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 1-3
Vocabulary
- punctual: to be on time
- compass: a device that shows direction
- inconvenient: difficult or annoying
- obliged: to have to do something
- queer: strange or odd
- hold: storage space under a boat’s deck
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- He was a very punctual man and never late for dinner. (Ch. 3, pg. 13)
- He took chewing gum, two dozen pink lollipops, a package of rubber bands, black rubber boots, a compass, a toothbrush… (Ch. 2, pg. 11)
- It made visiting inconvenient and mail deliveries slow, particularly during the Christmas rush. (Ch. 2, pg. 7)
- “I’d be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk.” (Ch. 1, pg. 1)
- A nightwatchman was on duty, so while the cat made loud queer noises to distract his attention, my father ran over the gangplank onto the ship. (Ch. 2, pg. 11)
- My father hid in the hold for six days and nights. (Ch. 3, pg. 13)
Vocabulary Sentences
- The vacuum cleaner made a queer noise when the bag was clogged.
- It was inconvenient for Cindy to drive across town to deliver lunch.
- It is important to be punctual on the first day of school.
- Joseph felt obliged to help the kind old lady across the street.
- The ship’s captain used a compass to help him navigate the long ocean journey.
- The cargo headed for Japan was loaded into the ship’s hold.
Comprehension Questions
- The old alley cat is surprised that the little boy cared about her. (Ch. 1, pg. 9)
- The cat saw something on Wild Island that made her want to weep. (Ch. 1, pg. 13)
- A very wide and muddy river practically cuts Wild Island in two. (Ch. 2, pg. 15)
- The crocodiles don’t help because they are moody and not dependable, and they are always looking for food. (Ch. 2, pg. 16)
- The old alley cat promises the dragon that she will help him someday. (Ch. 2, pg. 18)
- Elmer hides on the ship for six days and six nights. (Ch. 3, pg. 21)
- The fisherman shakes because everyone who has tried to explore Wild Island has not come back alive. (Ch. 3, pg. 24)
Section 2: Chapters 4-5
Vocabulary
- trundle: to roll slowly along
- scarce: not plentiful
- contradict: to argue against
- solemn: serious and dignified
- trespass: to enter without permission
- retire: to go away and be alone
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- Whereupon they both trundled back into the jungle. (Ch. 4, pg. 26)
- The cat told him that tigers were especially fond of chewing gum, which was very scarce on the island. (Ch. 5, pg. 34)
- One doesn’t contradict a hungry tiger. (Ch. 5, pg. 32)
- The second thing that happened was that he nearly walked right between two wild boars who were talking in low solemn whispers. (Ch. 4, pg. 23)
- “I suppose you thought we didn’t know you were trespassing in our jungle!” (Ch. 5, pg. 31)
- “Shall we retire ?” (Ch. 4, pg. 26)
Vocabulary Sentences
- On a desert island, ice cream is scarce.
- The adorable toddler would happily trundle through the zoo holding her mother’s hand.
- At the funeral, the minister had a very solemn look.
- It is not wise to contradict an expert mathematician about the answer to a problem.
- After a long day of work grandpa decided to retire to his bedroom.
- When the ball went into the neighbor’s yard they did not want to trespass, so they asked the owner’s permission to get the ball.
Comprehension Questions
- Elmer will walk along the beach to find the river. (Ch. 4, pg. 27)
- The tortoise thinks Elmer is carrying his grandmother on his back, to take her to the doctor. (Ch. 4, pgs. 30-31)
- The two wild boars say there were three signs of a recent invasion. (Ch. 4, pg. 32)
- Elmer learns that he should save his tangerine peels. (Ch. 4, pg. 32)
- Elmer is getting farther away from the river because the swamp was becoming deeper and the jungle was too thick to see the river. (Ch. 5, pg. 35)
- Elmer runs into seven tigers when he comes to the clearing. (Ch. 5, pg. 37)
- Elmer gives the tigers chewing gum so they will not eat him. (Ch. 5, pg. 39)
Section 3: Chapters 6-7
Vocabulary
- clearing: an open area of land
- lookout: watching carefully
- afoot: in process
- suspicious: believing that something is wrong
- pearly: a pale, grayish-white color
- invasion: a hostile entry of an enemy
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- “…I’ll go back down the other way through the big clearing, and we will send Mouse to watch the Ocean Rocks in case the invasion should decide to go away before we find it.” (Ch. 6, pg. 39)
- He kept a sharp lookout in front and behind and went on. (Ch. 6, pg. 38)
- “I told you there was an invasion afoot, said the other boar, “and I intend to find out what it is…” (Ch. 6, pg. 39)
- My father waited for the other boar to get a head start on him, but he didn’t wait very long because he knew that when the first boar saw the tigers chewing gum in the clearing, he’d be even more suspicious. (Ch. 6, pg. 40)
- “When I was a young rhinoceros, my tusk was pearly white,” said the animal… (Ch. 6, pg. 42)
- “I told you there was an invasion afoot,” said the other boar, “and I intend to find out what it is…” (Ch. 6, pg. 39)
Vocabulary Sentences
- The marble sculpture was a beautiful pearly color.
- The invasion of ants was a disappointment at the family picnic.
- The children were on the lookout for the missing puzzle piece.
- The missing chocolate bar made mother suspicious.
- The dark sky look as though there was a storm afoot.
- The helicopter was able to land safely in the clearing.
Comprehension Questions
- Elmer decides to follow the trail no matter what because it might lead him to the dragon. (Ch. 6, pg. 44)
- When Elmer stops to get a drink in the brook, something sharp picks him up by his pants. (Ch. 6, pg. 46)
- Elmer helps the rhinoceros by helping him to clean his tusk with tooth paste and a toothbrush. (Ch. 6, pg. 48)
- The lion is angrily roaring because his mane is full of blackberry twigs and he can’t get them out. (Ch. 7, pg. 51)
- The lion is afraid his mother will stop giving him allowance when she sees his messy mane. (Ch. 7, pg. 52)
- Elmer helps the lion by giving him a brush, a comb, and ribbons to fix his messy mane. (Ch. 7, pg.54)
- The lion is busy grooming his mane and doesn’t notice when Elmer leaves. (Ch. 7, pg. 55)
Section 4: Chapters 8-10
Vocabulary
- dozen: twelve of something
- parade: a festive, public procession
- dignified: respectable and stately
- magnify: to enlarge
- bellow: a deep loud roar
- moody: to change moods often
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- “That’s fine,” said my father as he got out the two dozen pink lollipops and rubber bands.(Ch. 9, pg. 64)
- A beautiful lioness paraded past and turned down toward the clearings. (Ch. 8, pg. 53)
- Although she could have seen my father if she had bothered to glance at the post, she was much too occupied looking dignified to see anything but the tip of her own nose. (Ch. 8. pg. 53)
- “Oh, Gorilla,” said my father, “in my knapsack I have six magnifying glasses…” (Ch. 8, pg. 57)
- “…So it’s off to the shores of Tangerina!” shouted my father as the dragon soared above the dark jungle and the muddy river and all the animals bellowing at them … (Ch. 10, pg. 74)
- Partly because he had finished his lollipop, and partly because, as I told you before, crocodiles are very moody and not the least bit dependable and are always looking for something to eat… (Ch. 10, pg. 71)
Vocabulary Sentences
- The marching bands in the parade were entertaining.
- My mother received a special price when she bought a dozen donuts.
- The boy liked to magnify insects so that he could draw pictures of them.
- The family invited the dignified woman to dinner to discuss the book she wrote.
- The child was moody for most of the day because he could not watch television.
- When the bull was angry you could hear him bellow from the other side of the farm.
Comprehension Questions
- The lioness is too busy looking dignified to see Elmer. (Ch. 8, pg. 57)
- The gorilla’s problem is that he has fleas on his chest. (Ch. 8, pg. 60 )
- Elmer helps the gorilla by giving magnifying glasses to the six monkeys to find the fleas. (Ch. 8, pg. 62)
- Elmer decides to cross the river by climbing the pole and walking across the rope to get to the dragon. (Ch. 9, 66)
- The crocodile asks Elmer to come into the river for a swim because he is hungry for something sweet. (Ch. 9, pg. 66)
- The animals think the invasion is after their dragon. (Ch. 10, pg. 70)
- Elmer and the dragon laugh themselves weak after seeing the line of crocodiles sucking lollipops and all the screaming animals on top of them. (Ch. 10, pg. 76)