FiregirlBy Tony Abbott

Name: ____________________________________

Number: ______

Firegirl by Tony Abbott

Welcome to the story of seventh grader, Tom, who develops a tentative friendship with Jessica that changes his life.

BEFORE YOU READ: Read the front and back covers of the book, and the first few pages to answer these questions.

1. Who is the author of the book? _________________________________________

2. Who is the publisher? _________________________________________________

3. What is the copyright date of the book? ___________________________________

4. What award has this book won? _________________________________________

5. What can you tell about the book by looking at the front cover?

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6. To whom is the book dedicated? ________________________________________

7. What do you think the dedication means? _________________________________

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8. How many chapters are in this book? ____________________________________

9. What are you thinking after reading the first page of the book? _________________

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10. Look at the first chapter. What do you see that is unusual? ____________________

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Look at the last page of the book. Answer the questions in complete sentences.

11. Is the author still living? ______________________________________________

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12. What jobs has the author had? _________ _________________________________

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13. How many pages does this book have? ___________________________________

14. What question do you have before starting the book? ________________________

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15.What series has the author written? _______________________________________

General DirectionsYou will be working on several skills as you read the story. They are:

ComprehensionReading for Details

WritingVocabulary

Prefix Usage

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Understanding Hints and Guides in the Booklet#1 – Counting Paragraphs

You will need to know how to count paragraphs.Always start your count with the first full paragraph on each page.

Look at page 55 in Firegirl.Answer these questions:

1. How many paragraphs begin on this page? _________________

2. What word begins paragraph 2? _________________

3. What word ends paragraph 3? _________________

Look at page 123. Answer these questions:

1. How many paragraphs begin on this page? _________________

2. What word begins paragraph 5? _________________

#2 – Finding Words

terrible (pg 95, par. 4) That means that you will find the word terrible on page 95 in paragraph 4.

#3 – Writing Complete Sentences

The directions in this booklet will always ask you to answer the questions in complete sentences. Remember that a complete sentence is able to answer these two questions:

Who or what did something? What happened?

You are now ready to read. Enjoy the story!

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SECTION 1 Chapters 1-4COMPREHENSION: Put T for true or F for false on the line for each statement.

_____ 1. Tom likes Cobras.

_____ 2. In classrooms at Tom’s school, the seats were in order of birthdays.

_____ 3. Tom thinks Courtney is unattractive and smells bad.

_____ 4. Tom’s friend, Jeff, has an uncle who owns a Cobra.

_____ 5. Tom daydreams about saving Courtney from danger.

_____ 6. Tom is in the seventh grade.

Writing a Paragraph: Think about the questions and write a paragraph.

Is what you are reading believable? Why or Why not?

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VOCABULARY: Put the letter of the correct definition on the line in front of the word. Use the page and paragraph number to find the word in the story if necessary.

____ 1. clue (pg. 7, par. 2) a) pleasant smell – flower or perfume

____ 2. scent (pg. 14, par. 4) b) to overrun / take over

____ 3. trance (pg. 14, par. 6) c) information that helps solve a mystery

____ 4. silhouette (pg. 16, par. 1) d) band of outlaws

____ 5. marauder (pg. 18, par. 2) e) hypnotic or dazed state

____ 6. infested (pg.21, par. 6) f) outline of someone in a shadow

Put the vocabulary words in these sentences.

1. The murder mystery was solved by __________ left at the crime scene.

2. The trees were ____________________ with termites.

3. The flowers gave off a sweet __________.

4. Harry went into a _________ when anyone started talking about science.

5. The _____________ attacked the village and stole all their money.

6. I could see her __________ as she hid behind the house.

THINKING ABOUT THE STORY: Answer the following questions with complete sentences.

Who do you think the Firegirl will be and what will she be like?

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PREFIXES. Definition

A prefix is a letter or group of letters attached to the beginning of a word that partly indicates its meaning.

Common prefixes:

Prefix Meaning Example

pre- before precede

sub- under submarine

post- after postgame

un- not unfinished

uni- one unicorn

micro- mini microscope

dis- not disappear

Underline the prefix in these sentences.

1. She entered postop after her surgery.

2. Janet put the spaghetti in the microwave to warm it up.

3. Parents disapprove of bad behavior.

4. The clown rode the unicycle around the arena.

5. The little boy undressed and jumped into the bathtub.

6. Vaccinations prevent some illnesses.

7. Winters in Minnesota have subzero temperatures.

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SECTION 2 CHAPTERS 5 – 8

COMPREHENSION: Answer each question using complete sentences.

