Who Stole My Cactus Arm?

Which character is telling the story?

• Calvin

• Oliver

• the cactus

• the park ranger

At the beginning of the story, the arm of

the cactus is being held up by a board. It

had almost been knocked down by ______.

• Oliver

• Calvin

• a storm

• a fire

Oliver agrees to Calvin’s bet because he wants the 15 dollars. What is another reason he agrees to the bet?

• Oliver wants to make Calvin happy.

• Oliver wants Calvin to stop teasing him.

• Oliver is mad at his father.

• Oliver hates the cactus.

When Oliver first knocks down the board, you can guess that he feels ______.

• guilty

• angry

• scared

• pleased

Oliver starts to feel differently about knocking down the board when he learns that ______.

• it takes 100 years for a saguaro cactus to grow an arm

• cactuses have thorns

• the video game he wants costs more than 15 dollars

• Calvin won't stop teasing him

In the sentence, “‘Here,’ he says reluctantly,” the word reluctantly means that Calvin ______.

• has decided not to give Oliver the money

• left the money at home

• is happy to give Oliver the money

• is not happy to give Oliver the money

Which sentence best shows that Oliver feels scared when he hears the whispering voice at night?

• "I pull the covers up to my trembling chin."

• "I realize it's Calvin, trying to prank me."

• "Then I let out a big sigh of relief."

• "The whispering stops."

What does Oliver do with the 15 dollars at the end of the story?

• He gives it back to Calvin.

• He buys a video game.

• He donates it to the Saguaro National Park.

• He buys his parents a new cactus.

What do you think causes the whispers Oliver hears at night during the storm?

At the beginning of the story, Oliver doesn’t understand why the cactus arm is a big deal to his parents. How does he feel about cactuses by the end of the story?