From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Section 1: Chapters 1-3
Vocabulary
extravagant: going beyond what is reasonable or suitable; wasteful, especially of money
inconspicuous: not readily noticeable
injustice: absence of justice; violation of the rights of another; an unjust act
monotony: sameness of tone or sound; a lack of change that makes something boring
stifle: to not allow yourself to do or others to do or express something; to make something difficult or impossible
tyranny: a government in which all power belongs to one person; an act or the pattern of harsh, cruel, and unfair control over other people
wholeheartedly: fully or completely sincere, enthusiastic, energetic
Vocabulary Sentences
When mom took her shopping, Peyton thought getting three new dresses was extravagant.
The gray cat wanted to be inconspicuous while the guests arrived for the party.
The monotony of her voice made it difficult to listen to the lecture on how to multiply fractions.
While listening to the solo piano concert, I forced myself to stifle a sneeze.
There are many people around the world who suffer greatly under tyranny.
Iris’s mother wholeheartedly enjoyed reading out loud to her every single day.
Comprehension Questions
Claudia thinks her kind of running away is different because she isn’t just running from somewhere, but running to the a beautiful place called the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (pg. 5)
Claudia chooses Jamie because he could be quiet, he was sometimes good for a laugh, and he was rich because he saved every penny. (pg. 6)
Claudia prepares for her journey by studying maps, a Tourguide book, museum pamphlets, saving her allowance, and creating a specialized geography course for herself. (pg. 8)
Claudia finds a ten-ride train pass in her parents’ wastebasket that will help with her plan. (pg. 9-10)
At first, Jamie feels that Claudia is picking on him but then he is flattered. (pg. 14)
Jamie has so much money because he gambles with Bruce every week. (pg. 16)
Jamie’s money is in change because Bruce pays him with pennies and nickels. (pg. 22-23)
Jamie thinks they will be hiding out in the woods. (pg. 23)
Claudia mails one letter to her parents telling them they have run away and one letter with box tops from corn flakes so she can receive twenty-five cents. (pg. 26)
Claudia is glad that Jamie is with her because he would keep track of all their money, and because he helped her to be courageous. (pg. 27)
Claudia thinks they should walk up Madison Avenue instead of Fifth Avenue because she is afraid she will want to spend all their money. (pg. 29)
The three types of people who visit the museum on Wednesdays are gentle old ladies, tourists, and art students. (pg. 31-32)
Claudia decides that she and Jamie will spend the night in a canopy bed. (pg. 36-38)
Claudia thinks about hushed and quiet words to help her sleep on her first night at the museum. (pg. 41)
Section 2: Chapters 4-5
Vocabulary
acquisition: something or someone acquired or gained
accumulate: to gather or pile up especially little by little
essence: the basic part of something; a substance made from a plant or drug and having its special qualities
intrigue: to arouse the interest or curiosity of
peculiar: strange, odd, uncommon, unusual
perilous: dangerous; involving or full of grave risk
sarcophagus: a stone coffin
Vocabulary Sentences
The professional basketball team announced their surprise acquisition of a new player.
There are countless stories of perilous travels during the Westward Expansion.
The stray cat looked peculiar with its half-tail sticking straight out behind him.
The mystery of the open candy wrappers all over the floor did intrigue her.
Freedom is the essence of democracy.
When the children visited the museum, they were captivated by the sarcophagus.
Comprehension Questions
Claudia and Jamie feel unwashed and very hungry when they wake up after their first night at the museum. (pg. 43)
Claudia and Jamie decide to pick a new gallery each day and then learn everything they could in the museum. (pg. 47)
Jamie chooses the Hall of Italian Renaissance first because it sounded important and was so much to learn that he hoped Claudia would give up her idea of learning about it. (pg. 47)
Claudia sensed the danger of Jamie having his picture taken by the photographer and then having her parents find out where they are. (pg. 52)
Jamie asks the lady teaching the class about ancient Egypt how much it cost to become a mummy. (pg. 55)
The museum believes that Michelangelo might be the artist of the Angel statue. (pg. 58)
The museum paid $225.00 for the statue. (pg. 59)
Mr. Frankweiler amassed his fortune from the corn oil industry and for developing many corn products. (pg. 60)
Claudia and Jamie go to the Donnell Branch Library on Fifty-third Street. (pg. 69)
The experts decide whether a statue was sculpted by Michelangelo by looking at the evidence, such as his sketches, diaries, and also the tools used to sculpt the statue. (pg. 74)
Claudia and Jamie are living with the statue, which none of the experts can do. (pg. 75)
While hiding in the bathroom, Jamie learns that the men are moving the Angel statue. (pg. 78-79)
Claudia and Jamie find coins that people had tossed into the fountain to make wishes. (pg. 84)
The last time Claudia and Jamie were homesick was when their dad dropped them off at Aunt Zell’s house to take their mom to the hospital to get Kevin. (pg. 86)
Section 3: Chapters 6-8
Vocabulary
accustom: to cause to become adjusted or familiar with something
familiarity: the state of being familiar with something or having a good knowledge of something; close friendship
stealth: intended not to attract attention
consensus: a general agreement about something; an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group
quarry: a diamond-shaped pane of glass, stone, or tile; to dig or take stone or other materials from a quarry; an animal or bird hunted as game or prey
heroine: a woman admired for great deeds or fine qualities; the chief female character in a story, poem, or play
disclose: to make known
Vocabulary Sentences
She hopes to become more accustomed to the freezing weather when she moves from California to Colorado.
