2. What do the "strange names" (8) talked about at the family dinner party allude to?
(a) They are the names of family members buried in the family graveyard.
(b) They are the places that the family plans to travel in Europe.
(c) They are the neighbor families who have lost children in World War I.
(d) They are the locations of World War I battles.

3. Why does Mama make Brother return to the table when he is trying to get outside to see the ibis?
(a) He was rude to Doodle and she wants him to apologize.
(b) His father was in the middle of saying something to him.
(c) He has knocked over his chair and forgotten to excuse himself.
(d) He is not finished eating.

4. Where are Doodle's cart and coffin in the time when this story is being told?
(a) In the front room of the house.
(b) Still in the loft in the barn.
(c) They have been thrown away.
(d) They were buried with Doodle.

5. What do Doodle and Brother leave to do after lunch?
(a) Box at Old Woman Swamp.
(b) Go rowing at Horsehead Landing.
(c) Climb vines at Old Woman Swamp.
(d) Search to see if they can find the ibis's mate.

6. On what does Brother blame his cruelty toward Doodle?
(a) The unfair burden of having to take care of his brother.
(b) His jealousy of Doodle's happy temperment.
(c) His embarrassment and shame due to Doodle's disability.
(d) His own nature and his love for Doodle.

7. How old is Doodle when he begins to try to move himself?
(a) 2.
(b) 3.
(c) 4.
(d) 1.

8. Where do Doodle and Brother imagine living when they are older?
(a) In a houseboat.
(b) New York City.
(c) In a treehouse.
(d) Old Woman Swamp.

9. What area is the ibis native to?
(a) Africa.
(b) The American South.
(c) South America to Florida
(d) Canada and the American North.

10. What is the "caul" that Doodle is born with?
(a) A full head of hair.
(b) A red, bird-shaped birthmark.
(c) A piece of the sac that protected him before he was born.
(d) A hand that is curved like a hook.

11. What do Doodle and Brother do to pass the time when they are out and need to stop walking so that Doodle can rest?
(a) They make up stories.
(b) They take turns reading to each other.
(c) They practice throwing a ball.
(d) They imagine their future together.

12. What does Brother know is covering the casket that he makes Doodle touch?
(a) Bird droppings.
(b) Cockroaches.
(c) Poison.
(d) Spiderwebs.

13. When Doodle first begins to move, how does Mama feel?
(a) Apathetic.
(b) Puzzled.
(c) Overjoyed.
(d) Anxious.

14. In what year does Brother train Doodle?
(a) 1912.
(b) 1914.
(c) 1918.
(d) 1916.

15. Why does Brother cry when everyone hugs him for teaching Doodle to walk?
(a) He knows that he did it for the wrong reasons.
(b) He rarely gets the family's attention.
(c) He is so relieved that everything went just right.
(d) He is afraid he might have hurt Doodle and they will find out.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Brother says that the smell of the graveyard flowers is coming through their windows and "speaking softy the names of our dead" (1), this is an example of which literary technique?

2. How does the family react when the boys reveal that Doodle can walk?

3. How does Brother motivate Doodle to keep trying to learn to walk?

4. What is "Doodle" short for?

5. What are Doodle's last words?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 661 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample