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Section 1: Chapters 1-2
Vocabulary
- beard: hair that grows on a man’s face
- hitch: to hook two things together
- cure: to restore to health
- wrinkles: creases or lines
- determined: being very sure about doing something
- examine: to carefully inspect
Vocabulary Sentences
- Julie used a hot iron to smooth all of the wrinkles out of her dress.
- My uncle had to hitch a trailer to the truck so he could haul his new boat to the lake.
- The old professor wears a dark jacket and has a long, grey beard.
- The school nurse had to examine the child’s ankle when she twisted it.
- It was the young scientist’s dream to find a cure for cancer.
- After many hours of practicing, Brent was determined to make it in the band.
Comprehension Questions
- Little Willy thinks Grandfather is still in bed because he is playing around with him. (pg. 3 )
- Little Willy and Searchlight get Doc Smith to check on Grandfather. (pg. 5)
- Doc Smith says that Grandfather doesn’t want to live anymore. (pg. 10)
- Grandfather doesn’t say anything, but uses his hands to answer little Willy’s questions. (pg. 14-16)
- Little Willy is sure that Grandfather will die if the potato crop dies. (pg. 18)
- It takes over ten days for little Willy and Searchlight to complete the harvest. (pg. 20)
- Grandfather puts his palm down on the bed as a way to tell little Willy “no.” (pg. 21)
Section 2: Chapters 3-4
Vocabulary
- twilight: the time of day between night and day
- gully: a trench in the earth made by running water
- insist: to make a demand
- brim: the part of the hat that sticks out
- errand: a short trip to get something
- legal: allowed by the law
Vocabulary Sentences
- My mother asked me to run an errand to get milk and eggs for her.
- The fireflies start to come out right around twilight.
- The lady’s face was shaded by the very large brim on her hat.
- It is not legal to steal someone else’s belongings.
- After the rainstorm, there was a deep gully on the hillside near my house.
- The little girl tried to insist that she be given a lollipop.
Comprehension Questions
- It is easy to tell that it is winter in Wyoming because there is snow on everything. (pg. 22)
- After breakfast, little Willy would hitch Searchlight to the shed and ride to school. (pg. 24)
- Little Willy has fifty dollars in his savings account. (pg. 25)
- Clifford Snyder is the man with the horse, waiting for little Willy. (pg. 31)
- Clifford Snyder says that Grandfather hasn’t been paying taxes on the farm. (pg. 34)
- The tax bills are inside the strongbox. (pg. 35)
- Grandfather owes five hundred dollars in taxes on the farm. (pg. 36)
Section 3: Chapters 5-6
Vocabulary
- clutch: to grip with your hands
- legend: an old and fantastic story
- saliva: fluid that comes out of your mouth
- strut: to walk in a proud way
- mayor: the head of a city
- bobble: to bounce clumsily
Vocabulary Sentences
- The mayor of our city rode a float in the Fourth of July parade.
- When I go to the dentist, he puts cotton in my mouth to soak up my saliva.
- We watched the baseball player strut to the dugout after hitting a home run.
- The legend of Atlantis tells the story of a city underneath the sea.
- Joey likes to make his toy boat bobble in the bathtub by splashing a lot.
- Sarah had to clutch her hat to her head when the wind was very strong so it would not blow away.
Comprehension Questions
- Little Willy thinks Grandfather will get better if he pays the taxes. (pg. 40)
- Mr. Foster says little Willy should sell the farm. (pg. 42)
- Searchlight greets little Willy when he walks out of the bank. (pg. 43)
- Little Willy sees a poster for the National Dogsled Race. (pg. 44)
- The entrance fee for the National Dogsled Race is fifty dollars. (pg. 48)
- Five beautiful Sayomeds catch little Willy’s eye as he is hitching Searchlight to the sled. (pg. 51)
- Stone Fox plans to use the prize to buy the land back for his people to return to. (pg. 54)
Section 4: Chapters 7-10
Vocabulary
- abreast: side by side
- contestant: a person in a contest or game
- abrupt: sudden or quick
- swig: a gulp of a drink
- massive: very large and heavy
- shriek: to cry out loudly
Vocabulary Sentences
- The bus came to an abrupt stop when the dog ran out in front of it.
- The hairy spider landed on my sister’s shoulder and caused her to shriek.
- Before I ran out onto the soccer field, I took a quick swig of water.
- My aunt Deb was chosen as a contestant on the new game show.
- When Sam looked in his backyard, he saw two bluebirds sitting abreast on top of his fence.
- From the airplane window the jet engines looked massive.
Comprehension Questions
- Doc Smith tells Willy that she thinks he is foolish for using his college money to enter the race, but that she will also be rooting for him. (pg. 57)
- Stone Fox punches little Willy in the face when he reaches out to pet the five Samoyeds. (pg. 60)
- Little Willy can’t sleep because his eye is so painful. (pg. 62)
- Little Willy and Searchlight are able to take the sharp turns at full speed because they only have one dog and a small sled. (pg. 72)
- Little Willy and Searchlight take a shortcut across the frozen lake. (pg. 73)
- Little Willy sees Grandfather sitting up in bed and looking out the window at him and Searchlight. (pg. 74)
- Little Willy carries Searchlight across the finish line, and they win the race. (pg. 83)