Wringer Reading Guide (Saddleback's Focus on Reading Study Guides)

SADDLEBACK STUDY GUIDE Saddleback’s literature study guides FOCUS ON READING Wringer Give your students the background...

Author: Marshall K. Hall

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SADDLEBACK STUDY GUIDE

Saddleback’s literature study guides

FOCUS ON READING Wringer Give your students the background and support they need to understand and enjoy literature. With these study guides, your students will practice reading comprehension skills, sharpen their vocabulary, and learn to identify literary elements. • Prepares all students for reading success through prereading background building

Focus ON RE ADING Vocabulary

READING COMPREHENSION

• Focuses reading with guiding “Questions to Think About” • Builds vocabulary with prereading and during-reading activities • Develops cultural literacy by using well-known literature • Includes a comprehensive end-of-book test For more information on other titles in the Focus on Reading series, visit our website: sdlback.com

Wringer Jerry Spinelli

Three Watson • Irvine, California 92618-2767 1-888-735-2225 • sdlback.com

ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Reproducible Activities

Focus

ON READING Wringer

Marshall K. Hall

Three Watson Irvine, CA 92618-2767 Web site: www.sdlback.com

Copyright © 2006 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, with the exception below. Pages labeled with the statement Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2006 are intended for reproduction. Saddleback Educational Publishing grants to individual purchasers of this book the right to make sufficient copies of reproducible pages for use by all students of a single teacher. This permission is limited to a single teacher and does not apply to entire schools or school systems. ISBN-1-59905-129-X Printed in the United States of America 10 09 08 07 06 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents Introduction/Classroom Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Focus on the Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Focus Your Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

I. Chapters 1–7 Focus Your Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3

IV. Chapters 23–28 Focus Your Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20–21

Build Your Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Build Your Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Check Your Understanding: Short Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Check Your Understanding: Short Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Deepen Your Understanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Deepen Your Understanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

II. Chapters 8–15 Focus Your Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–9

V. Chapters 29–35 Focus Your Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26–27









III. Chapters 16–22 Focus Your Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14–15

VI. Chapters 36–40 Focus Your Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32–33









End-of-Book Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

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Introduction/Classroom Management Before Reading

Welcome to Focus on Reading Focus on Reading literature study guides are designed to help all students comprehend and analyze their reading. Many teachers have grappled with the question of how to make quality literature accessible to all students. Students who are already avid readers of quality literature are motivated to read and are familiar with prereading and reading strategies. However, struggling readers frequently lack basic reading skills and are not equipped with the prior knowledge and reading strategies to thoroughly engage in the classroom literature experience. Focus on Reading is designed to make teachers’ and students’ lives easier! How? By providing materials that allow all students to take part in reading quality literature. Each Focus on Reading study guide contains activities that focus on vocabulary and comprehension skills that students need to get the most from their reading. In addition, each section within the guide contains a before-reading Focus Your Reading page containing tools to ensure success: Vocabulary Words to Know, Things to Know, and Questions to Think About. These study aids will help students who may not have the prior knowledge they need to truly comprehend the reading.

• Focus Your Reading consists of 3 prereading sections: Vocabulary Words to Know lists and defines 10 vocabulary words students will encounter in their reading. Students will not have to interrupt their reading to look up, ask for, or spend a lot of time figuring out the meaning of unfamiliar words. These words are later studied in-depth within the lesson. Things to Know identifies terms or concepts that are integral to the reading but that may not be familiar to today’s students. This section is intended to “level the playing field” for those students who may not have much prior knowledge about the time period, culture, or theme of the book. It also gets students involved with the book, increasing interest before they begin reading. Questions to Think About helps students focus on the main ideas and important details they should be looking for as they read. This activity helps give students a purpose for reading. The goal of these guiding questions is to build knowledge, confidence, and comfort with the topics in the reading.

During Reading • Build Your Vocabulary presents the 10 unit focus words in the exact context of the book. Students are then asked to write their own definitions and sentences for the words.

Using Focus on Reading Focus on Reading is designed to make it easy for you to meet the individual needs of students who require additional reading skills support. Each Focus on Reading study guide contains teacher and student support materials, reproducible student activity sheets, an endof-book test, and an answer key.

• Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice offers 10 multiple-choice, literal comprehension questions for each section. • Check Your Understanding: Short Answer contains 10 short-answer questions based on the reading.

• Focus on the Book, a convenient reference section for the teacher, provides a brief overview of the entire book including a synopsis, information about the setting, author data, and historical background.

After Reading • Deepen Your Understanding is a writing activity that extends appreciation and analysis of the book. This activity focuses on critical-thinking skills and literary analysis.

• Focus Your Knowledge, a reference page for students, is a whole-book, prereading activity designed to activate prior knowledge and immerse students in the topic.

• End-of-Book Test contains 20 multiple-choice items covering the book. These items ask questions that require students to synthesize the information in the book and make inferences in their answers.

The study guide divides the novel into 6 manageable sections to make it easy to plan classroom time. Five activities are devoted to each section of the novel.

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Introduction/Classroom Management

book, asking students for their own ideas and opinions—and the reasons behind them. These postreading activities generally focus on literary analysis. As reflected in its title, the End-of-Book Test is a postreading comprehension test to be completed after the entire novel has been read. For your convenience, a clear Answer Key simplifies the scoring process.

Classroom Management Focus on Reading is very flexible. It can be used by the whole class, by small groups, or by individuals. Each study guide divides the novel into 6 manageable units of study. This literature comprehension program is simple to use. Just photocopy the lessons and distribute them at the appropriate time as students read the novel. You may want to reproduce and discuss the Focus Your Knowledge page before distributing the paperbacks. This page develops and activates prior knowledge to ensure that students have a grounding in the book before beginning reading. After reading this whole-book prereading page, students are ready to dive into the book. The Focus Your Reading prereading activities are the keystone of this program. They prepare students for what they are going to read, providing focus for the complex task of reading. These pages should be distributed before students actually begin reading the corresponding section of the novel. There are no questions to be answered on these pages; these are for reference and support during reading. Students may choose to take notes on these pages as they read. This will also give students a study tool for review before the End-of-Book Test. The Focus Your Reading pages also provide an excellent bridge to home. Parents, mentors, tutors, or other involved adults can review vocabulary words with students, offer their own insights about the historical and cultural background outlined, and become familiar with the ideas students will be reading about. This can help families talk to students in a meaningful way about their reading, and it gives the adults something concrete to ask about to be sure that students are reading and understanding. The Build Your Vocabulary and Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice and Short Answer activities should be distributed when students begin reading the corresponding section of the novel. These literature guide pages are intended to help students comprehend and retain what they read; they should be available for students to refer to at any time during the reading. Deepen Your Understanding is an optional extension activity that goes beyond literal questions about the

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Focus on the Book on vacation with her family, just in time to avoid Pigeon Day. When Palmer turns ten, he admits that he does not want to be a wringer, even though he knows it means the guys will turn against him. With Pigeon Day so close, he cannot take the pressure any longer. He knows he cannot be a wringer after having a pigeon as a pet. On Pigeon Day, Palmer realizes that Dorothy set Nipper free at the railroad yards in the city, which is where they catch many of the pigeons to shoot. At this point, Palmer knows that Nipper is there. He is determined to find him. When a pigeon lands on Palmer’s head, he knows it must be Nipper. Palmer stands up to everyone in Waymer by walking away with his pigeon. He overcomes his fears about what everyone thinks to save his best friend, Nipper.

