.89;93

Chapter 11

  1. What was Wendy’s story about in this chapter?  Wendy, Peter and John going to Neverland p.96
  2. What made Peter upset about his own mother? He thought she would always leave the window open for him, but when he finally went home, it was barred and another little boy was sleeping in his bed p.98
  3. How did the Lost Boys react when Wendy, John and Michael said they wanted to go home?  Advanced upon her threateningly, wanted to keep her prisoner p.99
  4. How did Tinkerbell feel about Wendy going back home?  Happy, but she didn’t want to take her p. 99

Chapter 12

  1. What time of day did Hook attack the redskins?  Just before dawn; when the sky was grey p.104
  2. What strategy did Captain Hook use to win the battle?  He used the element of surprise  p.105
  3. Who did Hook want to destroy? Peter Pan  p.105
  4. Why did Hook have such a hatred for Peter?  Peter’s cockiness  p.106

Chapter 13

  1. What was Slightly’s secret Hook discovered that betrayed Peter? No boy so big could use a tree wherein an average man could fit, so there was a hide out in a tree under the ground  p.109
  2. What made Hook decide to stay and capture Peter, his enemy? Peter’s impertinent appearance as he slept; Peter’s personification of cockiness p.111
  3. Who drank the poison Hook put in Peter’s medicine cup? Tink p.113
  4. Why did Tink drink the poison? To save Peter; she loved him  p.113

Chapter 14

  1. Hook was haunted by the action of “good form” from his school days. What was it? behaving properly p.117&231
  2. Where on Hook’s ship were the children kept prisoner? In the hold   p.119
  3. When Wendy was brought on deck from the hold and Hook spoke “as if he spoke in syrup”, how would his voice have sounded? Heavy, smooth, sweet  p.120
  4. What stopped Hook immediately, when he was ready to make Wendy watch the boys walk the plank?  The tick-tock of the crocodile  p. 122
  5. Who was really making the ticking sound?  Peter  p.122

Chapter 15

  1. Why was Slightly counting during this chapter?  He was counting the number of people that died after Peter came aboard the ship and went through the process of saving the children p.126
  2. Who is the “doodle-doo” on the ship killing people?  Peter  p.127
  3. Who did Hook send in to fight the doodle-doo?  The children p.127
  4. How did Peter at last defeat Hook?  Pushed him off the ship to the crocodile p.132

Chapter 16

  1. What was the setting of the beginning of this chapter?  The children were aboard the pirate ship, wearing pirate clothes, acting like sailors  p.134
  2. Where was the ship sailing? to the mainland; take the children home p.134
  3. Why did Peter and Tink fly into the room while Mrs. Darling was playing the piano and Mr. Darling was falling asleep in the kennel?  To bar the window to prevent Wendy from returning home  p.139
  4. How did the children finally convince Mrs. Darling they were really back home again and not a  dream? They ran into her arms   p.141

Chapter 17

  1. Why did Mr. Darling treat the Lost Boys unfavorably when they wanted to come live with the Darlings? He felt they only asked for Mrs. Darling’s consent and not his  p.143
  2. How often did Mrs. Darling allow Wendy to go to Neverland? For a week every year and do his spring cleaning  p.145
  3. What happened to Peter’s spring cleaning when Wendy grew up?  Her daughter Jane would go and Jane’s daughter Margaret would go, etc.  p.153

Comprehension Questions – The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Classic Starts)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Classic Starts)

Retold from the Mark Twain original

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

This is a classic story adapted from the full account of Tom Sawyer written by Mark Twain.  In this simplified version children are swept away to the 1800's and the adventures of a young boy about 12 years old.  Even though he's always causing trouble for his aunt and finding some mischief to get into, he ends up being a hero to all. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Ellen Tebbits

Ellen Tebbits

By Beverly Cleary

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

Ellen Tebbits is eight years old and is lonely now that her best friend has moved.  She becomes best friends with the new girl in town, Austine and together they share a secret that no one else knows about.  Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Hatchet

Hatchet

By Gary Paulsen

Grades 5-12; Genre - Fiction; GRL R; AR pts: 7.0

Brian's on his way to visit his father in Canada when the pilot of the small airplane he's in has a heart attack.  Brian spends 54 days out in the Canadian wilderness learning how to survive.  His mother gave him a hatchet before he left and with that, he learned how to make a fire, a bow along with arrows and a spear, as he waited to be rescued.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Where is Brian going?  To visit his dad in Canada   p. 7
  2. Why is Brian not speaking to his mom?  He’s angry at her for causing the divorce/ he knows a secret about her   p. 3
  3. What did Brian’s mom give him on the drive up to the airplane?  A hatchet   p. 8
  4. What happened to the pilot as they flew toward Canada?  He had a heart attack   p. 11
  5. How did Brian know the pilot was having a heart attack?  He had previously seen an elderly man have a heart attack and he was acting the same   p. 11

