Chapter Ten Practice Quiz — My Father's Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannett — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter Ten
What are the animals shouting when they discover Elmer crossing the crocodile bridge?
They shout "It's a trick! It's a trick! There's an invasion and it must be after our dragon. Kill it! Kill it!"
How does Elmer get across the river to reach the dragon?
He crosses on the backs of crocodiles that he has bribed with pink lollipops, creating a living bridge across the river.
What tool does Elmer use to free the dragon?
He uses his very sharp jackknife to saw through the big rope that holds the dragon captive.
What is Elmer's backup plan if he cannot cut the rope in time?
He tells the dragon they will fly over to the other side of the river and he can finish cutting the rope there.
Why do the crocodiles swim away from the riverbank?
The first crocodile finishes his lollipop and, being naturally moody and unreliable, turns to swim downstream. Each remaining crocodile follows, creating a chain floating away.
What happens to the pursuing animals when the crocodiles swim away?
All the animals—wild boars, tigers, lions, rhinoceros, gorilla, and monkeys—are stranded on the crocodiles' backs, riding down the middle of the river and getting their feet wet.
Where do Elmer and the dragon fly to at the end of the chapter?
They fly to the shores of Tangerina, where they plan to spend the night before beginning the long journey home.
How does Elmer show calmness under pressure during the rescue?
While the dragon panics and the animals charge, Elmer calmly tells the dragon "Steady, old boy, steady. We'll make it. Just stand still" as he saws the rope.
How does the baby dragon react when he realizes Elmer is coming to rescue him?
He runs out of the bushes and jumps up and down yelling "Here I am! I'm right here! Can you see me? Hurry!"
What does the dragon do after being freed from the rope?
He races around in circles and tries to turn a somersault. The narrator calls him "the most excited baby dragon that ever lived."
Which two animals lead the mob chasing Elmer?
Two extremely irate wild boars lead the stampede, followed by tigers, a rhinoceros, lions, a gorilla, and countless monkeys.
What does the cat on Ocean Rocks shout as Elmer and the dragon fly overhead?
The cat screams in garbled speech: "Bum cack! Bum cack! We dreed our nagon!" meaning "Come back! We need our dragon!"
How does Chapter 10 illustrate the theme of cleverness over brute force?
Elmer defeats an entire island of dangerous animals using only a jackknife and lollipops, while the powerful animals are left helpless on floating crocodiles.
What does the dragon's freedom at the end of the book symbolize?
The dragon's liberation symbolizes the triumph of compassion and courage, as Elmer risked everything to free a creature from captivity and cruelty.
How does the ending of My Father's Dragon reinforce the theme of friendship?
Elmer and the dragon laugh together, fly away together, and resolve never to return to Wild Island, showing a bond forged through shared adventure and mutual trust.
What does the final flight represent thematically?
The flight represents freedom, new beginnings, and the fulfillment of Elmer's adventurous spirit as he achieves his dream of flying by befriending the dragon.
What narrative technique does Gannett use throughout My Father's Dragon, including in Chapter 10?
She uses a frame narrative in which the narrator tells the story of "my father" as a child, creating warm distance and a storytelling quality.
What literary device is the repeated cataloguing of animals ("both boars, all seven tigers, the two lions...")?
It is an accumulation or catalogue device that creates a humorous, rhythmic, cumulative effect, building both comedic tension and a sense of overwhelming odds.
What is the comic reversal in Chapter 10?
The crocodile bridge that the animals try to use to chase Elmer becomes the very mechanism of their defeat, as the crocodiles swim away and strand the pursuers in the river.
How does the cat's garbled speech at the end serve as a literary device?
It provides comic relief and dramatic irony—the reader understands the cat's real meaning while the garbled words ("Bum cack! We dreed our nagon!") are absurdly funny.
What does the word "irate" mean as used to describe the wild boars?
Irate means extremely angry or furious. The wild boars are described as "extremely irate" because they discovered Elmer's trick.
What does "stampeded" mean in the context of the animals charging toward the river?
Stampeded means to rush wildly in a sudden mass movement, usually caused by panic or fury. The entire crowd of animals stampedes down to the riverbank.
What does "soared" mean when describing the dragon's flight?
Soared means to fly or rise high in the air with minimal effort. The dragon soared above the dark jungle, carrying Elmer on his back.
Who says "Steady, old boy, steady. We'll make it. Just stand still" and in what context?
Elmer says this to the baby dragon as he begins sawing through the rope, calming the frantic dragon while the pursuing animals close in.
What is the significance of the dragon's line "All aboard! Where shall we go?"
This line marks the moment of freedom and partnership—the dragon is no longer a captive but a willing companion, eager to share the adventure with Elmer.
What does the final statement "nothing in the world would ever make them go back to Wild Island" convey?
It conveys their absolute resolve to leave the dangerous island behind and signals the definitive, happy ending of the rescue adventure.