Synopsis Palmer LaRue dreads his tenth birthday. Being ten in his town of Waymer means taking on a role that Palmer is against—becoming a wringer. A wringer is a kid who wrings the necks of pigeons at the annual pigeonshooting contest. Palmer has never understood why the townspeople shoot the pigeons. On Pigeon Day, five thousand captured pigeons are released into the sky and shot down by the town’s men. If a shot pigeon is down but not dead, a wringer runs onto the field and puts it out of its misery. At the start of the book, Palmer turns nine. He finds three new friends, Beans, Mutto, and Henry, who have ignored him up to this point. Now that he is older, they accept him into their group. They are all eager to turn ten, because that means they can be wringers. Palmer hides his feelings about being a wringer because he knows they will make fun of him. To Beans, Mutto, and Henry, being a wringer is the ultimate honor. Palmer lies to them, saying that he cannot wait to be a wringer. When a pigeon lands on Palmer’s windowsill, things are further complicated. Not only does Palmer have to hide his feelings about being a wringer, but he has to hide his pigeon friend, too. At first, he hopes the pigeon will go away, knowing what trouble it will bring to his newfound friendship with the guys. When the pigeon will not go away, Palmer becomes attached to him and gives him a name: Nipper. His daily routine completely changes to accommodate his new friend. Palmer has no idea how he can continue to house Nipper in a town that hates pigeons. Eventually, Palmer confides in his neighbor Dorothy about Nipper. She hates Pigeon Day just as much as Palmer. Luckily, she is a girl and does not have to worry about becoming a wringer when she turns ten. Even though Palmer has tortured Dorothy with the guys in the past, she forgives him and embraces Nipper. They become much better friends, as she is the only one he can talk to about Nipper. Each day, Palmer faces the problem of hiding Nipper from the guys. When things get too dangerous and Palmer realizes that the guys are close to discovering Nipper, he decides that he must set Nipper free. He knows that Beans and Mutto will not let Nipper survive if they get hold of him. He and Dorothy decide that she will let Nipper go at the seashore when she goes

About the Author Jerry Spinelli was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on February 1, 1941. He grew up wanting to be many different things, including a cowboy and a major league baseball player, but he never imagined he would want to be an author. He spent very little time reading because he was so involved in sports, including baseball, football, track, and basketball. When Spinelli was sixteen in Norristown, his high school football team had an amazing victory over one of the best teams in the country. After the game, Spinelli went home and wrote a poem about it. When the poem was published in the local newspaper, it occurred to him that he could be a writer. Spinelli had no idea it would take twenty-five years to get his first book published. Spinelli graduated from Gettysburg College and went on to further his education at Johns Hopkins University. He wrote four adult novels after college, but no one wanted to publish them. He wrote his fifth novel as an adult novel, too. Because of the thirteen-year-old main character, however, publishers saw Space Station Seventh Grade as a children’s novel. Spinelli believes that he became a children’s author by accident. In his mind, he writes for everyone. Spinelli’s novels are known for their humor and realistic characters. He draws many of his ideas for his books from real-life experiences. If he’s not writing about a childhood memory, he writes about his six children and fifteen grandchildren. He also writes about (continued) vi

Focus on the Book

(continued)

get into it. Then he realized the best way to do it was through the eyes of kids. In order to learn about pigeons, Spinelli went to a park and studied the pigeons. He wanted to get firsthand experience, rather than reading about pigeons in a book. Pigeons are not the only animals shot at a specific time in a community. Unlike the pigeons, however, deer or bear are sometimes hunted when they become a serious danger or problem to humans; in Waymer, the pigeons were actually rounded up for the express purpose of providing sport. In the fictional town of Waymer, becoming a wringer at the age of ten is a rite of passage for boys. Many cultures have such systematic rituals, including hazing for clubs or fraternities (a practice now outlawed by many institutions), quinceanera parties (sweet fifteen), bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah, getting a driver’s license, and so on.

his life in his autobiography, Knots in My Yo-Yo String. Spinelli has over twenty novels published, including Maniac Magee, which won the 1991 Newbery Medal. Wringer was named a Newbery Honor book in 1998. Spinelli’s books are highly acclaimed around the world. They have been published in various other languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Greek. Spinelli currently lives in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Eileen, who is also a children’s author, and two of their sons, Sean and Ben. When asked who his favorite author is, Spinelli replies, “Eileen Spinelli. Her stories and poem touch me.”

Historical Background Believe it or not, pigeon shootings do take place around the country. Jerry Spinelli’s inspiration for Wringer came from a real pigeon-shooting contest he read about in the newspaper every year. He realized there was a story there, but he wasn’t sure how to

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Whole Book

Before Reading

Focus Your Knowledge Pigeon shootings take place in various parts of the country. Sometimes clay pigeons are used for target practice, but real pigeons are also used in many instances. • Think about what you know about pigeons. If you know very little, do some research. Where are pigeons mostly found? Why do you think pigeons are chosen for shooting contests rather than other birds? • Many animal rights advocates oppose pigeon shootings. Are you for or against these contests? Why? • This book addresses issues of peer pressure. Have you ever pretended to be something you were not, just to belong to a particular group? Have you ever let others make decisions for you? Explain. • This book is also about overcoming fears. What are some fears that you have overcome? How did you feel after the experience?

© 2006 Saddleback Educational Publishing

1

Focus on Reading: Wringer

STUDENT NAME ___________________________________________________ DATE__________________

I. Chapters 1–7

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Vocabulary Words to Know Study the following words and definitions. You will meet these words in your reading. Be sure to jot down in your word journal any other unknown words from the reading. squeamish—queasy; easily sickened disdainful—full of scorn marvel (verb)—to become filled with surprise, wonder, or amazed curiosity sly—clever, tricky befuddled—confused

contradiction—implying the opposite or denial of rollicking—moving or behaving in a carefree, joyous manner meekest—least courageous and strong careening—swaying from side to side bluntly—in a straight and to-the-point manner

Things to Know Here is some background information about this section of the book. A gutter is a trough near the roof of a house that carries off rainwater. A sewer grate is a barred frame in the street that covers the hole of a sewer. A hotfoot is a cruel practical joke in which a match is put between the upper and the sole of someone’s shoe and lighted. A sinkhole is a hollow place or depression in the ground. A pip is a person who is extraordinary. A hutch is a type of chest or cupboard.


