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Literature-based Skill Building

Freak the Mighty, Chapter 5

The following are comprehension activities related to the novel Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, chapter 5. NOTE: Keep reading fun! It may be appropriate to simply have a student complete the "learning log" for each chapter, or to discuss questions and answers instead of requiring the reader to write responses.

Chapter Five: Spitting Image

1. Learning Log

A. Give this chapter a new title. Consider what happened and the feelings of the chapter.

B. Setting: Identify the setting of the chapter.
time ________________________________________
place (where important things happened) ______________________________________

C. In one or two sentences, summarize what happens in this chapter, or draw an important scene from it.

D. Questions:

1. What is a question you could ask about one of the characters - one that you've met or one that's just been talked about? ______________________________________________________________________________

2.Inferences:

Freak explains to Max that his mother is nervous because Max is the "spitting image of your old man." (page 25) WHat are two other things she says about Max's father (either in your own words or in quotes)?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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Because of what she says, what do you think Max's father might be in jail for?

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3. More Character Descriptions

Chapter five gives the reader a chance to learn about "Fair Gwen," Kevin's mother. Use the SADDR structure to explain what this chapter tells the reader.

Speech:
When Max goes to Gwen's house for dinner, she talks so fast he can hardly understand her: "Inever. . . couldabidethatmanIalwaysthoughthewascrazyand. . . scaryisitokaytosaythattoyou?" (I never . . . could abide that man. I always thought he was crazy and scary. Is it okay to say that to you?") Why do you think she talked so fast and asked if it was "okay" to say that to Max?
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Action: What does the character do? What does this tell you about the character? Gwen does not flinch when Max hands her a knife. What does this tell Max (and you) about her?
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Description: What does the author say about the character? What does that description tell you about the character? Gwen is described as "beaming at me, bouncing around the kitchen and talking a mile a minute." What kind of person acts like that? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Drawing:Draw Gwen at supper. Try to show what you know about her character in the drawing.

Reactions of Others: How do other characters in the story react to Gwen? How does Kevin react when his mother is talking nonstop to Max?
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Vocabulary

1. Max says he needs to eat because his "fuel cells are depleted." What does that mean? What would it mean if your supply of paper was depleted?
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Review the meanings of these words. Then answer the questions about them.

credible	convertible	collapsible
reversible	irresistible	comprehensible
compatible	visible	possible
invincible	responsible	eligible

1. What are two credible reasons for Max's father to be in prison?
2. What does an unconscious person look like?
3. Why was Max uncertain about going to Gwen's house for dinner?
4. What are two kinds of reversible damage to a car?
5. What are two ways to make something you read more comprehensible?
6. What is one way you can tell that Max and Kevin are compatible, even though they are different?
7. What is one very visible difference between Max and Kevin?
8. "Eligible bachelor" means someone is "eligible" for dating or marrying someone. What are two things that would make someone an "eligible bachelor?"

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