Chapter 2

  1. What was the response Brian got as he tried to communicate over the radio?  Someone responded, but the transmission was lost and he never got anyone else   p. 19
  2. What were Brian’s two choices as he flew in the plane wondering what to do?  Take the plane down immediately or wait until it ran out of fuel and the plane would go down by force  p. 23
  3. Where did Brian decide would be the best place to land the plane?  on the water  p. 23
  4. What did the airplane do that made Brian realize he had to land the plane?  Coughed and died/ ran out of gas   p. 25   

Chapter 3

  1. Where was Brian able to land the plane?  In an “L” shaped lake   p. 29
  2. What did Brian have to do to make it out of the crashed airplane alive?  Tear off his seat belt, swim through the broken windshield, swim to the surface and swim to shore.   P. 29

Chapter 4

  1. What was the secret Brian knew about his mom?  He saw her with another man in a station wagon and assumed that was the reason for the divorce   p. 32
  2. What attacked Brian as he watched the sun rise?  Mosquitoes and black flies   p. 36
  3. What made the mosquitoes and black flies disappear and leave Brian alone?  Heat from the sun; the sun rising fully   p. 38
  4. How does the forest compare to the city life Brian was used to?  quiet, different colors, insects humming, birds chirping, splashing from the fish   p. 41

Chapter 5

  1. How old is Brian?  13 years old   p. 46
  2. What advice did Brian’s English teacher give him in school?  be motivated, you’re your best asset, stay positive and on top of things,   p. 49
  3. Why didn't Brian think the searchers would find him very quickly?  The pilot  jerked the plane off course when he was having his heart attack   p. 53

Chapter 6

  1. What did Brian decide to use as a shelter?  an overhang in the cliff   p. 57
  2. What food did Brian find to eat?  Tart berries on a bush   p. 63
  3. How did Brian make his shelter safer?  Used sticks to make a wall and closed it off   p. 65

Chapter 7

  1.  When Brian looked in the water at his reflection, how did he feel?  He was frightened   p. 69
  2. Why?  He saw how cut up, bruised, swollen, bleeding he was/ didn’t realize he was in such bad shape   p. 69
  3. What did Brian call the berries that made him sick?  Gut cherries   p. 71
  4. What other kind of berries did Brian find?  Raspberries    p. 73
  5. Why did Brian turn back after running away from the bear?  He realized the bear wasn’t there to hurt him, the bear just wanted the raspberries    p. 75

Chapter 8

  1. Why had the porcupine attacked Brian during the night in the shelter?  Brian scared it; it was protecting itself   p. 81
  2. What did Brian dream of the night he got hurt by the porcupine?  His father and Terry telling him how to make a fire   p. 86
  3. What was Brian able to use to start a fire?  His hatchet and the hard rock   p. 86

Chapter 9

  1. What steps did Brian take to make a fire?  Made sparks from hitting the hatchet against the black rock onto fine kindling, blew gently on it, added small wood pieces and grass, then dried sticks from trees    p. 91
  2. Why do you think Brian felt like the fire was his friend?  It would protect him and help him   p. 92

Chapter 10

  1. What did Brian find at the shore buried in the sand?  Eggs   p. 99
  2. Who had laid the eggs?  A turtle   p. 99
  3. How did Brian eat the eggs?  Broke them open with his hatchet and a stick and ate them raw   p.101
  4. Why did Brian want to continue thinking about the searchers?  he felt if he stopped thinking about them, they would stop thinking about him; he knew he needed to continue hoping   p. 102

Chapter 11

  1. How had Brian begun to change physically since the crash?  Thinner, tanned, leathery face   p. 104
  2. How was Brian’s mind different since the crash?  He now knew what the noises were around him, when he saw something, he really saw it, not just noticed it   p. 105
  3. What was Brian’s plan if he ever heard a plane engine roar overhead?  Run up with a burning limb and light the signal fire   p. 106
  4. As Brian looked over the lake what did he realize he could eat?  Fish   p. 107

Chapter 12

  1.  What was Brian working on when he heard the whine of the plane engine?  Bow    p. 116
  2. Tell me three words that would describe how Brian felt when the plane turned and went away?  Despair, disappointment, hopeless, sad, alone etc.  p. 118

Chapter 13

  1. What did Brian use for a string on his bow?  His shoelace   p. 124
  2. Why wasn’t Brian able to catch any fish when he first made his bow and arrow?  He was aiming to high/ the water would make the fish appear closer than they were   p. 125
  3. What kind of hope did Brian find building in him?  tough hope/ hope that he could survive and take care of himself   p. 127