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I. Chapters 1–7

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Questions to Think About The following questions will help you understand the meaning of what you read. You do not have to write out the answers to these questions. Instead, look at them before you begin reading, and think about them while you are reading. 1. What is Palmer’s biggest fear?

2. What makes Palmer’s ninth birthday so special to him?

3. How do Palmer’s parents feel about his new friends?

4. How does Palmer feel about the playground, and why?

5. What is Family Fest?


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I. Chapters 1–7

During Reading

Build Your Vocabulary Read the sentences below. On the line, write your definition of the word in bold type. Then, on another sheet of paper, use that word in a new sentence of your own. 1. “It had long seemed a curious contradiction to Palmer, that among three kids rollicking on the field, Henry was the tallest yet also the meekest.” contradiction: ____________________________________________________________ rollicking: _______________________________________________________________ meekest: _________________________________________________________________ 2. “After a minute or two of lopsided, long-legged careening, Henry flopped to the ground.” careening: ______________________________________________________________ 3. “‘She’s one of your best friends.’ . . . ‘She’s not,’ he told her bluntly.” bluntly: _________________________________________________________________ 4. “The squeamish ones would pull back their hands as if from a hot stove, and they would shudder and squeak.” squeamish: _______________________________________________________________ 5. “‘Good,’ she said with a disdainful sniff. Sometimes it amazed him that this girl, just out of third grade, could make him feel so little.” disdainful: _______________________________________________________________ 6. “So he ran off and found others to marvel at his bruise.” marvel: __________________________________________________________________ 7. “Palmer stood back and gave a sly grin.” sly: _____________________________________________________________________ 8. “At the same time she befuddled him. . . . What kind of girl was this?” befuddled: _______________________________________________________________


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I. Chapters 1–7

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Multiple Choice Circle the letter of the best answer to each question. 1. What color are a pigeon’s eyes? a. gray b. orange c. black

6. Who is Fishface? a. Henry’s sister b. Palmer’s neighbor c. Mutto’s dog

2. Of the three boys who attend Palmer’s birthday party, who does his mom dislike the most? a. Beans b. Mutto c. Henry

7. What does Farquar use to mark a spot for The Treatment on Palmer’s arm? a. a marker b. mud c. tape 8. What does Palmer’s dad give him for his birthday? a. toy soldiers b. a soccer ball c. a BB gun

3. What does Palmer get for his birthday from Beans, Mutto, and Henry? a. a banana peel, a cigarette butt, and a sock b. an apple core, a sock, and a cigar butt c. a sock, an apple core, and an old pipe

9. Who does not care about Palmer’s bruise? a. his dad b. Henry c. Dorothy

4. What is Palmer’s new nickname? a. Wringer b. Snuffy c. Snots

10. What happens the first week in August? a. Palmer’s birthday b. school starts c. Family Fest

5. How old does Palmer turn on his birthday? a. nine b. eight c. ten


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I. Chapters 1–7

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Short Answer Write a short answer for each question. 1. Why does Palmer’s mother dislike Beans?

2. Why does Palmer hate the park?

3. What is “The Treatment”?

4. Where did Beans get his nickname?

5. What does Palmer’s dad want him to do with the toy soldiers when he grows up?

6. What does Palmer have to overcome to become friends with Beans, Mutto, and Henry?

7. What does Palmer do to make his bruise last longer?

8. Why does Palmer dislike Dorothy?

9. Why does Palmer cry the night of his birthday?

10. Why is Palmer so frustrated with Dorothy?


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I. Chapters 1–7

After Reading

Deepen Your Understanding The Treatment is a series of painful punches in the arm. In a paragraph, explain the reaction of the characters below to The Treatment that Palmer receives. Palmer Palmer’s father kids around town Palmer’s mother Dorothy


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II. Chapters 8–15

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Vocabulary Words to Know Study the following words and definitions. You will meet these words in your reading. Be sure to jot down in your word journal any other unknown words from the reading. wrenching—twisting violently crimson—deep purplish red ambush (verb)—to attack barrage—artillery fire restraint—holding back

bewildered—confused or puzzled braying—to utter loudly or harshly nuisance—an annoying person winching—hoisting or hauling skirting—running along the border or edge of

Things to Know Here is some background information about this section of the book. A hand grenade is a small missile that contains an explosive or a chemical agent. A hand grenade is thrown by the hand. A bayonet is a steel blade attached to the end of a shoulder arm, such as a rifle, that is used in hand-to-hand combat. A funnel cake is a popular food found at carnivals. It is made by deep frying a light batter. A bazooka is a light, portable tank weapon with a firing tube that launches a rocket. A bazooka is fired from the shoulder. A plank is a thick, heavy board. A slat is a thin, narrow, flat strip of wood or metal. A Maserati is a type of sports car.


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II. Chapters 8–15

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Questions to Think About The following questions will help you understand the meaning of what you read. You do not have to write out the answers to these questions. Instead, look at them before you begin reading, and think about them while you are reading. 1. What was Palmer’s view of Pigeon Day when he was four?

2. What sort of questions did Palmer have about Pigeon Day when he was younger?

3. How did Palmer act around Dorothy at his second Pigeon Day?

4. How does Palmer’s relationship with Dorothy change as he grows older?

5. How does Palmer feel about the pigeon at his window?


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II. Chapters 8–15

During Reading

Build Your Vocabulary Read the sentences below. On the line, write your definition of the word in bold type. Then, on another sheet of paper, use that word in a new sentence of your own. 1. “Why anyone would pay for a pigeon only to shoot it was just one of many questions about Pigeon Day that bewildered Palmer.” bewildered: ______________________________________________________________ 2. “Arthur Dodds took off, braying, ‘I’m a wringer, I’m a wringer! I’m gonna get me a pigeon and wring ’im!’” braying: _________________________________________________________________ 3. “As Palmer later heard the story, Arthur Dodds made a real nuisance of himself that day. He kept darting onto the field to chase wounded pigeons, only to be chased away himself by the real wringers.” nuisance: ________________________________________________________________ 4. “At times the Ferris wheel seemed to be winching minutes, hauling him ever closer to Saturday and the boom and smell of gunsmoke.” winching: ________________________________________________________________ 5. “Jogging through the dark and sleeping alleyways, skirting pools of streetlight, he imagined he was a toy lead soldier come to life, . . .” skirting: _________________________________________________________________ 6. “He heard a wrenching screech: they were ripping open a crate.” wrenching: _______________________________________________________________ 7. “That day as a crimson sun fell below the rooftops, one weary and happy kid dragged his sled back to port.” crimson: ________________________________________________________________ 8. “‘Enemy ambush!’ he cried out. ‘Counterattack!’” ambush: _________________________________________________________________ 9. “‘Battleship barrage!’ shrieked Beans. Palmer fired without restraint.” barrage: _________________________________________________________________ restraint: ________________________________________________________________


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II. Chapters 8–15

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Multiple Choice Circle the letter of the best answer to each question. 1. How many pigeons are brought to Waymer for Pigeon Day? a. four thousand b. five thousand c. ten thousand

6. Where did Palmer spend his third Pigeon Day? a. at the playground with Dorothy b. at Dorothy’s house c. at his house with Dorothy

2. How old was Palmer on his first Pigeon Day? a. four b. five c. nine

7. When Palmer was younger, what was his favorite place in the world? a. his father’s lap b. the playground c. Dorothy’s house

3. On Palmer’s first Pigeon Day, why did he think the boys were chasing the pigeons? a. to kill them b. to catch them as pets c. to give them to their parents

8. How does Palmer decide he will avoid going to Pigeon Day with Beans, Mutto, and Henry? a. He will say his father will not let him. b. He will say he is sick. c. He will say Dorothy is coming to his house.