1. What were the two announcements that Mrs. Tracy announced?

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2. Put the steps to the election in the proper order (1-4)

___ Vote for classroom president

___ Classroom president will form committees and work on special events

___ Nominate candidates for classroom present

___ Classroom president is announced

3. What did the class do when Jessica walked into the room?

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4. How does Jeff react to Jessica? ___________________________________________

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5. Why did Jessica and her family move here? _________________________________

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VOCABULARY: Put the letter of the correct definition on the line in front of the word. Use the page and paragraph number to find the word in the story if necessary.

_____ 1. nominate (pg. 25, par. 1) a) odd or strange

_____ 2. assure (pg. 31, par. 6) b) imitate someone to make them look silly

_____ 3. acrid (pg. 40, par. 2) c) convince somebody

_____ 4. hoarse (pg. 46, par. 9) d) suggest someone for an election

_____ 5. bizarre (pg. 43, par. 1) e) strong and bitter smell or taste

_____ 6. mocking (pg. 40, par. 3) f) rough voice

Write YES on the line if the vocabulary word is used correctly.Write NO on the line if the word is used incorrectly.

________ 1. Her voice was hoarse from screaming all night.

________ 2. Charlie is going to nominate Sam for class secretary.

________ 3. I tried to assure Travis that he would get a train for his birthday.

________ 4. The acrid smell made me hungry. It smelled so good.

________ 5. The lady sang in a beautiful, hoarse voice.

________ 6. “You are such a baby”, my brother yelled in a mocking way.

THINKING ABOUT THE STORY: Think about the question and then write a paragraph.

When Jessica arrives in the classroom, the students are speechless and some are even disgusted. What would you do if you had to meet Jessica in your classroom?

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PREFIXES. Changing meaning of words

By knowing what the prefix means, it is possible to changethe meaning of the word.

Use these prefixes to complete the sentences:

un- (means not)

re – (means again)

For example: It is ____________ to ride a bike in a busy street. (not safe)

Fill the blank with unsafe so the sentence is: It is unsafe to ride a bike in a busy street.

1. My shoe is ______________.(not tied)

2. I had to _________________ the window that I broke.(place again)

3. Abby is _________________ to beat me in the video game.(not able)

4. Mrs. Wu said she does not want __________________ homework handed in.(not finished)

5. When will the moon _____________ in the sky? (appear again)

6. John will _____________ his watch so that it keeps the correct time.(wind again)

7. The rules that the three year old created were really ________________.(not fair)

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SECTION 3: Chapters 9 - 12COMPREHENSION: Complete the comprehension crossword puzzle.

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8

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ACROSS1. Who would not hold Jessica's hand during prayer?3. What did Jessica say had happened to her sister?4. What are the students called who are running for class president?7. Who is Tom going to nominate for class president?9. What did Mrs. Tracy ask Tom to take to Jessica?

DOWN1. Whose hand did Tom hold when the class said the prayer?2. Who did Jessica say was in the picture that she dropped?5. Where did Jeff go to visit his Dad?6. Finish Tom's logo, "A vote for Tom is a vote for ___________".8. Is Jeff nice to Jessica?

VOCABULARY: Put the letter of the correct definition on the line in front of the word. Use the page and paragraph number to find the word in the story if necessary.

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_____ 1. idiocy (pg. 53 , par. 2) a) mixture of wonder and dread

_____ 2. awe (pg. 49 , par. 8) b) catchy phrase to promote something

_____ 3. contagious (pg. 56, par. 6) c) foolish behavior

_____ 4. slogan (pg. 64, par. 8) d) not loud enough to be heard

_____ 5. inaudible (pg. 72 par. 1) e) contact will transmit disease

_____ 6. lame (pg. 76, par. 7) f) boring, dull, uninspired

Circle the vocabulary words in the word search.

E A X A H Y N J Y W U O N X OX L W V K C A L X E S W B O KS D B E Z L G R E J D M J D UT F C I Z F O S Z E F H U Y JH N X B D I L F T U M Z C S HZ T C O M U S R K R F O H C EL A M E G Y A H M T I H W U UL V Z I V V W N K D T Z V M ZB L H S S Q T M I A V C Y L MS U O I G A T N O C L C U Z IN R M W F X F V F L B C E M IK G S R G C A M F O B G E A SL I M B P U P C H E D S B S PL T D B C W P J G R X N X T XG U S D C Q I B H Q S W I M V

PREFIXES. Change the meaning of a word

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Use these prefix meanings to change the meaning of a word.

dis = means not

pre = means before

post = means after

ex = means former

uni = means one

Draw a line to match the prefix on the left with the word on the right.

1. dis- form ( change to one form)

2. pre- president (change to former president)

3. post- obey (change to not obey)

4. ex- mix (change to mix before)

5. post- crash (change to after crash)

6. uni- approve (change to not approve)

7. dis- tax (change to after tax)

8. pre- divorce (change to after divorce)

9. post- plan (change to plan before)

SECTION 4 CHAPTERS 13-1613

COMPREHENSION: Put T for true or F for false on the line.

