Where the Red Fern Grows
Comprehension for Chapters 12 - 15

1. Papa wanted Billy to ________________.
a) gather fire wood
b) take the corn to be milled
c) clean the barn
d) help Grandpa in his store

2. What bet does Grandpa and Billy make with Rubin and Rainie?
a) Billy could not catch three coons in one night.
b) Billy's coonhounds could catch the ghost coon.
c) Billy couldn't chop down the big sycamore.
d) That Billy could not stay up all night long and hunt without falling asleep.

3. Why was the raccoon called the ghost coon?
a) The coon made a howling sound like a ghost.
b) The coon was white, the color of a ghost.
c) The coon seemed to disappear when he reached the huge oak tree.
d) The coon could run so fast, it seemed like he was floating.

4. How was the ghost coon able to hide from the hunters?
a) He dropped down into a hollow fence post.
b) He climbed from the oak tree to the maple then down to the ground.
c) He could swim the river
d) He went through and underground tunnel.

5. Old Dan gets into a fight with ________.
a) Old Blue
b) the ghost coon
c) a skunk
d) a porcupine

6. What happened to Rubin?
a) He fell on the ax.
b) He fell in the river.
c) He fell over the cliff.
d) He was bitten by a mountain lion.

7. What did Billy do to pay his respects?
a) went to the funeral
b) wrote a letter to the Pritchards
c) took a pie to the Pritchard's home
d) put flowers on Rubin's grave

8. Why did Grandpa feel the accident was his fault?
a) He gave Billy the ax.
b) He called the bet and gave Billy the $2.
c) He wished something bad would happen to the Pritchards.

9. Billy, Grandpa, and Papa were going ________________.
a) to buy Mama a house in town
b) to town to sell furs
c) to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee
d) to the Championship Coon Hunt

10. Grandpa, Papa, and Billy traveled to the contest by ____________.
a) train
b) buggy
c) mule
d) walking

11. What happened that caused Billy to think he would have bad luck?
a) He heard two owls.
b) A black cat crossed his path.
c) He broke a mirror.
d) He walked under a ladder.

12. Why did Billy win a small silver cup?
a) Dan was the best looking hound.
b) Ann and Dan were the smallest coonhounds.
c) Ann won a beauty contest.
d) Dan was the fastest runner.

13. Which statement from the story is an opinion?
a) Old Dan's face was a scarred, caused from the many fights with coons and bobcats.
b) Ann's short red hair glistened and every one was in perfect place.
c) Little Ann and a big walker hound owned by a Mr. Kyle were the only ones left.
d) During the commotion I felt hands slapping me on the back, and heard the word "congratulations" time after time.

14. Which sentence from the story supports the conclusion that Grandpa felt Billy was growing up?
a) Grandpa was getting excited. Off came his glasses and out came the old red handkerchief. He blew his breath on the lens and polished them.
b) After I had had my say, Grandpa stood looking down at the ground. There was a deep frown on his face, and a hurt in his eyes.
c) Grandpa poured the coffee. Instead of the two cups I expected to see, he set out three and filled them to the brim with the strong black liquid. "I'm not only big enough to help Papa with the farm. Now I'm big enough to drink coffee."
d) Grandpa almost jumped as he answered, "No, sir, not just any hound can be entered. They have to be the best, and they have to be registered, too."

15. Which statement is true about the theme of Where the Red Fern Grows?
a) Dogs are man's best friend.
b) Slow and steady wins the race.
c) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
d) Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

16. In this book the author probably chose to use first person point of view because ______________.
a) he wanted to move from one character's to another character's perspectives of the situation
b) he wanted to be able to pull away from a close character relationship so the reader could see the story from a "distance"
c) he wanted the reader to better relate the close friendship between Billy and his dogs



----------Key----------

1. (b)
2. (b)
3. (c)
4. (a)
5. (a)
6. (a)
7. (d)
8. (b)
9. (d)
10. (b)
11. (a)
12. (c)
13. (b)
14. (c)
15. (a)
16. (c)