ComprehensionQuestionsforMatildabyRoaldDahl[1]

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Comprehension CompanionBy Lorie Kaehler

Name______________________________________________

Anticipation Guide for Matilda

The purpose of these questions is to introduce ideas and issues that are addressed in the book. Circle “agree” or “disagree” for each. Remember that there are no wrong answers, but be prepared to give reasons for your opinion.

1. People who read don’t get bored.Agree Disagree

2. People who don’t read are missing something important.Agree Disagree

3. Your brain needs exercise just like your body.Agree Disagree

4. Even the smartest people still have something to learn.Agree Disagree

5. Television isn’t very good for your brain.Agree Disagree

6. If you are nice to people, they’ll act nicer to others.Agree Disagree

7. It’s okay to get revenge if someone’s really mean to you.Agree Disagree

Name _________________________________________________“The Reader of Books”

1. How do Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood feel about their daughter Matilda?_________________________________________________________

2. What is the name of Matilda’s brother?_________________________________________________________

3. What is Matilda’s favorite thing to do?_________________________________________________________

4. Who is Mrs. Phelps?_________________________________________________________

Name 2 things you have in common with Matilda:5. _______________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________

Find each vocabulary work in the book. Read each sentence containing the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.

7. unaccompanied (p.12)

I think it means__________________________________________

8. instinctively (p.15)

I think it means__________________________________________

9. interfere (p. 16)

I think it means___________________________________________

7. formidable (p.18)

I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________“Mr. Wormwood, the Great Car Dealer”

Answer in complete sentences.Review

1. What country does Matilda live in?

2. Why does Matilda like to read so much?

Chapter Questions3. Name one way Matilda’s father Mr. Wormwood cheats his customers.

4. How does Matilda feel about the way her dad treats his customers?

5. What did Matilda ask for that made her father so mad at the end of chapter 1?

6. Why does Matilda have a different view of life from her parents?

7. What does Matilda vow to do at the end of the first chapter?

8. Is Matilda someone you would want to have as a friend? Why or why not?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.

9. convert (p.24)

I think it means_________________________________________

Name_______________________________________“The Hat and the Superglue”

Answer in complete sentences.

1. Why is this chapter called “The Hat and the Superglue”?

2. Name one problem Mr. Wormwood had because of the hat stuck to his head.

3. What happened to the boy down the road?

4. Did Mr. Wormwood deserve this? Why or why not?


5. rakish (p.30)

I think it means__________________________________________

6. spluttered (p.34)

I think it means__________________________________________

7. skulking (p.35)

I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________“The Ghost”


1. What did Mr. Wormwood do to Matilda’s library book?

2. What’s the name of the librarian?

3. What do they call the television?

4. What did the plot depend on?

5. How did Matilda convince her family that there was a ghost in the house?

6. What was Matilda getting revenge for?

7. What was the name of the boy who loaned Matilda his parrot?

8. What do you think the chapter called “Arithmetic” will be about?


8. comparative (p.38)

I think it means__________________________________________

9. chastened (p.38)

I think it means__________________________________________

10.intensified (p.39)

I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________“Arithmetic”


1. What was the math problem Mr. Wormwood gave his son about? (What was he supposed to be figuring out?)

2. What was Mr. Wormwood’s reaction when Matilda solved the problem in her head?


3. brandishing (p.46)

I think it means__________________________________________

4. distinctly (p.47)

I think it means__________________________________________

5. obliged (p.49)

I think it means__________________________________________

6. obediently (p.51)

I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________“The Platinum-Blonde Man”

Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES.

1. How did Matilda trick her father into putting peroxide on his hair?

2. What would you have done if you were Mr. Wormwood?

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3. anxiously (p.64)I think it means__________________________________________

Use each of the vocabulary words in a sentence that shows you know what it means.

1. Platinum- very light color

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2. Peroxide- a liquid that bleaches things

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3. Tonic – a medicine or lotion

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4. Diluted – watered down

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Name_______________________________________“Miss Honey”


1. What’s the difference between Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull?

2. What advice does Miss Honey give Matilda’s class on the first day of school? (hint: it’s about Miss Trunchbull)

3. What does Matilda do on the first day of school that amazes her teacher?

4. What did Matilda write a limerick about while she was sitting in class?

over

5. How did Matilda learn to read and to multiply?

6. The next chapter is called “The Trunchbull”. Who is Miss Trunchbull?

7. What do you think is going to happen in this chapter?


9. bewilderment (p.67)I think it means__________________________________________

10. Severely (p.69)I think it means__________________________________________

11. recite, recital (p. 70)I think it means__________________________________________

7. prodigy (p.75)I think it means__________________________________________

8. random (p.77)I think it means__________________________________________

9. understatement (p.77)I think it means__________________________________________

10. witty (p.78)I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________“The Trunchbull”