4. What did Palmer pretend was engraved on the pigeon statue on the mantel? a. “This pigeon was shot for the playground.” b. “This pigeon was put out of its misery.” c. “In honor of all pigeons. This house loves you.”

9. How many colors does Palmer count on the pigeon at his window? a. six b. seven c. eight 10. What reason does Palmer give the guys for going home right after school? a. His mom is taking him to the dentist. b. His mom gave him a job to do. c. He is going to work with his dad.

5. Whom did Palmer go with to his second Pigeon Day? a. his mom b. his dad c. Dorothy and her family


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II. Chapters 8–15

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Short Answer Write a short answer for each question. 1. Where do the pigeons for Pigeon Day come from?

2. When Palmer was younger, what did he conclude about the reason why the pigeons were shot?

3. What did Palmer do when Dorothy ran away from her first Pigeon Day?

4. What did Palmer discover on his vacation to the city?

5. What fascinated Palmer about the pigeons in the city?

6. When Palmer was old enough to read, what did the pigeon statue reveal about his father?

7. Where do Beans and Mutto take Palmer in the middle of the night?

8. What is Palmer’s excuse for leaving Beans and Mutto at the pigeon crates?

9. Why does Palmer not like Dorothy?

10. How does Palmer destroy the evidence that a bird has been outside his window?


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II. Chapters 8–15

After Reading

Deepen Your Understanding When Palmer was younger, his father told him that people paid money to shoot pigeons. The money that was raised was used to make improvements to the park. Then whenever Palmer swung on a swing in the park, he thanked a pigeon. Do you think that because the money goes to a good cause it makes it all right to shoot pigeons? Is the cause good enough? Explain your opinion in a paragraph.


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III. Chapters 16–22

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Vocabulary Words to Know Study the following words and definitions. You will meet these words in your reading. Be sure to jot down in your word journal any other unknown words from the reading. primitive—little evolved carcass—the dead body of an animal boundless—having no boundaries prim—formal; proper oblivious—lacking mindful attention; unaware

ambled—walked coaxed—urged; influenced divert—to turn from one course to another; to distract taunted—reproached or challenged in a mocking or an insulting manner detour (verb)—to avoid by going around

Things to Know Here is some background information about this section of the book. A lean-to is a shelter or shed having a roof with a single slope. Flotsam is floating debris. A tomahawk is a light ax used as a missile and as a hand weapon. Buckshot is a large lead shot for shotgun shells. Herkyjerking refers to sudden, irregular, or unpredictable movements. A monkeyshine is a playful trick or prank. A silhouette is a filled-in outline.


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Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Questions to Think About The following questions will help you understand the meaning of what you read. You do not have to write out the answers to these questions. Instead, look at them before you begin reading, and think about them while you are reading. 1. How does Palmer feel about his visitor?

2. What are Palmer’s concerns about the pigeon?

3. What does Palmer do to keep the pigeon a secret?

4. What does Palmer learn about pigeons?

5. How does Palmer now treat Dorothy?


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During Reading

Build Your Vocabulary Read the sentences below. On the line, write your definition of the word in bold type. Then, on another sheet of paper, use that word in a new sentence of your own. 1. “It flew to the bookcase, ambled across the booktops, pecked at pages.” ambled: _________________________________________________________________ 2. “He spread the cereal on the snow outside his window. The pigeon did not have to be coaxed. It flew out the window and attacked the food.” coaxed: __________________________________________________________________ 3. “It became a habit, using Dorothy to divert attention from himself and his house.” divert: __________________________________________________________________ 4. “They taunted her and ran rings around her as she walked.” taunted: _________________________________________________________________ 5. “Then they would run ahead and become new sidewalk trees, making her detour around them time after time, all the way home.” detour: __________________________________________________________________ 6. “Inside, Palmer looked about for signs of primitive living—mud, piles of rubbish—but saw nothing but clean furniture, carpets, pictures on the walls. A regular house.” primitive: ________________________________________________________________ 7. “He bopped Mutto again with the muskrat carcass, chased him once around the table and out of the kitchen.” carcass: _________________________________________________________________ 8. “. . . Beans and Mutto were on their backs, flinging arms and legs into the air and howling with boundless delight.” boundless: _______________________________________________________________ 9. “. . . it flew to the basketball rim and perched there, ruffing its handled feathers and holding its head high, prim as you please, as if to say, ‘Because I like it here.’” prim: ___________________________________________________________________ 10. “Did he fly around town, oblivious to the danger?” oblivious: ________________________________________________________________


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During Reading

Check Your Understanding Multiple Choice Circle the letter of the best answer to each question. 1. Where does Palmer find the pigeon when he comes back from dinner? a. on the windowsill b. on a shelf in his closet c. on his comic book pile

6. What does Mutto do whenever he approaches a house, even his own? a. knocks on the door b. opens the door c. rings the doorbell

2. What does Palmer ask his mother about coming in his room? a. not to come in b. to only come in when he is not there c. to knock first

7. What does Beans pull out of his freezer? a. a cat b. a muskrat c. a woodchuck 8. What is Panther? a. Beans’s cat b. Beans’s muskrat c. Mutto’s dog

3. How does Palmer get a book about pigeons? a. He borrows it from Dorothy. b. He buys it at the bookstore. c. He steals it from the library.

9. Who notices a pigeon in the sky? a. Mutto b. Beans c. Henry

4. What is Palmer’s biggest challenge each day? a. acting normal b. hiding from the guys c. hiding from his mom

10. Who does Palmer finally tell about Nipper? a. his mom b. Henry c. Dorothy

5. What does Palmer tell his mother he will do now on his own? a. make his bed, put away his laundry, and empty his wastebasket b. change his sheets, empty his wastebasket, and clean his room c. change his sheets, make his bed, and clean his room


17




During Reading

Check Your Understanding Short Answer Write a short answer for each question. 1. What is roosting?

