The Man in the Well

When the kids find a man in a well, they…

• leave him to play hide and seek.
• decide to not go for help.
• use a flashlight to see him.
• go find an adult who can help.

What do the children do with the man in the well?

• They ask him whether he needs any water.
• They make a plan to get him out of the well.
• They ask him a series of questions.
• They mock him and tell him they will not help him.

What do the children do when they return to the well?

• They bring the man water and lie about going to the police.
• They discover that the well is deeper than it looks.
• They finally decide to go to Aaron's dad for help.
• They tell the man their names and give him water.

Wendy makes the mistake of…

• telling the man that they lied about getting help.
• revealing one of their names to the man.
• leaning too close and letting the man see her face.
• revealing that Aaron's dad is a police officer.

How do the children react to the man saying Aaron's name?

• They run away from the well.
• They are scared by Aaron's anger.
• They continue as usual, unfazed.
• They are shocked and embarrassed.

Why do the children become angry with Aaron?

• Aaron tells the man all of their names.
• Aaron tells the man the truth about the police.
• Aaron knows that the man won't tell them his name.
• Aaron forces the other kids to stay at the well.

It is implied at the end of the story that…

• the children tell their parents about the man.
• none of the adults believe the man in the well exists.
• the friends remain close because of their secret.
• the children leave the man to die in the well.

Which of the following best describes a main theme of the text?

• Children help others only when they feel fear or embarrassment.
• People can act in cruel ways when they hold power over others.
• Anyone can be a hero, but it is a choice people have to make.
• Distrust of strangers has caused modern society to become less caring.

Why do you think the children do not help the man in the well?