Chapter Eight Practice Quiz — My Father's Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannett — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter Eight
What does Elmer eat while resting under a baby banyan tree?
Elmer eats four tangerines, conserving his supply since he only has thirteen left.
What do the two boars discuss as they pass by Elmer?
The boars discuss the strange behavior of the island animals—tigers chewing gum and the rhinoceros brushing his tusk—not realizing these are the results of Elmer's tricks.
What three destinations are listed on the crossroads signs?
The signs point to the Beginning of the River (straight ahead), the Ocean Rocks (to the left), and the Dragon Ferry (to the right).
Why does the lioness not notice Elmer hiding behind the signpost?
The lioness is too occupied looking dignified to see anything but the tip of her own nose.
What does Elmer discover when he reaches the river bank?
The dragon is not there—he has apparently gone back to the other side of the river.
How does the gorilla first appear to Elmer?
The gorilla jumps out of a palm tree and lands with a loud crash at Elmer's feet.
What items does Elmer give to the six monkeys?
Elmer gives each monkey one magnifying glass, for a total of six magnifying glasses from his knapsack.
What are the names of the six monkeys in Chapter 8?
Rosie, Rhoda, Rachel, Ruthie, Ruby, and Roberta—all names beginning with the letter R.
What is the gorilla's role on Wild Island?
The gorilla is the dragon's direct captor, who twists the dragon's wings to keep him working as a ferry across the river.
What does the gorilla demand Elmer tell him?
The gorilla demands Elmer's name, business, age, and what is in his pack, counting to ten as fast as he can.
Who is the beautiful lioness that passes the crossroads?
She is the lion's mother, heading back toward the clearings from the direction of the Dragon Ferry.
What does the gorilla call the six monkeys to do?
He calls them to come and get rid of a flea on his chest that is driving him crazy.
How does Chapter 8 demonstrate the theme of brains over brawn?
Elmer, a small boy, defeats the powerful gorilla not through physical strength but by cleverly exploiting his flea problem and offering magnifying glasses as a distraction.
What does the knapsack represent as a recurring motif in the story?
The knapsack represents preparedness and resourcefulness. Each item Elmer packed proves perfectly suited to overcome a specific obstacle on Wild Island.
How does Chapter 8 develop the theme of captivity and cruelty?
The gorilla casually reveals he twists the dragon's wings, showing the brutality of the dragon's captivity and underscoring the urgency of Elmer's rescue mission.
What example of dramatic irony appears in the boars' conversation?
The boars are baffled by the animals' strange behavior, but the reader knows these oddities are the result of Elmer's tricks from earlier chapters.
What literary device is used in naming the six monkeys?
Alliteration—all six monkeys have names beginning with the letter R: Rosie, Rhoda, Rachel, Ruthie, Ruby, and Roberta.
How does the frame narrative voice function in this chapter?
The narrator refers to Elmer as "my father," maintaining a warm storytelling tone that creates distance from the danger and reassures the reader.
What foreshadowing appears in the crossroads scene?
The sign pointing to "Dragon Ferry" foreshadows the revelation about the dragon's captivity and his forced role as a ferry service for the island animals.
What does "miraculous" mean as the monkeys use it in this chapter?
Miraculous means extraordinary or seemingly magical—the monkeys use it to describe how well the magnifying glasses help them see the tiny fleas.
What does "paraded" mean in the context of the lioness passing the crossroads?
Paraded means walked in a showy, proud manner, emphasizing the lioness's vanity and dignified self-importance.
What does "frantically" mean as used to describe the monkeys' flea-hunting?
Frantically means in a hurried, desperate, and somewhat frenzied manner, showing the monkeys' intense excitement with the magnifying glasses.
Who says "I'll twist your arms the way I twist that dragon's wings" and what does it reveal?
The gorilla says this to Elmer. It reveals the gorilla's cruelty and his role as the dragon's captor who physically torments the dragon to control him.
What do the monkeys exclaim about the magnifying glasses?
The monkeys say "Why, they're miraculous! It's easy to see the fleas now, only there are hundreds of them!" showing their amazement and the scale of the gorilla's flea problem.