The family consensus is that there should be pizza for dinner every Friday night.
Her familiarity with Disneyland made it easy for her to tell others the best places to eat.
Elizabeth Bennet is one of a favorite heroine for many who have read Pride and Prejudice.
Amanda is afraid to disclose her math grade to her parents.
The cat was stealth and sly when waiting to pounce on the mouse.
Comprehension Questions
Jamie reminded Claudia to say she was sorry for stealing the newspaper, and this made it officially Sunday for Jamie. (pg. 88)
Claudia and Jamie discover the mark on the bottom of the statue when they see the rings crushed into the velvet. (pg. 92)
The close calls had become unimportant to Claudia because they wouldn’t matter in the end when the end had something to do with Michelangelo. (pg. 94)
Claudia and Jamie can’t tell the New York Times or the Metropolitan Museum about their discovery because then they will have to tell that they have been living at the museum. (pg. 96)
Claudia plans to rent a mailbox, and then deliver a typed letter to the museum about the discovery. (p. 102)
Claudia and Jamie decide to look for a a kid from a school group to be their messenger to deliver their letter to the museum. (pg. 104)
Claudia and Jamie overhear Jamie’s teacher talking to a group of kids from their school. (pg. 106)
Claudia and Jamie don’t want to check the post office box for a response because they want to keep their hopes up. (pg. 110)
After the tour of the U.N., Claudia realizes that wearing saris are a way of being different. (pg. 113)
The three possibilities the museum has considered regarding the creation of the statue are that the work was designed and done by Michelangelo himself, the work was designed by Michelangelo but done by someone else, orthe work was neither designed nor done by Michelangelo. (pg. 115)
Claudia would have felt better if the letter had been nasty or sarcastic instead of a polite letter of rejection. (pg. 117)
Jamie lectures Claudia for never being satisfied. (pg. 120)
Claudia and Jamie decide to go to Farmington to find Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in order to continue their research. (pg. 122)
Claudia and Jamie get to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’s house by hailing a taxi cab. (pg. 123)
Section 4: Chapters 9-10
Vocabulary
murmur: to say something in a quiet and soft voice; to make a low, continuous sound
annoy: to disturb or irritate especially by repeated acts
clause: grammar: a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb; a separate part of a legal document
emit: to send light, energy, etc., out from a source; to make a certain sound
frantic: feeling or showing fear and worry; having wild and hurried activity
saunter: to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner
pauper: a very poor person
Vocabulary Sentences
Ezra’s mother asked him not to murmur when she asks him a question.
The small heat lamp emitted just enough warmth for the tortoise to hibernate in the glass cage all winter.
My dad became frantic when he realized he had locked his keys in the car.
The elderly man sauntered down the street, feeling the warm sunshine on his face.
The little girl liked to annoy her big sister by hiding her favorite book.
A pauper deserves to be treated with just as much kindness as a prince.
Comprehension Questions
Jamie tells Claudia that they have just traded safety for adventure. (pg. 125)
Jamie explains that they want to see Mrs. Frankweiler because they are seeking information about the Italian Renaissance. (pg. 126)
Mrs. Frankweiler knows that Claudia and Jamie are runaways because she saw their pictures in the newspapers. (pg. 128)
Mrs. Frankweiler finds out that Claudia and Jamie have been staying at the museum when Jamie accidentally tells her how Claudia made them take baths there. (pg. 134)
Claudia says that hiding and not being discovered was the best part of living away from home, and the Angel statue became even more important than running away. (pg. 139)
Claudia doesn’t want to tell Mrs. Frankweiler where they have been hiding because then she knows her adventure will be over. (pg. 139)
Claudia and Jamie find the correct file in Mrs. Frankweiler’s filing cabinets, and she filed it under B because she bought Angel in Bologna, Italy. (pg. 142, 145, 147)
The children find a piece of paper with a poem or sonnet written in Italian on one side with Michelangelo’s signature and a sketch of Angel on the other side. (pg. 146)
Mrs. Frankweiler acquired the sketch of the angel while beating an Italian nobleman at a game of careds. (pg. 148)
Mrs. Frankweiler makes sure Claudia and Jamie will not tell anyone about the sketch by giving them the sketch in her will, because if they tell about the sketch, then they will be taken out of her will. (pg. 149)
Planning the runaway had been such fun for Claudia because she loved secrets. (pg. 151)
Mrs. Frankweiler doesn’t want to give the sketch to the museum because she doesn’t want to doubt what she believes is the truth about the statue. (pg. 152)
Claudia thinks Mrs. Frankweiler sold the statue just for the fun and excitement of it. (pg. 158)
