Chapter Nine Practice Quiz — My Father's Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannett — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter Nine
What does Elmer find at the riverbank that is used to control the dragon?
He finds a high flagpole with a rope running across the river, connected to a large crank with a sign instructing people to yank the crank to summon the dragon.
What does the sign on the crank say?
The sign reads: "TO SUMMON DRAGON, YANK THE CRANK / REPORT DISORDERLY CONDUCT / TO GORILLA."
What is Elmer's first idea for crossing the river?
Elmer first considers climbing the flagpole and going across the river hand over hand along the rope.
Who interrupts Elmer as he is about to climb the pole?
A crocodile surfaces behind him with a loud splash and invites him to swim, claiming the water is lovely and that it has a craving for something sweet.
What does Elmer offer the crocodiles instead of going for a swim?
He offers them pink lollipops from his knapsack, which he had packed before his journey to Wild Island.
How does Elmer create the crocodile bridge?
He rubber-bands a lollipop to each crocodile's tail so the next crocodile swims up to suck on it, forming a chain. He tells them to line up across the river with their tails in the air.
How many crocodiles form the bridge across the river?
Seventeen crocodiles line up to form the bridge, with the tail of the seventeenth crocodile just reaching the other bank.
How does the crocodile try to trick Elmer into the water?
The crocodile pretends to be friendly, saying the water is lovely and inviting Elmer for a swim, while actually wanting to eat him as "something sweet."
What does the first crocodile say after tasting the lollipop?
The crocodile declares the lollipop "Delicious, mighty delicious!" which encourages the other crocodiles to participate.
How does the gorilla control the baby dragon?
On one side of the river, the gorilla twists the dragon's wings until it hurts so much the dragon flies to the other side. On the other side, the gorilla cranks the rope around the dragon's neck until it chokes or flies back.
What trait does Elmer demonstrate most strongly in Chapter 9?
Elmer demonstrates remarkable resourcefulness and quick thinking, transforming a dangerous encounter with crocodiles into an opportunity to cross the river.
How does Elmer address the crocodiles when asking them to line up?
He politely calls them "gentlemen" and suggests they can save time by lining up across the river so he can give each one a lollipop.
What theme does the crocodile bridge scene illustrate?
It illustrates the theme of resourcefulness triumphing over brute strength, as Elmer uses cleverness and preparation rather than force to overcome a dangerous obstacle.
How does Chapter 9 develop the theme of captivity and freedom?
The chapter reveals the full extent of the dragon's captivity through the crank-and-rope system, deepening the reader's understanding of why the dragon needs to be rescued.
What does Chapter 9 suggest about turning enemies into allies?
The chapter shows that potential threats can become helpers through kindness and generosity, as the crocodiles shift from predators wanting to eat Elmer to a willing bridge after receiving lollipops.
How does Elmer's knapsack serve as a recurring motif?
Throughout the book, items from Elmer's knapsack solve specific problems. In Chapter 9, the pink lollipops and rubber bands are the exact tools needed to create the crocodile bridge.
What example of dramatic irony appears when the crocodile first speaks to Elmer?
The crocodile claims to have "a craving for something sweet" while inviting Elmer to swim. The reader understands the crocodile wants to eat Elmer, though the crocodile frames it as a friendly invitation.
How does the frame narrative function in Chapter 9?
The narrator continues to refer to Elmer as "my father," maintaining the storytelling frame of a son recounting his father's childhood adventure, which adds warmth and a sense of safe distance from the danger.
What role does foreshadowing play in the sign on the crank?
The sign foreshadows the gorilla's role as the main antagonist and authority figure on Wild Island, hinting at the confrontation to come and the oppressive system Elmer must overcome.
What does the word "crank" mean in the context of Chapter 9?
A crank is a handle or lever that is turned in a circular motion to operate a mechanism, in this case used to wind a rope that pulls the dragon across the river.
What does "summon" mean as used on the sign?
Summon means to call or send for someone to come, especially with authority. The sign instructs visitors to yank the crank to call the dragon to their side of the river.
What does "dusk" mean in the chapter?
Dusk refers to the period of twilight between daylight and darkness, when the sky grows dim. In the chapter, it is dusk when Elmer hears the splash, making it difficult to see the crocodile.
Who says "The water's lovely, and I have such a craving for something sweet" and what does it reveal?
The crocodile says this line. It reveals the crocodile's deceptive nature, as it disguises its desire to eat Elmer as a friendly invitation, using the double meaning of "something sweet."
What is the significance of the narrator's exclamation "What a life for a baby dragon!"?
This exclamation conveys both the narrator's and Elmer's empathy for the dragon's suffering, emphasizing the cruelty of the dragon's captivity and reinforcing Elmer's motivation to rescue it.