Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

​Reading: Use Prior Knowledge to Make Predictions

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Predicting means making an intelligent guess about what will happen next in a story based on details in the text. You can also use prior knowledge to make predictions. For example, if a story introduces a mongoose and a snake and you know that mongooses and snakes are natural enemies, you can predict that the story will involve a conflict between the two animals.

Open Ended

When Teddy’s mother first sees Rikki, he appears to be dead, but she says, “No, . . . let’s take him in and dry him. Perhaps he isn’t really dead.” Based on this quotation and your prior knowledge, what can you predict will happen to Rikki?

Open Ended

Using prior knowledge and the information contained in the following passage from “Rikki-tikki-tavi,” what can you predict will happen next?

Darzee and his wife only cowered down in the nest without answering, for from the thick grass at the foot of the bush there came a low hiss.

Literary Analysis: Plot

Plot is the related sequence of events in a short story and other works of fiction. A plot has the following elements:

• Exposition: introduction of the setting, the characters, and the basic situation

• Rising Action: events that introduce a conflict, or struggle, and increase the tension

• Climax: the story’s high point, at which the eventual outcome becomes clear

• Falling Action: events that follow the climax

• Resolution: the final outcome and tying up of loose ends, when the reader learns how the conflict is resolved

Open Ended

Who are the characters, and what is the setting described in the exposition?

Open Ended

How do you know that the appearance of Nag is part of the rising action?

Open Ended

What happens in the climax of “Rikki-tikki-tavi”?

Open Ended

Describe one event in the falling action of the story.

Open Ended

What happens in the resolution of “Rikki-tikki-tavi”?

Multiple Choice

What kind of animal is Rikki-Tikki?

• a cat

• a muskrat

• a mongoose

• a snake

Multiple Choice

In Rikki-tikki a flood takes Rikki from his burrow to a garden where an English man finds him. In what part of the plot does the flood take place?

• The Climax

• The resolution

• The falling action

• the exposition

Multiple Choice

At the beginning of Rikki-Tikki, which characteristic does Rikki display as soon as he has warmed up?

• Greed

• Bravery

• Curiosity

• Laziness

Multiple Choice

Based on this quote what can you predict will happen next?

"No," Said his mother; "Let's take him in and dry him. Perhaps he isn't really dead."

• Rikki will probably live

• The mother will become Rikki's only friend

• Rikki will die soon

• Rikki will fight Nag and Nagaina

Multiple Choice

Based on the following passage from the story, what do you think it means when Rikki's tail grows "bottlebrushy."

"This is a splendid hunting ground," Rikki said, and his tail grew bottlebrushy at the thought of it.

• Rikki is hungry

• Rikki is ready to run

• Rikki is excited

• Rikki is afraid

Multiple Choice

When Rikki first explores the garden, a conflict is introduced. Whom is the conflict between?

• Nag and Nagaina

• Rikki-Tikki and Nag

• Rikki-Tikki and Darzee

• Darzee and Darzee's wife

Multiple Choice

What prediction can you make based on your prior knowledge and this quote from the story?

"Teddy is safer with that little beast than if he had a bloodhound to watch him. If a snake came into the nursery now -"

• The snakes are NOT a threat to Teddy

• Rikki will fail to protect Teddy

• Rikki will protect Teddy from the snakes

• Rikk will attack Teddy

Multiple Choice

After Rikki kills Karait, how does he feel?

• Confident

• Tired

• Jealous

• defeated

Multiple Choice

Who is Nagaina in the story?

• Nag's wife

• Nag's father

• Nag's sister

• Nag's mother

Multiple Choice

The birds and frog rejoice, and the Coppersmith sings, "Ding-dong-tock! Nag is dead!" In which part of the plot do these events take place?

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

• Exposition

• Climax

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes Rikki's character?

• He is selfish

• He is fierce and bloodthirsty

• He is brave and loyal

• he is loving and shy