The Lions of Little Rock Reading Questions Part 2

All answers must be in complete sentences.

Chapter 31

1. What did Daddy give the family for Christmas? _______________________________________

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2. Describe Marlee’s reaction to the unwelcomed gift. ______________________________________

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Why is it unwelcomed? ____________________________________________________________

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Chapter 32

1. How is Marlee’s first plane ride different than her

experience on the high dive?

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2. What is ironic in this chapter? _______________________________________________________

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Chapter 33

1. How does Marlee stick up for herself in this chapter? Name two different ways.

A. ____________________________________________________________________________

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B. _____________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter 34

1. Why did Mother give Marlee a letter opener for her birthday?

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2. Why do you think the author chose a letter opener as the gift from Mother? What might the letter

opener symbolize?

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3. What does Marlee hope for at the end of the chapter? ____________________________________

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Chapter 35

1. Name two ways that Mother gets “involved” in this chapter.

A. _____________________________________________________________________________

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B. _____________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter 36

1. What fear does Liz face in this chapter? ________________________________________________

How? __________________________________________________________________________

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2. What fear does Marlee face? _________________________________________________________

How? __________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter 37

1. What is JT’s opinion of blacks? ______________________________________________________

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2. Why does he have this opinion? ______________________________________________________

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3. In this chapter, Sally says, “What you say with your friends is one thing…How you really feel is

another” (191). What does she mean by this?

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Do you agree? Why or why not?

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4. What does the end of the chapter reveal about Marlee and Mother’s relationship? _____________

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Chapter 38

1. The students of Little Rock are coping differently with the closing of the schools.

How has the closing affected…

African American students white students

2. Summarize Act 10 on page 197. ______________________________________________________

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3. How does David feel about Act 10? ___________________________________________________

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4. How does David feel about integration? ________________________________________________

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Chapter 39

1. What were some of the dangers of belonging the WEC? __________________________________

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2. Why do you think the women continued to work despite those dangers? ____________________

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3. What are the “white robes” Mrs. Dalton found in

her husband’s closet? ____________________

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Chapter 40

1. Why was Daddy’s “face pinched and pale” at the opening of this chapter? _____________________

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How do this diction reflect the tone (author’s attitude) for the chapter? _______________

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2. What did Marlee trip over at the quarry? ________________________________________________

What did Red do with it? ____________________________________________________________

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3. Predict: What do you think Red will do with the dynamite?

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Chapter 41

1. Why are Marlee and her family worried about Liz’s safety? ________________________________

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2. How was the school board able to fire so many teachers? __________________________________

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3. Why was Daddy one of the people to get fired? __________________________________________

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Chapter 42

1. What does Marlee give Mother before her speech? Why? __________________________________

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2. Mother’s speech has a great impact on the audience and they all stand to applaud her. Reread the

speech. Cite 2 sentences that you think best show how much Mother has changed since the beginning

of the book. Explain how the text evidence reflects her change.

Cite textual evidence. Explain how Mother has changed.

A. A.

B. B.

Chapter 43

1. Who does Marlee aspire to be like? Why?_______________________________________________

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2. What turning point has Marlee reached with Mother? How do you think her relationship with

Mother will change?

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Chapter 44:

1. Do you think Marlee and Liz will ever be able to hang out with each other again? Why or why not?

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2. The author, Kristin Levine, has made JT a complex character, meaning that he has many different

sides to his personality. In what ways might JT be considered “complex”?

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3. What great advice does Marlee give JT? ______________________________________________

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4. What is STOP? _______________________________

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Why do they want to get the three school board members removed?

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Chapter 45

1. What is CROSS? ______________________________

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2. Mother compares Marlee to the lions at the zoo. In what ways is Marlee like the lions?

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Chapter 46

1. In regards to the voters, Liz says: “We got the saints, the sinners and the savables” (234).

Who are the saints? _______________________________________________________________

Who are the sinners? ______________________________________________________________

Who are the savables? _____________________________________________________________

2. What is the WEC strategy in preparing for the upcoming vote? ______________________________

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3. What is ironic about the last paragraph of the chapter? ____________________________________

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Chapter 47

1. What are Red and his friend doing at the zoo when Marlee and Liz see them?

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What does this show you about them?

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Exploring Suspense:

There are many ways that authors create suspense in their novels. The Ticking Bomb method, as it is

sometimes called, occurs when an author builds and prolongs an inevitable crisis, all the while pulling

the reader further into the storyline. This chapter reflects that method.

Reread this chapter and give three events that create suspense.

1._______________________________________________________________________________

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2._______________________________________________________________________________

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3._______________________________________________________________________________

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Chrysler Windsor

Chapter 48

1. How do you think you would have reacted to being in the trunk? ___________________________

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2. Do you think Marlee is brave, stupid or both? Explain. __________________________________

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Chapter 49

1. Why did Marlee run away from the house? ___________________________________________

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2. Reread the last sentence of the chapter.

Why do you think Marlee is happier? Use an example from the text to support your opinion.

Chapter 50

1. Do you believe that JT won’t tell Marlee’s secret? Why or why not? ________________________

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2. What has been happening in Birmingham? ___________________________________________

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Chapter 51

1. Why is Marlee scared she will lose Liz? _______________________________________________

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2. The chapter ends in great suspense. What do you think will happen next? ____________________

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Chapter 52

1. How does the policeman react to Marlee’s story? ______________________________________

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2. Why does he treat Marlee’s parents with such disrespect? _______________________________

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3. How would you feel at the end of this chapter if you were Marlee? ________________________

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Chapter 53

1. What is the result of the election? ___________________________________________________

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2. Why isn’t Marlee happy about the result? ___________________________________________

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3. Why does Marlee realize that relating people to drinks isn’t really fair? ___________________

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Chapter 54

1. Why does Marlee feel sorry for JT? _________________________________________________

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2. Who are the characters in this chapter who “speak up”? __________________________________

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What does it show how they have changed throughout the novel?

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Chapter 55

1. Explain what Mother means when she says, “Marlee listens to lions.” _______________________

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Chapter 56

1. What happens when the protesters march toward the high school? _________________________

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Why is this significant? ___________________________________________________________

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Chapter 57

1. Why do you think the author chose to begin and end the book with Marlee on the high dive?

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2. Choose 2 quotes from Marlee in this chapter that are meaningful to you and reflect Marlee’s new

perspective on life. Cite each quote and explain why you chose it.

Quote Explain why you chose it

1.

2.

3. What is the climax of the novel? ___________________________________________________

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4. What is the falling action? _______________________________________________________

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5. What is the resolution? ___________________________________________________________

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6. What are some themes from the novel? Give at least three.

A.

B

C.