____ 1. Tom talked to Jessica’s mom before he went into see Jessica.

____ 2. Jessica’s room was really girly.

____ 3. Jessica tells Tom that she hates her mother.

____ 4. Jessica never had a sister that died. She was the one in the photo.

____ 5. Jessica was burned when the house caught on fire.

____ 6. Tom took homework to Jessica’s house.

____ 7. Tom doesn’t care about Jessica.

WRITING A PARAGRAPH: Think about the questions and write a paragraph.

How did the reading for this section make you feel? Why?

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VOCABULARY: Put the letter of the correct definition on the line in front of the word. Use the page and paragraph number to find the word in the story if necessary.

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_____ 1. visible (pg. 87, par. 8) a) moving something with much effort

_____ 2. heaved (pg. 97, par. 5) b) to look for a long time

_____ 3. lavatory (pg. 104, par. 2) c) to make a sound quieter

_____ 4. gaze (pg. 114, par. 6) d) pitiful, tragic, sad

_____ 5. muffled (pg. 115, par. 8) e) bathroom

_____ 6. pathetic (pg. 117, par. 1) f) able to be seen

Write a sentence using each of the vocabulary words. Circle the vocabulary word.

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2. _____________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________

6. _____________________________________________________________________

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PREFIXES. Adding prefixes to root words.

Root words are the words before you add the prefix to them. For example, appear is the root word for disappear. Dis- is the prefix.

Split the words up into prefix + root word. For example, dis + appear = disappear.

disadvantage

precondition

reawake

THINKING ABOUT THE STORY: Think about the question and then write a paragraph.

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At St. Catherine’s, some of the students give Jessica a hard time. Why do you think Jessica still wants to go to school with other kids? If you were Jessica, would you go to school?

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Thinking about what you have read in this section: Draw a picture that appears in your mind:

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SECTION 5 CHAPTERS 17-20COMPREHENSION: Put T for true or F for false on the line.

_____ 1. Tom nominated Courtney for class president.

_____ 2. Jessica nominated Tom for class president.

_____ 3. Courtney won the election.

_____ 4. Tom finally got the chance to ride in Jeff’s uncle’s Cobra.

_____ 5. Jessica moved back to Boston.

_____ 6. Tom and Jeff went back to being best friends after Jessica left.

_____ 7. Tom kept in touch with Jessica after she left.

Writing a Paragraph: Think about the question and write a paragraph.

Describe Tom, the main character. What kind of person is he?

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VOCABULARY: Put the letter of the correct definition on the line in front of the word. Use the page and paragraph number to find the word in the story if necessary.

_____ 1. vibrated (pg. 129, par. 4) a) being accountable for something

_____ 2. avalanche (pg. 120, par. 4) b) to shake back and forth rapidly

_____ 3. responsibility (pg. 121, par. 1) c) rub something with your face

_____ 4. nuzzled (pg. 140, par. 2) d) rapid downhill flow of land or snow

_____ 5. blend (pg. 143, par. 5) e) mixing different things

WRITING A PARAGRAPH: Think about the question and then write a paragraph.

Although Jessica was only in Tom’s life for a few weeks, she made a big impact on his life. How do you think meeting Jessica changed Tom?

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PREFIXES. Identifying prefixes

Circle the prefixes in the passages from the book. Use these common prefixes.

Prefix Meaningin- notal- alldis- notun- not

1. That would be stupid. My mouth wouldn’t even work. I was suddenly a tiny invisible thing

with no voice. Too small to do anything and it was too late.

2. Eric and Dave had two each. Joey did end up writing his own name on his vote, but then

crossed it out, disqualifying himself altogether.

3. “So let’s do it already.” Uncle Chuck looked at his watch and the car rolled forward.

4. I lay on my bed still looking out the window but letting my gaze go unfocused. What if Jeff

had lied to me about the car? Would that even surprise me?

THINKING ABOUT THE STORY: Put these events in the right order. Use the numbers 1-5.

_____ Jessica nominates Courtney for Class President.

_____ Tom rejects Jeff’s offer to ride in the Cobra.

_____ Jeff nominates Courtney for Class President.

_____ Tom says goodbye to Jessica.

_____ Courtney wins the Class President election.

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SECTION 7 Review of the BookCOMPREHENSION: You are asked to redesign the cover of the book. Use at least three objects from the book to make the cover.

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THINKING ABOUT THE STORY: Write a paragraph to answer the question.

If you were the author, how would you end this book?

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Summary: What did you like the best about this book? ______________________________

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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not? _______________________

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