2. Why do pigeons eat gravel?

3. What is Palmer’s “alarm clock”?

4. Why does Palmer choose to feed Honey Crunchers to Nipper?

5. How does Palmer keep the guys from coming to his house?

6. What does Beans do with the muskrat?

7. How does Palmer get the guys to forget about the pigeon that flew over them?

8. What does Nipper do before he flies out of sight each morning?

9. How does Dorothy handle treestumping?

10. What does Dorothy finally do when she cannot handle Beans’s torture anymore?


18




After Reading

Deepen Your Understanding Beans, Mutto, Henry, and Palmer spend a lot of their time after school torturing Dorothy. Palmer uses this as a method to keep the guys from finding out about his pigeon. Most girls who Beans bothered would cry or scream, but Dorothy has no reaction. Beans is now determined to get a reaction out of Dorothy. Why do you think Dorothy tries to ignore the guys when they tease, treestump, and torture her? Do you think her method is effective? How would you react if you were in Dorothy’s situation? Explain.


19



I V. C h a p t e r s 2 3 – 2 8

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Vocabulary Words to Know Study the following words and definitions. You will meet these words in your reading. Be sure to jot down in your word journal any other unknown words from the reading. swooning—fainting; drooping; fading morsels—small pieces of food stifled—muffled humanely—in a compassionate manner toward animals jeers—cries of mockery

raucous—hoarse, as in a voice condemn—to sentence or doom agitated—troubled; disturbed resumed—began again after interruption anticipated—looked forward to as certain; expected

Things to Know Here is some background information about this section of the book. A bedstead is the framework of a bed. Detention means holding someone back, usually some place where they do not want to be. Afterschool detention is a common punishment for misbehavior in school. Palmer gives puberty as his excuse for bad behavior, even though he is not sure what the word means. Puberty is the time during which a child begins to physically mature into an adult. Physical changes include the appearance of body hair, the appearance of facial hair on boys, and breast growth and menstruation in girls. Psychological changes, including mood swings, can also occur during this time.


20



I V. C h a p t e r s 2 3 – 2 8

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Questions to Think About The following questions will help you understand the meaning of what you read. You do not have to write out the answers to these questions. Instead, look at them before you begin reading, and think about them while you are reading. 1. How does Palmer treat Dorothy differently now?

2. How does Palmer feel about his father?

3. How is Palmer’s secret almost revealed?

4. How does Palmer’s behavior change at school, and why?

5. Why does Palmer go to school in the summer?


21



I V. C h a p t e r s 2 3 – 2 8

During Reading

Build Your Vocabulary Read the sentences below. On the line, write your definition of the word in bold type. Then, on another sheet of paper, use that word in a new sentence of your own. 1. “Waving her arms like a conductor, she led them in a raucous ‘Happy Birthday’ and dished out generous gobs of ice cream.” raucous: _________________________________________________________________ 2. “Beans seemed anxious at first, then frantic, as if not finding Farquar would condemn him to being nine forever.” condemn: _______________________________________________________________ 3. “The more agitated he became, the faster he paced.” agitated: _________________________________________________________________ 4. “Palmer’s nervousness lasted until he went to sleep that night, and resumed when his alarm clock woke him up next morning with the customary nip on the earlobe.” resumed: ________________________________________________________________ 5. “Palmer had not anticipated this.” anticipated: ______________________________________________________________ 6. “The guys were swooning. They were really impressed.” swooning: _______________________________________________________________ 7. “They offered him morsels from their lunches.” morsels: _________________________________________________________________ 8. “Palmer heard one stifled squeak; all else was silence.” stifled: __________________________________________________________________ 9. “‘We’re not here to torture these animals. We’re here to kill them humanely.’” humanely: _______________________________________________________________ 10. “Would he cry out, ‘Ah-hah!’ and send the kid away to the jeers of the crowd?” jeers: ___________________________________________________________________


22



I V. C h a p t e r s 2 3 – 2 8

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Multiple Choice Circle the letter of the best answer to each question. 6. Who out of the three boys is the only one who sometimes calls Palmer by his real name? a. Beans b. Mutto c. Henry

1. Who does Palmer find in his room when he comes home from Beans’s birthday? a. his mom b. Dorothy c. Panther 2. Why is Dorothy jealous of Palmer? a. She doesn’t get to sleep in the same room as Nipper. b. Nipper won’t stand on her head. c. She doesn’t have Nipper as an “alarm clock.”

7. What is Mutto carrying on the way home from school? a. a slingshot b. a BB gun c. an ax

3. What does Dorothy do after Palmer tells her all of his worries? a. She kisses him on the nose. b. She starts to cry. c. She runs out of his room.

8. How does Palmer plan to disguise himself from Nipper on the last day of school? a. an elephant mask b. a long, black wig c. a heavy coat and a hat

4. What does Dorothy write on the Nerf ball? a. basketball b. pigeon c. Nipper’s ball

9. How much money is a dead pigeon worth? a. $1 b. $5 c. $10 10. What does the wringmaster call wounded pigeons? a. corpses b. floppers c. nippers

5. What does Palmer feed Nipper on his floor with the normal Honey Crunchers? a. carrots b. peas c. Grape Nuts


23



I V. C h a p t e r s 2 3 – 2 8

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Short Answer Write a short answer for each question. 1. Why is Beans so anxious to find Farquar on his birthday?

2. What does Dorothy tell Palmer’s mother so she can come inside while Palmer isn’t home?

3. How does Palmer get Nipper to sit on Dorothy’s head?

4. How does Palmer react to Nipper landing on his head in front of the guys?

5. What does Palmer do to disguise himself from Nipper the day after Nipper lands on his head?

6. Why does Palmer want to stay after school, and what does he first do to stay?

7. What are the two problems Palmer faces when he leaves his house each morning?

8. What are some other things Palmer does to get in trouble at school?

9. What problem does Palmer face on the way home from school on his last day?

10. What color is the wringmaster’s hat, and why does he wear it?


24



I V. C h a p t e r s 2 3 – 2 8

After Reading

Deepen Your Understanding In this section, Dorothy tells Palmer that he is a hero. What is your definition of hero? Do you agree with Dorothy that Palmer is a hero? Write your ideas in a paragraph or two.


25



V. C h a p t e r s 2 9 – 3 5

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Vocabulary Words to Know Study the following words and definitions. You will meet these words in your reading. Be sure to jot down in your word journal any other unknown words from the reading. neglected—left undone or unattended to, especially through carelessness lax—lazy; careless; negligent radiant—glowing; bright obvious—easily discovered, seen, or understood

impish—mischievous traitor—one who betrays another’s trust foiled—defeated; frustrated wholly—completely; fully audible—able to be heard dense—marked by compactness or crowding together of parts

Things to Know Here is some background information about this section of the book. An airshaft is a passage for admitting fresh air into a tunnel. A flank refers to the side of something. A beeline is a straight, direct course. “To make a beeline” for something means to go straight toward it, with no turns or distractions. A streak is a behavior pattern. For example, Beans has a mean streak. In this section, Palmer realizes that Henry has a meek streak. Dumpster is a brand name of a type of large, covered trash container. Dumpsters are often used by businesses, organizations, and apartment buildings, not by single houses. The expression “on the house” means that something is being given for free.


