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Literature-based Skill Building

Freak the Mighty, Chapter 9

The following are comprehension activities related to the novel Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, chapter 9. NOTE: Keep reading fun! Don't do all of t hese for every chapter! 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 Nine: Life is Dangerous

1. Learning Log

A. Give this chapter a new title. Consider what happened and the feelings of the chapter.
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B. Setting: Identify the setting of the chapter.
time ________________________________________
place _______________________________________________

C. In one or two sentences, summarize what happens in this chapter, or draw an important scene from it, OR draw two or three scenes that show what happened.

D. Questions:

Ask a question about something that happened in this chapter, or what might happen. _________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Vocabulary:

Go to the word part Arch and answer the questions about the words. Also answer these questions which use older vocabulary words:
What are three incredible things that Freak says in this chapter?
What experimental operation does Freak say he is eligible for?

3. Inferences

When you make an inference, you should be able to back it up with your reasons. Gram and Grim inferred at first that Max was in trouble. Their reasons for that inference? Well, the police brought Max home, and Max is a teenager. Of course, that inference was wrong.
For each of these inferences, give another reason why the reader would think they were true. You may want to glance back at other chapters.

1. The medical research center at the hospital is an important place for Freak.
   a. He makes Max walk a long way to show it to him.
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2. Freak knows how to make up a good story out of an ordinary situation.
   He calls going out to do something "going on a quest."
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3. Max doesn't always understand what Freak is saying.
   He doesn't know what an archetype is.
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