Stowaway

Stowaway Bundle

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: Parts I-V

Vocabulary
  1. apprentice: a person learning a trade or craft from an expert
  2. din: an unpleasant noise
  3. endeavor: to work toward a goal
  4. sounding: measuring the depth of a body of water
  5. stowaway: a person who hides in a vehicle during a journey
  6. naught: nothing
  7. festoon: to decorate a place with ribbons or other decorations
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
  1. That’s why he apprenticed me to the Butcher last Christmas after my second escape from Reverend Smythe’s school. (Part II, pg. 22)
  2. With all the din of London, I thought it could never be so noisy on a ship. (Part I, pg. 2)
  3. With the help of Seaman Francis Haite, John Ramsay, and Samuel Evans, I have managed to keep my presence aboard the Endeavour secret. (Part I, pg. 1)
  4. The men are ever singing out the soundings. (Part III, pg. 33)
  5. They say naught of stowaways, but Francis Haite, John Ramsay, and Samuel Evans, each glanced my way during Captain’s reading. (Part I, pg. 22)
  6. They say naught of stowaways, but Francis Haite, John Ramsay, and Samuel Evans each glanced my way during Captain’s reading. (Part I, pg. 2)
  7. The ship was festooned by insects. (Part IV,pg. 46)
Comprehension Questions
  1. Nick is able to stowaway on Endeavour by hiding in a smaller boat onboard. (Part I, pg. 1)
  2. Nick ran away from home because he wants to prove to his father that he can stick with something. (Part I, pg. 4)
  3. Nick has to hide until the ship passes Spain because if he is discovered before they pass the country, the captain will kick him off the ship. (Part I, pg. 7)
  4. Mr. Banks’ job onboard is to make a record of all the animals the crew discovers. (Part I, pg. 9)
  5. The Lord High Admiral ordered the Endeavour to sail around Cape Horn and observe the Planet Venus. (Part I, pg. 11)
  6. Nick picked up a thing or two about doctoring from his grandmother’s cook, Ganny Pajet. (Part II, pg. 12)
  7. Nick’s doctoring skills were useful in that he helped the Reverend’s children when the Reverend beat them. (Part II, pgs. 12-13)
  8. An A.B. is an able-bodied seaman. (Part II, pg. 13)
  9. Mr. Bootie resents Nick because he feels that the Captain blames him for Nick stowing away. (Part II, pg. 13)
  10. Nick says that Mr. Bootie is cruel, just like the Butcher. (Part II, pg. 18)
  11. Nick refuses to eat shark meat because sharks eat humans flesh. (Part II, pg. 18)
  12. Issac Smith treats Nick like a mate because Nick saved him from falling overboard. (Part II, pg. 20)
  13. Nick’s father sent him to the butcher because he thought it would fix his “softheartedness.” (Part II, pg. 22)
  14. Nick’s ducking helped his reputation because he was not afraid to be ducked, and even laughed when he was pulled back onboard. (Part II, pgs. 27-29)
  15. Nick is scared that the Captain will kick him off of the Endeavour when they reach land. (Part III, pg. 32)
  16. The crew of the Endeavour are not allowed off the ship because the Portuguese do not believe that they are actually scientists. (Part III, pg. 35)
  17. Nick forces himself to watch John Thurman get whipped because he believes it will drive out memories from his past. (Part III, pg. 37)
  18. John Ramsay says that sailors never learn to swim because it is better to drown quickly if they should fall overboard. (Part III, pg. 39)
  19. Cape Fly Away is a term the sailors use to refer when someone thinks they see land but they don’t. (Part IV, pg. 49)
  20. Captain Cook promoted Nick to a paid crew member after reaching King George’s Land. (Part V, pg. 69)

