Spadefoot Toads Reading Check: CH 1-3

After Ben took the mouse out of the cage, the mouse gets away from him. Based on his reaction, we can tell Ben is:

• impulsive

• calm

• persistent

• loud

On page 8 the author states “Ryan gives him a lopsided smile. Ben looks away. He feels like he’s balancing on a tightrope, trying to be nice to Ryan but not too nice.” Which sentence explains why Ben feels this way?

• “Here, Ben!” shouts Ryan, pounding on the desk next to his. “Sit here!”

• “Ben knows that being nice to Frankie’s favorite victim will make him atarget, too.”

• “Ryan is dancing around the circle of kids who are on their hands and kneeslooking for the mouse.”

• “Even Ryan seems to be holding still, which is a minor miracle.”

Which piece of evidence supports that Jenny is intelligent?

• “Jenny turns back to Ben again, still wearing her gap-toothed grin.”

• “Jenny’s head is always buried in a book, and it’s usually a book that doesn’t have anything to do with what they’re studying.”

• “Did you get in trouble?” she whispers.

• “Jenny gives Ben another quick smile and turns around.”

What is preventing Ben from feeling comfortable in Massachusetts?

• A mouse was loose in his classroom.

• He is missing a box of personal items after the move.

• Ryan wants to be Ben’s friend, but Ben doesn’t want to be friends.

• There was a toad inside Ben’s house.

On page 13, Jenny is described as a “book sponge”. What does this figurative language mean?

• Jenny’s book was wet.

• Jenny’s book needed to be cleaned with a sponge.

• Jenny likes to read books about sponges.

• Jenny remembers everything she reads.

“He pulls out a box of cereal and pours some out in his hand, then wolfs it down dry.” In this sentence, the word “wolfs” means:

• To eat quickly

• A dog-like animal

• Clean

• Spill