The Mystery of the Cactus Arm

At first, why doesn’t Oliver want to take Calvin’s bet about breaking the cactus arm?

• Oliver doesn’t think he can break the cactus arm.

• Oliver’s parents are trying to save the arm.

• Oliver doesn’t want to get a wasp sting.

• Oliver’s dad wants to take the arm down himself.

What are TWO reasons that Oliver finally agrees to Calvin’s bet?

• Calvin is Oliver’s next-door neighbor

• Oliver wants Calvin to stop teasing him

• Calvin is Oliver’s next-door neighbor

• Calvin offers Oliver 15 dollars

In the sentence “Here he goes again with his taunting,” what does the word taunting mean?

• complaining

• gossiping

• speaking

• teasing

How long does Oliver’s dad say it takes a cactus to grow an arm?

• a few weeks

• a hundred years

• several months

• 2 or 3 days

How does Oliver feel when he hears the whispers at night?

• frightened

• satisfied

• dissapointed

• exhausted

What does Oliver do to make the whispering go away?

• promises to make things right

• breaks off the cactus arm

• makes a bet with Calvin

• convinces Calvin to stop betting with him

What do you think is one important lesson Oliver learns from his experiences in the story? Answer using details from the text.

At the beginning of the story, Oliver doesn’t think the cactus arm is a big deal. How does he feel about cactuses by the end? What changed his mind?

Which word means "falling or dropping suddenly"?

• hurling

• wedged

• penalty

• plummeting

• begrudgingly

Which word means "a punishment"?

• hurling

• wedged

• penalty

• plummeting

• begrudgingly