26



V. C h a p t e r s 2 9 – 3 5

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Questions to Think About The following questions will help you understand the meaning of what you read. You do not have to write out the answers to these questions. Instead, look at them before you begin reading, and think about them while you are reading. 1. Why is Palmer so worried now that it is summer?

2. What do the guys do to try to find out about Nipper?

3. How does Palmer react to The Treatment this time?

4. How do Palmer and Dorothy try to save Nipper?

5. Why is Palmer so relieved at the end of this section?


27



V. C h a p t e r s 2 9 – 3 5

During Reading

Build Your Vocabulary Read the sentences below. On the line, write your definition of the word in bold type. Then, on another sheet of paper, use that word in a new sentence of your own. 1. “When he turned back to Dorothy, he found her wearing an impish grin.” impish: _________________________________________________________________ 2. “If they ever found out for sure that he was a traitor, Farquar’s Treatment would feel like baby’s play compared to what they could do.” traitor: __________________________________________________________________ 3. “Foiled at Palmer’s window, they might get in other ways, other windows.” foiled: __________________________________________________________________ 4. “. . . he now had to sit with his back flat against it and his knees drawn up in order to remain wholly in the shade.” wholly: __________________________________________________________________ 5. “Her voice was barely audible.” audible: _________________________________________________________________ 6. “She could not see an inch into the dense treeline.” dense: ___________________________________________________________________ 7. “He noted two white powdery droppings that he had neglected to clean up.” neglected: _______________________________________________________________ 8. “He had been getting lax lately.” lax: _____________________________________________________________________ 9. “Her eyes were gleaming, radiant.” radiant: _________________________________________________________________ 10. “He stated the obvious: ‘It’s a pigeon.’” obvious: ________________________________________________________________


28



V. C h a p t e r s 2 9 – 3 5

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Multiple Choice Circle the letter of the best answer to each question. 1. What does Palmer’s mother tell him he has to do if he wants to have a birthday party? a. get rid of Nipper b. invite Dorothy c. not invite Beans

6. When the guys find Farquar, what is he eating for breakfast? a. a muffin and a soda b. a cupcake and a Coke c. a cupcake and orange juice

2. What has Palmer’s mother been noticing around the house? a. Panther b. Nipper’s ball c. Honey Crunchers

7. What does the worker at the supermarket give to Palmer? a. Sprite b. a drink of water c. a wet cloth

3. Who does not come to Palmer’s birthday party? a. Dorothy b. Beans c. Henry

8. What does Palmer find in his room when he gets home from the supermarket? a. Panther b. a new box of Honey Crunchers c. Nipper’s ball

4. Who does Palmer think wrote on his birthday cake? a. Beans b. Mutto c. Henry

9. Where do Palmer and Dorothy take Nipper? a. to the railroad yards b. to the city c. to the woods far away 10. What does Palmer’s mother have to tell him? a. She tells him that he does not have to be a wringer. b. She tells him that she knows he has a pigeon. c. She tells him that he does not have to go to wringer school.

5. What is missing from Palmer’s room after the guys sneak in at night? a. Honey Crunchers b. Nipper’s ball c. nachos


29



V. C h a p t e r s 2 9 – 3 5

During Reading

Check Your Understanding Short Answer Write a short answer for each question. 1. What does Palmer’s father tell the guys about Palmer being a wringer?

2. How does Palmer hide from Beans and Mutto when they break in at night?

3. Where does Palmer tell Beans and Mutto he was when they broke in?

4. What does Palmer do when Farquar begins The Treatment?

5. Where does Palmer hide from the guys when they chase after him?

6. Why do Dorothy and Palmer switch bikes when they are taking Nipper away?

7. Why does Palmer take Nipper as far away as he can, and what does he do to try to confuse Nipper?

8. What happens when Dorothy and Palmer return home from letting Nipper go?

9. Why does Dorothy laugh when Palmer is talking about what they can do with Nipper?

10. How does Palmer decide he will finally get rid of Nipper?


30



V. C h a p t e r s 2 9 – 3 5

After Reading

Deepen Your Understanding When Palmer’s mother confesses to him that she and his father know about Nipper, she says that his father is changing. What does she mean by this? Why would he change? Do you think you would change if you were in a similar situation? Write your ideas in a paragraph or two.


31



VI. Chapters 36–40

Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Vocabulary Words to Know Study the following words and definitions. You will meet these words in your reading. Be sure to jot down in your word journal any other unknown words from the reading. fusillade—a number of shots fired at the same time or in rapid succession macadam—roadway or pavement banishing—driving out or removing from a home or usual place mimicked—imitated closely; copied sarcasm—wit marked by ironic language

mocked—treated with contempt or ridicule brazenly—in a bold, open manner formidable—having qualities that discourage approach or attack poised—supported or suspended without motion merciless—having or showing no pity

Things to Know Here is some background information about this section of the book. A cicada is a type of insect with large wings and organs for producing high-pitched sounds. A land mine is an explosive device placed on or just below the surface of the ground. Land mines are designed to explode when vehicles or people pass over them. A flanker is a soldier positioned to protect a flank of a column of troops (soldiers) on the march. A platoon is a subdivision of a company of troops consisting of two or more squads or sections and usually commanded by a lieutenant. An air strike is an attack from the air (using airplanes) on a ground or sea target. Birch beer is a carbonated soft drink containing flavoring from the bark of birch trees. Whittling is the act of cutting or shaping wood with a knife. A corpse is a dead body. A crewcut is a type of haircut that is very short and close to the head. © 2006 Saddleback Educational Publishing

32




Before Reading

Focus Your Reading Questions to Think About The following questions will help you understand the meaning of what you read. You do not have to write out the answers to these questions. Instead, look at them before you begin reading, and think about them while you are reading. 1. How does Palmer’s relationship with Beans, Mutto, and Henry change in this section?