Chapter 14

  1.  What were the effects Brian had after he was sprayed with the skunk?  Blind for two full hours, eyes hurt for weeks, smell lingered at least a month and a half later   p. 131
  2. How did Brian make a ladder to get to his food shelf?  Found a pine, chopped off branches so the remaining branches were 4-5 apart, chopped the log so it’s only ten feet long   p. 133
  3. What did Brian do to store the fish so they wouldn’t go bad?  He made a pond to keep them close and fresh so he could catch them when he needed them   p.  136

Chapter 15

  1. Tell me about the event, First Meat?  That was the first time Brian killed a foolbird for food   p. 142
  2. Why was it so difficult for Brian to catch a foolbird?   They blended in with the environment, silent, stood perfectly still, couldn’t see them until after they flew    p. 139
  3. What trick did Brian learn that keep the mosquitoes and flies off his food and out of his shelter?  they didn’t like the smoke   p. 144
  4. When Brian was cleaning the bird to eat it, what did he do with the insides of the bird?  Wash it off into the pond   p. 144

Chapter 16

  1. Tell me two of the “First Days” Brian remembered?  First Arrow Day, First Rabbit Day,  First Meat Day   p. 147
  2. How did the moose react to Brian when she saw him at the water and wanted to come down to the water herself?  Attacked him   p. 150
  3. What did Brian have to do to get away from the moose?  When the moose was eating he had to crawl away slowly from her, stopping and waiting when the hair on her back raised up  p. 151
  4. Why did Brian feel like he was back to “square one” after the tornado?  He was injured, had no fire, no food, and his weapons and shelter were gone   p. 157
  5. After the tornado, what unnatural object was sticking out of the water?  The tail of the airplane  p. 159

Chapter 17

  1. Why was Brian anxious to get the survival pack from the back of the plane?  It would have things to make his surviving much easier   p. 163
  2. What is a fish board?  A flattened board Brian used to lay his fish on and lean to the fire to cook them   p. 165
  3. Why was building a raft difficult for Brian?  He didn’t have anything to hold the logs together   p. 166
  4. How did he solve his problem?  Used logs with branches and wove them together   p. 167
  5. When Brian finally made it to the plane, what was his predicament?  Couldn’t get inside of it   p. 172

Chapter 18

  1. How was Brian able to get into the plane?  Cut through the aluminum with his hatchet   p. 174
  2. What did Brian have to dive into the water for?  His hatchet   p. 175
  3. What made Brian sick when he was under the water looking for the survival bag?     Seeing the skull of the pilot         p. 180
  4. How long did it take Brian to go to the plane, get the survival bag and get back to his camp?  From morning until into the dark of night   p. 183

Chapter 19

  1. How did Brian feel about the items in the survival pack as he looked through them?  Happy and sad; they changed him   p. 186
  2. How did the items in the survival bag change him?  made him more removed from the world around him   p. 187
  3. When Brian went through the dehydrated food packages, why do you think he decided to feast now and be careful with the food later?  He was so hungry; he felt he knew how to get his own food, so he wanted to enjoy what was there that night; he wanted to celebrate for finding the survival bag   p. 189
  4. When Brian was preparing his feast and drinking his orange drink, what appeared out of the sky?  An airplane   p. 190
  5. What was the first thing Brian said to the pilot of the plane who rescued him? He told him his name and asked if he'd like something to eat   p. 191

Comprehension Questions – The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

By Mark Twain

Grades 8-12; Genre - Fiction; GRL Z; AR pts: 12.0

Tom Sawyer is a thirteen year old boy growing up on the banks of the Mississippi River.  Under the care of his Aunt Polly he tests her patience with his quick wit and adventuresome spirit.  Tom often goes looking for adventure with his friend Huck Finn and they find themselves witnessing a murder and finding some real treasure. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions – Stargirl

Stargirl

By Jerry Spinelli

Grades 6-8; Genre - Fiction; GRL V; AR pts: 6.0

There's a new girl in tenth grade and says her name is Stargirl.  The entire school's not sure what to think of her and the kind things she does.  Leo realizes that he's in love with her, but has a difficult time accepting that she's not like everybody else.  Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Sharing Snowy

Sharing Snowy

By Marilyn Helmer

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

It’s Ali’s birthday and she wants a cat more than anything, but can’t have one.  A lost cat finds its way to Ali’s clubhouse and she takes it in.  After a few days of caring for the cat, Ali sees a LOST CAT poster and knows she must give it back to its rightful owner. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Johnny Tremain

Johnny Tremain

By Esther Forbes

Grades 5-8; Genre - Fiction; GRL Z; AR pts: 13.0

Johnny is a fourteen year old apprentice as a silversmith living in Boston before the Revolutionary War.  He burns his hand and is not able to be a silversmith any more.  So he starts delivering the newspaper and gets caught up in taking sides with the rebels and the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. Continue reading →