Section 2: Parts VI-X

Vocabulary
  1. custody: responsibility for someone
  2. dogwatch: a short watch shift on a ship
  3. jovial: friendly and pleasant
  4. quadrant: a tool used for navigation on a ship
  5. reluctant: unwilling to do something
  6. shirk: to avoid a responsibility
  7. savour: to enjoy the flavor of something
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
  1. The Marines took two of the chiefs into custody, until the safe return of our Property, and the two were much distressed and feared for their lives, judging by the way they wept. (Part VI, pg. 79)
  2. We had the story on dog watch from John. (Part VI, pg. 71)
  3. If it were so easy to get enough in England, would we be always jovial, too? (Part VI, pg. 83)
  4. When Captain and Mr. Green went to assemble their Quadrant this morning, they found it had vanished.” (Part VI. pg. 79)
  5. The Chiefs were released, and though silent at first, they were so relieved to have their lives spared, they delivered two hogs in gratitude, which Captain Cook reluctantly accepted.” (Part VI. pg. 80)
  6. I came across an entry where Mr. Bootie wrote that John Ramsay was lazy and a shirker.” (Part VI, pg. 87)
  7. But the fish is much prized, for it is difficult to catch here, and what finds its way to the table is savoured.” (Part VI. pg. 78)
Comprehension Questions
  1. Mr. Monkhouse killed a native because he tried to push down a sentry and take his musket. (Part VI, pg. 71)
  2. The Endeavour came to King George’s land to map the area. (Part VI, pg. 73)
  3. Nick realizes that he would have more freedom to come and go amongst the native people if he could speak their language. (Part VI, pg. 75)
  4. The success of the Endeavour’s entire journey depended upon an instrument named the Quadrant. (Part VI, pg. 79)
  5. Nick explains that the natives’ goods have no value, and so they are not frustrated when things are stolen. (Part VI, pg. 84)
  6. Captain Cook is disappointed over the reading he took of Venus because he fears they are not accurate enough. (Part VI, pg. 86)
  7. Nick is whipped because he wrote, “Evil communications corrupt good,” on the cover of Mr. Booties Journal, signing his name underneath. (Part VI, pg. 87)
  8. Nick turns twelve in June, 1769. (Part VI, pg. 88)
  9. The natives of Huahine are different from those of OTahiti in that they do not steal the crew members’ belongings. (Part VII, pg. 97)
  10. Captain Cook left a plaque engraved with the name of the island and the date to prove that they were the first Europeans to land there. (Part VII, pg. 98)
  11. Nick says that he misses the sights, the sounds, the food, the moving on land, and the opportunity he had to get an education. (Part VIII, pg. 113)
  12. Nick wants to spy land before Mr. Bootie so that he can keep the reward of rum from him. (Part VIII, pg. 116)
  13. The natives on the New Continent react to danger by running straight toward it. They are a brave and warring people according to Nick. (Part IX, pg. 124)
  14. The natives of the New Continent seem to value cloth above all else that the crew members have to offer. (Part IX, pg. 126)
  15. Watching Samuel learn how to read stirs Nick to read because he never appreciated his education until seeing Samuel struggle with something he took for granted. (Part 9, pg. 128)
  16. Nick says he doesn’t care if he ever goes ashore because he hears that the native people eat the bodies of the people they kill in war. (Part IX, pg. 131)
  17. John Charlton sees Tarheto as “just another native,” but Nick knows that he is more than that.  (Part IX, pgs. 134-135)
  18. Mr. Banks says that hunger is the best sauce. (Part X, pg. 136)
  19. Captain Cook punishes the men for stealing because he couldn’t act against the natives for stealing when his men did the same. (Part X, pg. 141)

Section 3: Parts XI-XV

Vocabulary
  1. broadcloth: a kind of cloth used to make clothes
  2. detestable: deserving intense dislike
  3. fraught: a situation likely to end poorly
  4. incident: a violent event
  5. replenish: to fill something that was previously emptied
  6. tiller: a lever used for steering on a ship
  7. transom: a beam used to reinforce the stern of a ship
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
  1. Where the others liked the cloth from OTahiti, these natives preferred the English broadcloth. (Part XI, pg. 158)
  2. But these few details, which would indicate they might be more like us, could not stand up in the face of the detestable custom they share with their North Island brothers, the custom of eating their enemies. (Part XI, pg. 158)
  3. Captain says this has happened every time we have passed between the latitude of 40 degrees and 37 degrees south, with the 40 degree latitude cold and fraught with strong winds and storms… (Part XII. pg. 171)
  4. Tonight Tarheto and I disagreed over an incident. (Part XI, pg. 156)
  5. The water and wood are all replenished, and we are ready to set out sails for home! (Part XI, pg. 169)
  6. On board the men secured the newly repaired Tiller. (Part XI, pg. 155)
  7. The Carpenters completed the work on the transom. (Part XI, pg. 155)
Comprehension Questions
  1. Tarheto and Nick are afraid to venture away from their crew because they see a native holding human heads, and fear the cannibalism of the natives. (Part XI, pg. 153)
  2. Tarheto tells Nick that the natives bring their women and children to war so that they cannot be kidnapped while the men are away. pg. 158
  3. Samuel Evans can now write his name, birthdate, place of birth, and his position aboard the Endeavour. pg. 161
  4. Mr. Bootie and the Gentlemen often remind Nick of the past, and make him wonder what will happen when he gets to Plymouth. pg. 162
  5. Captain Cook and the officers decide to return home by way of the uncharted coast of New Holland. (Part XI, pg. 169)
  6. Upon leaving New Zealand, the Endeavour is desperately low on sugar, salt, oil, tea, and tobacco. (Part XII, pg. 170)
  7. The thought of sunlight and a gentle breeze kept Nick alive while he was apprenticing with the Butcher. (Part 12, pg. 172)
  8. When Mr. Bootie catches Nick teaching Samuel to read, he locks him in the animal pen with hungry and angry hogs. (Part 12, pg. 173-175)
  9. Nick spites the Reverend because Isaac Smith says that he has a good eye. (Part XIII, pg. 183)
  10. Nick believes that Mr. Bootie’s opinion of him is changing because Mr. Bootie watches him with no malice when he is helping treat Mr. Orton. (Part XIII, pg. 189)
  11. The crew of the Endeavour uses a technique called “fothering” to plug the hole in the ship. (Part XIV, pg. 200)
  12. Nick thinks that the fires might be signals used by the natives to warn of the Endeavor’s landing. (Part XV, pg. 204)
  13. The animal spotted by some of the men is likely a Kangaroo. (Part XV, pg. 207)
  14. Many of the plants stored in the ship were destroyed by the flooding water, causing Mr. Banks to become quite distressed. (Part XV, pg. 208<)/li>
  15. Nick has learned from the Captain that people can harsh and stern, but still fair. (Part XV, pg. 222)
  16. Nick means that when people are hungry they will eat things they wouldn’t normally eat. (Part XV, pg. 223)