2. How does Palmer’s relationship with Dorothy change?

3. How is Palmer’s life different now that Nipper is gone?

4. How does Palmer’s relationship with his father change?

5. What is Palmer’s view of the little kid who talks to him at Pigeon Day?


33




During Reading

Build Your Vocabulary Read the sentences below. On the line, write your definition of the word in bold type. Then, on another sheet of paper, use that word in a new sentence of your own. 1. “They mocked and taunted him.” mocked: _________________________________________________________________ 2. “While Beans and Mutto waited, sitting brazenly across the street on Dorothy’s front steps, he led Henry into his house.” brazenly: ________________________________________________________________ 3. “Sometimes the enemy was large and formidable, such as a hippo slipper; . . .” formidable: ______________________________________________________________ 4. “Usually it came to no more than this: a deployment of troops, twenty-seven soldiers leaning, twenty-seven tiny olive-green rifles aiming, poised on the brink of battle.” poised: __________________________________________________________________ 5. “A merciless fusillade the machine gun laid down, and the troops regrouped and joined the fire and the roar of war did not cease until the eraser was dead and cut to ribbons.” merciless: ________________________________________________________________ fusillade: ________________________________________________________________ 6. “It landed in dirt beyond the centerfielder’s leap and rolled onto the parking lot, a white pureness against the black macadam.” macadam: _______________________________________________________________ 7. “The price of peace had been high: expelling himself from the gang, proclaiming himself a traitor, banishing his beloved pet.” banishing: _______________________________________________________________ 8. “The little kid mimicked every gunboom by pointing a purple-stained forefinger and barking, ‘Pow! Pow!’” mimicked: _______________________________________________________________ 9. “The kid was untouched by Palmer’s sarcasm.” sarcasm: _________________________________________________________________


34




During Reading

Check Your Understanding Multiple Choice Circle the letter of the best answer to each question. 6. What do the wringers do with the dead pigeons? a. throw them in a cardboard box b. put them in trash bags c. throw them in the woods

1. What is Henry’s real name? a. Harry b. George c. Francis 2. What does Palmer’s father get at the baseball game? a. a foul ball b. a hot dog c. an autograph

7. What does Palmer notice about Henry at Pigeon Day? a. Henry keeps looking at Palmer. b. Henry never wrings the pigeons’ necks. c. Henry does everything Beans and Mutto say.

3. What kind of pie does Palmer choose at Family Fest? a. strawberry cream b. apple c. raspberry crumb

8. Where does Palmer find out Dorothy had let Nipper go? a. at the seashore b. in her backyard c. at the railroad yards in the city

4. What has been removed from Palmer’s house? a. the pigeon statue b. the Honey Crunchers c. the basketball hoop

9. What does the little kid at Pigeon Day ask Palmer? a. if Palmer is a wringer b. if he can be a wringer c. how old he has to be to become a wringer

5. What color vest is the wringmaster wearing? a. orange b. green c. pink


10. When Palmer walks away with Nipper, what does a child ask his or her father? a. if the pigeon is dead b. if Palmer is a wringer c. if he or she can have one, too

35




During Reading

Check Your Understanding Short Answer Write a short answer for each question. 1. How does Palmer convince the guys that Nipper is really gone?

2. What does Palmer say to Henry as he leaves Palmer’s house?

3. How does Palmer’s relationship with Dorothy change?

4. How does Palmer’s life change once Nipper is gone?

5. How does Palmer’s relationship with his father change?

6. Why does Palmer run from the people when he arrives at Pigeon Day?

7. What differences does Palmer notice among the pigeons when they are released from the boxes?

8. Why don’t shooters like to shoot a walking pigeon?

9. What does Beans do when he notices Dorothy and Palmer at Pigeon Day?

10. Where does Palmer move to when he sees Nipper is coming back?


36




After Reading

Deepen Your Understanding Wringer ends with a young child in the crowd at Pigeon Day asking to have a pigeon for a pet. Why do you think Jerry Spinelli ends the book this way? Does this ending satisfy you? After answering these questions, write an alternative ending to the book.


37



Whole Book

After Reading

End-of-Book Test Circle the letter of the best answer to each question. 6. When Palmer was younger, why did he think the pigeons needed to be shot? a. to raise money for the park b. to put them out of their misery c. to use them as fertilizer

1. Why is Palmer’s ninth birthday so important to him? a. It is only one year until he can be a wringer. b. Beans, Mutto, and Henry have accepted him into their group. c. He gets his dad’s toy soldiers.

7. What is Beans’s real name? a. Arthur b. George c. Billy

2. What does Beans call Dorothy? a. Pigeonface b. Muskratface c. Fishface

8. What is Mutto’s real name? a. Arthur b. George c. Billy

3. Who is the tallest of the three guys? a. Beans b. Mutto c. Henry

9. How does Palmer fool the snow? a. He puts his sled away like the winter is over. b. He says that he does not want it to snow. c. He says that he wants to go to school.

4. Who is Farquar? a. the biggest bully in town b. the most famous wringer in town c. Beans’s cat

10. What does Palmer first feed the pigeon? a. Honey Crunchers b. FrankenPuffs c. Grape Nuts

5. What word does Palmer’s father use to describe Beans? a. a hoodlum b. a pip c. a troublemaker

(continued) © 2006 Saddleback Educational Publishing

38



Whole Book

After Reading

End-of-Book Test (continued) 11. What is unique about a pigeon’s heart? a. It is one of the largest hearts in creation in relation to the size of a pigeon’s body. b. It beats faster than the heart of any other bird. c. It is the smallest heart of any bird, even a hummingbird.

16. What does Beans say to Palmer after Nipper flies off Palmer’s head and out of sight? a. “I’m going to be the best wringer there ever was!” b. “I’m going to wring that pigeon’s neck!” c. “I don’t ever want to see that pigeon near you again!”

12. What is surprising to Palmer about Beans’s house? a. It is the biggest house on the block. b. It does not have a front door. c. It is a nice, normal house.

17. Why does Palmer start staying after school? a. to avoid seeing Dorothy on the way home b. to avoid Nipper finding him when the guys are around c. to get extra help with his work

13. How does Beans handle The Treatment? a. Tears come to his eyes. b. He laughs when Farquar hits him. c. He shows no pain at all.

18. What does Palmer wish to be after his newfound popularity? a. a wringer b. nobody c. a sharpshooter

14. Why does Palmer ask Dorothy if she likes his father? a. He thinks that Dorothy is afraid of his father. b. He is confused about his own feelings about his father. c. He does not like her father.

19. What is the wringmaster’s magic word? a. wringtime b. quick c. fast 20. What does Beans do at Pigeon Day when Nipper lands on Palmer’s head? a. tells the shooter to kill the pigeon b. punches Palmer c. calls to Mutto and Henry for them to come over

15. What does Dorothy tell Palmer to do when he says he does not want to be a wringer? a. She tells him not to be one. b. She tells him to run away. c. She tells him to tell his parents.


39


Answer Key I. Chapters 1–7 Build Your Vocabulary Wording of definitions may vary. Students may remember the definitions in the Vocabulary Words to Know section of Focus Your Reading, or they may refine the definitions based on the context of the sentence and the reading overall. Students’ new sentences will vary.

Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

b a b c a

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

b b a c c

remember the definitions in the Vocabulary Words to Know section of Focus Your Reading, or they may refine the definitions based on the context of the sentence and the reading overall. Students’ new sentences will vary.

Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

b a b c c

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

a a b c b

Check Your Understanding: Short Answer 1. Some of the pigeons are trapped in the railroad yards of the great city a hundred miles to the east, and the rest are bought. 2. He concluded that all pigeons must be miserable, whether they were wounded or not. 3. When Dorothy ran away from Pigeon Day, Palmer cried. 4. Palmer discovers that pigeons are everywhere in the city. 5. He is fascinated by the way the pigeons move, walking just like people. 6. Palmer learns that his father is a pigeon shooter. 7. They take Palmer to the crates of pigeons that have been delivered for Pigeon Day. 8. He says he has to go to the bathroom and runs off. 9. Dorothy never laughs and never has any fun. 10. Palmer crushes the snow with his fist to hide the pigeon tracks.

Check Your Understanding: Short Answer 1. She says that he is a sneak, a troublemaker, and he’s got a mean streak. 2. It is the place where Pigeon Day takes place. 3. The Treatment is given by a bully in town, Farquar, on the person’s birthday. He hits the person in the arm once for each year. Once Palmer gets The Treatment, he feels accepted by the guys. 4. He always eats baked beans and smells like them, too. 5. His father wants Palmer to give the toy soldiers to his own son. 6. He has to overcome being the youngest, the shortest, and having an unusual first name. 7. He darkens his bruise with a purple crayon. 8. She is a girl, and she is younger than he is. 9. He has run out of birthdays. 10. Palmer is frustrated with Dorothy because she will not pay any attention to his bruise. While all the other kids are fascinated by it, Dorothy does not even bother looking at it.

Deepen Your Understanding Answers will vary.


Deepen Your Understanding

Build Your Vocabulary

Answers will vary.

Wording of definitions may vary. Students may remember the definitions in the Vocabulary Words to Know section of Focus Your Reading, or they may refine the definitions based on the context of the sentence and the reading overall. Students’ new sentences will vary.

II. Chapters 8–15 Build Your Vocabulary Wording of definitions may vary. Students may

40

Answer Key

Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice 1. 2. 3. 4.

b c c a

5. 6. 7. 8.

b c b a

9. a 10. c

Check Your Understanding: Short Answer 1. Roosting describes Nipper’s behavior when the sun goes down. He goes into a sleeping stupor. Nipper roosts on a shelf in Palmer’s closet. 2. Pigeons eat gravel to help them digest their food. The gravel goes into the gizzard and helps grind the food, since pigeons do not have teeth. 3. Palmer’s “alarm clock” is his pigeon nipping at his ear. 4. He chooses Honey Crunchers because they contain the most fat, and fat helps keep pigeons warm in the winter. 5. He uses Dorothy to divert the guys’ attention. They spend their time after school torturing her. 6. Beans nails the muskrat to Dorothy’s front door. 7. He says that he is treating at the deli and runs off. 8. Nipper soars up and circles the house once or twice to fix in his mind’s compass where to return. 9. She completely ignores them. She makes absolutely no reaction, no matter what they do. 10. She looks at Palmer and asks, “Why are you doing this to me?”


Check Your Understanding: Short Answer 1. Beans says that he’s not ten until he gets The Treatment. It is important to him to be ten so that he can be a wringer. 2. She tells Palmer’s mom that she wants to come in to play basketball. 3. Palmer puts a piece of cotton in Dorothy’s ear for Nipper to nip at. 4. He pretends not to know Nipper. He pretends to chase after the bird to catch him and wring him. He also suggests that it might have been a crow and not a pigeon. 5. He wears a long coat, a winter hat, and his dad’s scarf. 6. Palmer wants to stay after school so he can avoid Nipper finding him in front of the guys. He spits on the floor that first day to stay after school. 7. He faces the problem of how to avoid Nipper on the way home from school and how to keep the guys from turning against him. 8. Palmer spits on the blackboard, talks and laughs in class, takes off his shoes and socks, hides in the map closet, tickles other students, and tickles the teacher. 9. People keep pulling on the trunk of the mask, which pulls it off his face. 10. The hat is bright pink. He wears it so the wringers can easily see him.


Answers will vary.

V. Chapters 29–35 IV. Chapters 23–28 Build Your Vocabulary

Build Your Vocabulary Wording of definitions may vary. Students may remember the definitions in the Vocabulary Words to Know section of Focus Your Reading, or they may refine the definitions based on the context of the sentence and the reading overall. Students’ new sentences will vary.


b b a c

5. 6. 7. 8.

b c a a

9. b 10. b

41



b a a c

5. 6. 7. 8.

b b a a

9. c 10. b

42


Check Your Understanding: Short Answer 1. He says that it is Palmer’s choice whether he wants to be a wringer or not. 2. He takes Nipper and hides downstairs behind the sofa. 3. Palmer tells the guys that he was sleeping overnight at his cousin’s house. 4. Palmer first says no. Then he starts screaming that he doesn’t want The Treatment, he doesn’t want to be a wringer, and he doesn’t want to be Snots. Then he runs off. 5. He hides behind a Dumpster behind the supermarket. 6. Dorothy can no longer bear to carry Nipper in the basket. She doesn’t want to get rid of him. 7. Pigeons can find their way back from a long way off. Palmer rides his bike in confusing patterns, such as figure eights and zigzags, hoping that Nipper will not be able to find his way back. 8. Nipper is sitting right there at Palmer’s house waiting for them. 9. Nipper is pacing just like Palmer is pacing, turning around whenever Palmer turns. 10. He will have Dorothy take Nipper with her when she goes on vacation to the seashore with her family. She will let him go there.


Answers and alternative endings will vary.

Build Your Vocabulary

End-of-Book Test


Check Your Understanding: Multiple Choice b a c a

5. 6. 7. 8.

1. He has Henry come into his house and check out his room. Then Henry reports back to Beans and Mutto to tell them what he saw. 2. He calls Henry by his real name and tells Henry that he saw him pulling his little sister in a wagon. 3. Palmer and Dorothy avoid each other. When they see each other on the street, they say hi and turn in the other direction. 4. He stops doing all the things he once enjoyed. He buries his toy soldiers in the backyard. He stops cutting out and reading Beetle Bailey comics. He never plays basketball, and he never touches the Nerf ball. 5. He starts showing Palmer that he cares more by being more affectionate, such as patting him on the head and tickling him in the ribs. He also calls him “big guy.” 6. The people think that he is a wringer and that he is late. 7. Some walk out, some peck around for food, and some fly right out. 8. A walking pigeon is easier to shoot, and therefore, it is worth fewer points. 9. He goes over to them and wrings a pigeon’s neck right in front of them. 10. He moves right onto the field where everyone can see him.



1. 2. 3. 4.

Check Your Understanding: Short Answer

a b b c

9. a 10. c

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

b c c a b b a

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

c a b a c c b

15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

a a b b c a

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