Chapter Five Practice Quiz — My Father's Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannett — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter Five
What does Elmer eat before entering the jungle in Chapter 5?
Elmer eats three tangerines and makes sure to keep all the peels before putting on his rubber boots.
Why does Elmer leave the river bank?
The swamp along the river bank becomes almost as deep as his boot tops, and he gets stuck in the oozy, mucky mud, forcing him to move to drier ground.
What mistake does Elmer make with his compass?
He walks straight ahead using his compass, not knowing the river curves sharply away from him, causing him to get farther and farther from the river.
What does Elmer hear as he goes deeper into the jungle?
He hears whispery noises behind him and on both sides, and once or twice he thinks he hears something laughing at him.
How many tigers surround Elmer in the clearing?
Seven tigers surround him, which Elmer first sees as fourteen green eyes emerging from the jungle around the clearing.
What does Elmer use to distract the tigers?
He uses chewing gum from his knapsack, telling the tigers it is special gum that will turn green and can be planted to grow more chewing gum.
How does Elmer ultimately escape the tigers?
The tigers become so busy chewing the gum and checking each others mouths to see whose gum turns green first that they completely forget about Elmer.
How do the tigers take turns speaking to Elmer?
Each tiger speaks in sequence, with each one escalating the threat, from accusing Elmer of trespassing to declaring they cannot wait to eat him.
What personality trait do the tigers display that leads to their downfall?
The tigers are greedy and competitive. Each one wants to be the first to plant the chewing gum, so they become obsessed with checking each others progress.
How does Elmer demonstrate composure under pressure?
Rather than panicking when surrounded by seven hungry tigers, Elmer thinks quickly and devises a clever plan using the chewing gum from his knapsack.
Why does Elmer not contradict the tigers claim that no explorer has left the island alive?
Elmer knows from the cat that the claim is untrue, but he has too much sense to contradict a hungry tiger.
Who originally told Elmer that tigers love chewing gum?
The old alley cat told Elmer that tigers were especially fond of chewing gum, which was very scarce on the island.
What central theme does Chapter 5 illustrate through Elmers encounter with the tigers?
The chapter illustrates that cleverness and resourcefulness can triumph over brute strength and physical danger.
How does Chapter 5 continue the motif of Elmers prepared supplies?
The chewing gum, packed specifically for the tigers based on the cats advice, shows that each item in Elmers knapsack has a planned purpose for a specific challenge.
What does the jungle symbolize in Chapter 5?
The jungle represents the escalating obstacles and challenges Elmer must overcome, growing more dangerous as he moves from natural hazards to predatory animals.
How does the tigers greed serve as a moral lesson?
The tigers greed and competitiveness become their undoing, showing that selfishness and the desire to get ahead can make one lose sight of what is actually important.
What literary device does Gannett use with the whispery noises before the tigers appear?
Gannett uses suspense and foreshadowing, gradually building tension with mysterious sounds that close in on Elmer before the threat is revealed.
What is the effect of the frame narrative (my father) in this chapter?
The frame narrative reassures readers that the father survived while maintaining excitement, since the story is being told by his child after the fact.
What type of irony appears when the tigers claim no explorer has left the island alive?
This is dramatic irony because both Elmer and the reader know the claim is false since the cat had previously escaped the island.
What does the word trespassing mean as the tigers use it in Chapter 5?
Trespassing means entering someone elses property or territory without permission. The tigers accuse Elmer of trespassing in their jungle.
What does the word dense mean when describing the jungle?
Dense means thickly packed or crowded together. The jungle is described as gloomy and dense, with trees growing close to each other.
Complete this quote from the seventh tiger: "I ___ wait!"
The full quote is "I cant wait!" with cant italicized for emphasis, showing the seventh tigers impatience and escalating the threat.
What do all seven tigers say together in a loud roar?
All the tigers roar together: "Lets begin right now!" as they move in closer toward Elmer.