TKAM Chapters 3 to 7 Comprehension Questions

From chapter 3 of TKAM, Scout gets reprimanded by Calpurnia...

• because Scout embarrassed Walter Cunningham at school.

• because Scout pitched a fit at the lunch table when Walter Cunningham poured nearly all of their molasses on his plate.

• when Scout refused to obey orders.

• when Scout reported that she got in trouble at school.

What event in chapter 3 sparked a conversation between Scout and Atticus about "bend[ing] laws"?

• Burris Ewell was shouting profanities at Miss Caroline, and he was allowed to go home as a result instead of being punished by a police officer.

• Burris Ewell was allowed to stay home from school because of his "cootie" issue. He usually would extend his out-of-school period for months. Scout was trying to understand how this was legally allowed.

• As he was leaving school, Burris Ewell had spoken disrespectfully to Miss Caroline when she gave orders for him to sit back in his seat. He usually came to school one day out of the year and was not chased down by a truancy officer. Scout was trying to understand why he didn't have to come to school when it was against the law.

From chapter 3 of TKAM, for whom does Atticus think it is okay to bend laws?

• Atticus believes the Radley's can bend the laws because they seldom are seen in society and may not understand Maycomb's ways.

• Atticus explains to Scout that Bob Ewell can bend the laws because his children pay the price for his mistakes.

• Atticus believes children who are still developing should receive mercy when they make mistakes.

From chapter 4 of TKAM, what presents do Scout and Jem receive from a knot-hole in a tree?

• Scout and Jem receive two pieces of Wrigley Double Mint chewing gum and two polished pennies.

• Jem and Scout receive two pieces of Wrigley Double Mint chewing gum and two nickels.

• Jem and Scout receive several pieces of tin foil and two lemon drops.

From chapter 5 of TKAM, Miss Maudie is described as how by Scout?

• Scout's neighbor is a "benevolent" or kind woman who lets the Finch children play in her yard and eat her scuppernongs.

• Scout's neighbor is described as a mean, old lady who refuses to allow kids to step foot on her immaculate lawn.

• Miss Maudie is quiet and reserved. She sits on her front porch only on Sundays.

In chapter 6 of TKAM, what do Scout, Jem, and Dill do on the last day of summer before Dill heads back to Meridian?

• The trio tried to climb a tree in the Radley yard to see if Boo was still alive.

• The three children used Miss Maudie's scuppernongs to throw at the windows of the Radley house.

• The trio decided to go fishing with Aunt Rachel's (Dill's aunt) fishing poles.

• The trio decided to make a late night excursion through the Radley yard to peek in windows in hopes of seeing Boo.

What did Jem, Scout, and Dill witness and hear during their summer escapade?

• The children witness two shadows inside the Radley place and immediately hear footsteps near the porch where they were hiding.

• The three children saw a shadow of a man outside too close to where they were. As they were fleeing, they hear a gunshot.

• The children saw a shadow of a man outside close to where they were, and then they heard an argument inside the Radley place.

Continuing in chapter 6, what happened to Jem while at the Radley place?

• While Jem was trying to get Dill and Scout to safety by having them go under the wired fence, Jem tried to follow behind them. He got his pants caught on the fence and was forced to leave them behind.

• While Scout and Dill ran for cover, Jem got caught by Nathan Radley, who immediately pulled him back into the Radley house.

• Jem, the last kid to flee from the Radley place, got wedged between fences and could not free himself before Nathan Radley found him.

At the end of chapter 6 and after the frightening experience, what did Jem decide to do without Atticus knowing? Why?

• Jem decided that he must get his pants back from the Radley place to avoid neighbors seeing them the next morning and reporting the truth to Atticus.

• Jem knew that Dill covered for him, telling Atticus a lie about the loss of Jem's pants. Atticus believed him and expected Jem to retrieve his pants from Dill's by morning. He had to get the pants back to avoid further trouble.

• Jem knew that Atticus expected retrieval of his pants. Jem told Scout, late into the evening, that he was going back to the Radley place for his pants because he believed Nathan Radley would find them and tell Atticus, or worse.

What did Jem later reveal about the retrieval of his pants to Scout in chapter 7 of TKAM?

• Jem told Scout that when he went back to get his pants, Nathan Radley was waiting on the porch. Radley threatened Jem and told him to never return to his house.

• Jem revealed to Scout that when he went to retrieve his pants, repairs had been made to fix the tears, and they had been folded neatly.

• Jem revealed to Scout that a secret message from Boo had been hidden in the pocket of the pants.