IMPORTANT: Comprehension questions will be in chronological order as you read through the story. Page numbers are approximate, and will vary with different editions of the book.
Section 1: Chapters 1-6
Vocabulary
- camphor: the oil extracted from camphor trees that is usually used in ointments and lotions
- disheveled: an untidy appearance
- exertion: physical or mental work
- impetuous: to do something quickly or carelessly
- involuntary: out of ones control
- listless: lacking enthusiasm for a task
- patronize: to appear helpful, but condescending
Comprehension Questions
- Rose meets Phebe when she hears her making bird noises in the kitchen. pg. 4
- Rose says, “I’m afraid of horses, and boats make me ill, and I hate boys!” pg. 9
- Rose nearly loses her breath when she walks in to the parlor and sees her seven cousins. pg. 11
- The boys take Rose to the barn and show her three ponies and a dog-cart. pg. 15
- The boys request marmalade, plum-cake, baked pears, lemon-pie, fritters, and tarts for tea time. pg. 19
- The person Rose sees is described as brown, breezy, broad-shouldered, strong, alert, and wearing a blue jacket. pg. 25
- Uncle Alec decides that Rose should stop drinking coffee and should start drinking milk instead. pg. 29-32
- Uncle Alec makes Rose eat oatmeal for breakfast and she detests it. pg. 34
- Rose says that Aunt Peace had a sad romantic life and that this gave her a tender charm. pg. 39
- The Aunts discuss the way Rose was raised when she is talking with Aunt Peace. pg. 40-44
- Uncle Alec makes Rose run a lap around the garden after milking in the morning. pg. 51
- Rose plans to adopt Phebe. pg. 59
- When Uncle Alec returns from abroad, he proposes a drive to disperse gifts to all the aunts and cousins. pg. 62
- Phebe and Uncle Alec surprise with her very own room. pg. 70-72
Section 2: Chapters 7-12
Vocabulary
- beseech: to beg someone to do something
- confound: to cause confusion in someone
- gallant: heroic or brave
- melodrama: an exaggerated dramatic work of fiction
- quell: to put an end to something by force
- smattering: a small amount of something
- spire: a long object that tapers in shape
Comprehension Questions
- The last remedy Uncle Alec had for Rose was gardening, and the latest was a trip to the beach. pg. 74
- Rose meets a man named Fun See who she finds delightful. pg. 78-79
- Rose and Uncle Alec see the cousins when they are rowing home and this makes them want to race. pg. 83
- Uncle Alec is looking over the list of books and is disappointed because he thought Rose was planning on studying surgery or farming. pg. 86-87
- Uncle Alec says that Rose is going to be rich, and Rose responds that she wants to give her money away. pg. 91-92
- Aunt Jane is angry that Rose is staying up and reading trashy books. pg. 93
- Uncle Alec invites Rose to go to the island in the small boat. pg. 99
- Rose and Uncle Alec discover a campsite on the island and Rose is excited to spend a few days there. pg. 103-105
- The children play make believe games pretending to be historical figures after consuming the chowder. pg. 112
- Rose decides to do the chores for Phebe so that she can have fun and play with the boys. pg. 114-115 Uncle Mac takes rose to the city and they see fireworks. pg. 118-119
- After having a sun stroke, Mac loses his vision. pg. 121-122
- Mac responds to the fact that he may go blind with anger, saying that he will disobey the doctors’ orders to avoid reading. pg. 127
- Rose tells Charlie, Steve, and Archie, to help Mac by reading stories to him and not talking about things he can’t do. pg. 140
Section 3: Chapters 13-18
Vocabulary
- audacious: willing to take risks
- dilapidated: neglected and in disrepair
- lament: an expression of sadness
- personage: a character in a book
- perturb: to make someone anxious
- petulant: bad-tempered and childish
- unmitigated: absolute or total
Comprehension Questions
- Uncle Alec ordered Mac and Rose to the mountains for a month to deal with their boredom and caginess. pg. 143
- Mother Atkinson is loved by everyone because she is merry and busy. pg. 145
- The “Cozy Corner Light Infantry” is a marching band. pg. 146
- Mac was the busiest of the guests at Portland because he was invited to survey the town of Skeeterville. pg. 154-55
- Rose exemplifies the saying in that after she describes how grand her entrance will be, her horse is spooked by a few chickens, causing her to fall off. pg. 154
- The final gift Rose receives from Uncle Alec is a set of miniature figurines of her mother and father. pg. 166
- Mac entertained Rose by allowing her to teach him how to knit. pg. 169
- Annabel Bliss bring Rose down from her high horse by showing Rose her earrings; Rose can’t resist pretty things. pg. 172-173
- The cousins gather round the fireplace to tell stories to one another. pg. 178
- Uncle Alec convinces Rose to take up housekeeping. Pg. 185.
- Aunt Plenty and Aunt Peace teach Rose how to bake a loaf of bread. pg. 189-194
- Charlie agrees to give up smoking cigars if Rose gives up wearing her earrings. pg. 198-199
- Aunt Jesse forces Will and Geordie to give up reading. pg. 200-205
- The outfit that the aunts force Rose to try on is very extravagant and impractical while Uncle Alec’s is modest and comfortable. pg. 210
Section 4: Chapters 19-24
Vocabulary
- allusion: making a reference to something without mentioning it by name
- doleful: mournful or expressing sorrow
- entice: to attract someone with something they want
- insinuate: to hint at something with an indirect reference
- marrow: the substance contained within bones
- penitent: showing regret for doing something wrong
- promenade: a paved public area for walking
Comprehension Questions
- Rose is learning about the bones in the human body and Myra is shocked because Rose greets her from behind a human rib cage. pg. 222-223
- Mac discovers that parents are too focused on their work and housekeeping and not concerned enough with their children. pg. 227-228
- Rose Makes Phebe promise to open their presents together because it is more enjoyable if they do it together. pg. 233
- The first presents Rose receives are a set of skates and a sled, and she is delighted to receive them. pg. 234
- The boys teach Rose how to skate before dinner and the aunts are angry because her cheeks become red the curls in her hair straighten out. pg. 236
- Fun See changed his appearance in that he dressed in a more American style and cut his hair. pg. 237
- Charlie dares Rose to kiss Mac under the mistletoe and Rose turns the dare around by kissing her uncle Mac instead of her cousin. pg. 245
- When Mac forgets about the skating date, Rose waits in the cold and get pneumonia. pg. 251
- Rose decides to teach Phebe how to read and write, and regrets not doing so long ago. pg. 262-263
- Uncle Alec seems angry at first, but agrees to the plan and thinks it is a splendid idea. pg. 269
- Archie and Charlie are fighting because Archie doesn’t like some of the boys Charlie is friends with, and Steve asks Rose for five dollars. pg. 275-276
- Rose confronts Charlie by telling him to apologize to Archie, and he responds with anger. pg. 279-283
- Rose discovers that girls are made for taking care of boys. pg. 287
- Rose chooses to live her days out with Uncle Alec because she loves him best and she is happiest with him. pg. 298-299