Section 4: Parts XVI-XXI

Vocabulary
  1. balm: an ointment used on chapped skin
  2. barren: land that does not produce vegetation
  3. ebb: the movement of the tide in the ocean
  4. fathom: a measurement used by sailors used to measure depth of water
  5. gale: a strong gust of wind
  6. oakum: a fiber that comes from a separated or aged rope
  7. shoal: a large group of fish
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
  1. Isaac’s words were an unexpected balm/b>. (Parts XXI, pg. 294)
  2. Captain found a good flow and ebb, and considered laying the ship ashore to clean her bottom. (Part XIV, pg. 192)
  3. No land to be seen at dawn, though our soundings show us in only five and a half fathoms of water. (Part XVII, pg. 237)
  4. Endeavour is shaking loose in places under the force of these gales. (Part XIX, pg. 274)
  5. Captain keeps us busy working up junk, picking oakum, and making spun yarn to help us with our Nostalgia. (Part XVII, pg. 239)
  6. By the first dog watch this afternoon we came to anchor in the midst of the shoals.” (Part XVI, pg. 232)
Comprehension Questions
  1. The Endeavour has been at sea for two years. (Part XVI, pg. 234)
  2. The Endeavour is nearly destroyed when an anchor falls into the ocean and is lost. (Part XVII, pg. 235)
  3. The Endeavour is saved from sinking when the crew sees “cloud shadows” and are able to avoid a patch of shoals that would have wrecked the ship had they collided. (Part XVIII, pg. 236)
  4. Nick believes that Mr. Booties attitude is changing because he does not strike him as would have after making a comment to him. (Part XVII, pg. 236)
  5. The Captain will not publish an inaccurate chart because he does not want future voyagers to get lost using them. (Part XVII, pg. 240)
  6. The Captain refuses to stop at Concordia because the Dutch and the English do not get along. (Part XVII, pg. 241)
  7. The Captain learned that there were riots in England of people protesting against King George. (Part XVII, pg. 247)
  8. Mr. Perry says that he is “too pickled” to get sick. (Part XIX, pg. 261)
  9. Nick says that he would gladly trade a whole week of roast pork for a single bite of fresh fruit. (Part pg. 263)
  10. Samuel Evans hopes to come home as a learned man, and wants to continue his reading lessons until the Endeavour returns. (Part XIX, pg. 265)
  11. Although Nick happily chose to go on the voyage, he now wishes to return home. (Part XIX, pg. 268)
  12. The other English ship anchored off of Table Bay gives the Endeavour a basket of fresh fruit. (Part XX, pg. 279)
  13. The British at the Cape are thinking more of the losses that the Endeavour has faced, and not of the adventures its crew experienced. (Part XX, pg. 280)
  14. When Nick first boarded the Endeavour, he longed for freedom from his responsibilities at home, and from the overbearing people in his life. (Part XX, pg. 281)
  15. Mr. Banks tells Nick to look him up after he has paid his debt in England. (Part XX, pg. 283)
  16. Manley and Jones respect and admire Nick for his skills, while Mr. Bootie is outwardly negative in most interactions with Nick. (Part XX, pg. 283)
  17. Nick practices the speeches he will give to the Butcher and his Father as the Endeavour nears England. (Part XXI, pgs. 289-290)
  18. Nick is almost 14-years-old at the end of his voyage. (Part XXI, pg. 293<)/li>