Chapter One Practice Quiz — My Father's Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannett — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter One
What is the weather like when Elmer first meets the cat?
It is a cold, rainy day when Elmer encounters the old alley cat on his street.
What does Elmer offer the cat when he invites her home?
He offers her a warm furnace to sit by and a saucer of milk.
How does Elmer's mother react to the cat being in their home?
She is very upset and refuses to feed the cat, saying that feeding one stray will lead to feeding every stray in town.
How long does Elmer secretly feed the cat before being caught?
Elmer secretly feeds the cat for three weeks before his mother discovers the saucer in the cellar.
What does Elmer's mother do when she finds the cat's saucer?
She becomes extremely angry, whips Elmer, and throws the cat out the door.
Where do Elmer and the cat go after she is thrown out?
Elmer sneaks out, finds the cat, and together they go for a walk in the park.
What does the cat tell Elmer she saw on Wild Island?
She says she saw something that made her want to weep, but the chapter ends before she reveals what it was.
What is the full name of the main character in My Father's Dragon?
The main character's full name is Elmer Elevator.
Who is the narrator of My Father's Dragon?
The narrator is Elmer Elevator's child, who recounts the adventures of "my father" as a young boy.
How is the alley cat described when Elmer first meets her?
The cat is described as old, very drippy, and uncomfortable from the cold rain.
What kind of background does the alley cat have?
The cat is an experienced traveler who sailed to the Island of Tangerina and explored Wild Island in her younger days.
How does Elmer's mother feel about cats?
She hates cats, particularly ugly old alley cats, and refuses to have them in her home.
What theme does Elmer's care for the stray cat introduce?
It introduces the theme of kindness and compassion toward vulnerable creatures, which foreshadows his mission to rescue the baby dragon.
What does Elmer's dream of flying an airplane symbolize?
It symbolizes his desire for freedom, adventure, and escape from the constraints of his ordinary life and strict household.
How does the chapter establish the theme of injustice?
Elmer is punished for an act of compassion — feeding a hungry stray cat — which highlights the tension between doing what is right and obeying authority.
What does the contrast between Elmer and his mother represent?
It represents the conflict between compassion and indifference, with Elmer embodying empathy and his mother representing rigid practicality.
What narrative technique does Ruth Stiles Gannett use to frame the story?
She uses a retrospective first-person narrator — Elmer's child — who recounts the father's childhood adventures, creating an intimate oral storytelling feel.
How does the chapter use foreshadowing?
The cat mentions seeing something on Wild Island that "made me want to weep," hinting at the captive baby dragon and building suspense for the adventure ahead.
What is the effect of the whimsical place names like Tangerina and Cranberry?
They create a playful, fantastical tone that signals the transition from a realistic domestic setting into a world of imagination and adventure.
What does "obliged" mean in the context of the cat's response to Elmer?
In this context, "obliged" means grateful or thankful. The cat says she would be "very much obliged" to sit by a warm furnace.
What does "inhabited" mean as used to describe Wild Island?
Inhabited means lived in or occupied. Wild Island is described as "inhabited by very wild animals."
Who says "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?" and why is it significant?
Elmer says this to the stray cat, establishing his compassionate character from the very first page of the story.
What is the significance of Elmer saying "I'd do anything if I could fly"?
This line reveals the depth of Elmer's longing for adventure and foreshadows his willingness to undertake a dangerous journey to Wild Island.
What does the cat mean when she says she saw something that "made me want to weep"?
This is a cliffhanger that creates suspense. She is referring to a captive baby dragon on Wild Island, though this is not revealed until later chapters.