1. Trunchbull bought a car from Mr. Wormwood. Do you think she got a good deal?

2. What did Miss Honey ask Miss Trunchbull?

3. What did Miss Trunchbull say?

4. What are some things Miss Honey could do to help Matilda?


5. intrigue (p.87)I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________Answer in complete sentences. “The Parents”

1. What does Matilda do while the rest of her class has a lesson?

2. Why did Miss Honey go to the Wormwoods’ house?

3. What happened when Miss Honey went to the Wormwoods’ house?

4. The next chapter is called “Throwing the Hammer”. What do you think it will be about?


5. presumed (p.91)I think it means__________________________________________

6. inconvenient (p.94)I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________

“Throwing the Hammer”


1. What is the name of Matilda’s new friend?

2. What is “the Chokey”?

3. Name one reason Hortensia was put in the chokey.

4. What was “Throwing the Hammer”?

Name_______________________________________“Bruce Bogtrotter and the Cake”


1. How does Matilda think Trunchbull gets away with being so mean?

2. What did Bruce Bogtrotter get in trouble for?

3. Did Bruce Bogtrotter actually do what he was accused of?

4. What do you think Miss Trunchbull has planned for Bruce Bogtrotter?

5. What did Bruce Bogtrotter get in trouble for?

6. Did Bruce Bogtrotter actually do it?

7. How does Miss Trunchbull punish Bruce Bogtrotter?

8. What does Miss Trunchbull do when Bogtrotter finishes the cake?

9. Why doesn’t Bruce Bogtrotter get hurt?

10. Do you think Miss Trunchbull will get back at Bruce? How do you think she’ll do it? Draw a picture.

Name_______________________________________“Lavender”


1. Why is this chapter called Lavender?

2. What has to be on the table when Miss Trunchbull teaches a lesson?

3. What did Lavender do to make Miss Trunchbull unhappy?

4. How do you think Trunchbull will react?

Name_______________________________________“The Weekly Test”


1. Name one thing a student in Matilda’s class got in trouble for.

2. Name one way a student in Matilda’s class was punished.

3. How would you feel if you had a weekly test like this one?

4. What’s going to happen next?

Name_______________________________________“The First Miracle”


1. Why does the glass with the newt in it tip over?

2. Why was this chapter called “The First Miracle”?

3. The next chapter is called “The Second Miracle”. What might it be?

Name ______________________________________________“The Second Miracle”


1. Was your prediction correct? Did you guess what the second miracle was? What was the second miracle?

2. Make a list of the ten most important things that have happened in this book so far in order.

Name_______________________________________“Miss Honey’s Cottage”


1. Where do Miss Honey and Matilda go after the second miracle?

2. How does Matilda feel about her new power?

3. What is Miss Honey’s house like? (Think about where Matilda has to go to get water.)

4. What do you think will happen at Miss Honey’s house?

If you have extra time draw a picture of a scene from the book on the back.

Name_______________________________________“Miss Honey’s Story”


1. Review: Tell one thing about Miss Honey’s cottage.

2. Why is Miss Honey willing to share her secret with Matilda?

3. What was Miss Honey’s childhood like? (Hint: There was a tragedy in her life. Who took care of her?)

4. Name one thing Matilda and Miss Honey have in common.

5. Why is Miss Honey so poor?

6. What surprise did Matilda find out at the end of the chapter?

If you have extra time draw a picture of a scene from the book on the back.

Name __________________________________________________“The Names”


What were the three questions Matilda asked Miss Honey?

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

4. Why is this chapter called “The Practice”?________________________________________________________________________

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5. What do you think Matilda’s plan is?

________________________________________________________________________

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Write four words to describe each of these people.Matilda Mr. Wormwood

6. ________________ 10. ___________________

7. _________________ 11. ___________________

8. _________________ 12. ___________________

9. ________________ 13. ___________________

Miss Honey Miss Trunchbull14. ___________________ 18. ____________________

15. ___________________ 19. ____________________

16. ___________________ 20. ____________________

17. ____________________ 21. ____________________

Name __________________________________________________“The Third Miracle”


1. What was the third miracle?________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. How does Miss Honey feel at the end of the chapter?________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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3. Did Trunchbull deserve this? Why or why not?

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Name __________________________________________________“A New Home”


1. Why does Miss Honey think Matilda lost her ability to move things with her eyes?________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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2. Why do you think Matilda’s father is in such a hurry to leave?________________________________________________________________________

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3. Did you like this book? Rate it from 1 to 5 and give your reasons.

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Matilda Name Trivia

Across1. the librarian3. the cake eater4. She spent time in the chokey6. Miss Trunchbull's first name8. Matilda's brother9. the name of the parrot owner10. Miss Honey's first nameDown2. Matilda's new friend5. One of Matilda's classmates7. Mr. Wormwood's first name8. Miss Honey's father's name

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ComprehensionQuestionsforMatildabyRoaldDahl[1]