Cricket in Times Square Study Guide
Test September 14, 2016
The test is not open book.
Discussion Questions:
Chapter 1:
1. Who is Tucker Mouse? Where does Tucker live? Who is his best friend?
2. Describe Mario, Mama, and Papa Bellini. Where is Mr. and Mrs. Bellini from? Who built the newsstand? How do you know that the Bellini’s do not make enough money to support their family?
3. Tucker enjoys watching people in the subway station and scrounging. What does scrounging mean?
4. Who is Paul? Why didn’t he wait for his change? What does this say about Paul’s character?
Chapter 2:
4. How did Mario discover Chester?
5. Mario made a home for Chester out of what?
6. Why didn’t Mama let Mario bring Chester home?
7. How did Mama and Mario decide to let Chester stay at the newsstand? On what conditions does Mama say Mario can keep Chester?
Chapter 3:
8. Tucker discovers that the unknown sound he heard was that of Chester. Had Tucker ever see a cricket before? Describe Chester. How do Chester and Tucker meet?
9. Where is Chester from? How did he end up in the subway station? How does he feel about being in the subway station? How do you know he feels that way?
Compare Chester and Tucker.
Chapter 4 and 5:
10. Who is Harry the Cat? What does he look like?
11. Why is Tucker not afraid of Harry the Cat?
12. Why does Chester’s opinion of the city begin to change?
13. What does Chester find in the sky that makes him feel better about being away from his home in the country?
14. Why does Mr. Smedley think Chester is so talented?
15. Why does Mario go to Chinatown? What was he looking for? Who does Mario meet in Chinatown?
Chapter 6:
16. Retell in your own words Sai Fong’s account of the Chinese legend of the wiseman that was turned into the world’s first cricket.
17. Why is the cricket cage so cheap? What did the cage look like?
Chapter 7 and 8:
18. How does Tucker respond to Chester’s new cage the pagoda?
19. Why did Chester eat the money?
20. How does Tucker want to solve Chester’s problem? What does this suggest about Tucker’s character? How are Tucker and Chester different in how they approach problem solving?
21. How does Mama respond to finding Chester and the eaten money?
22. How does Mario try to repay the money? What was Chester’s punishment? How did Chester repay the money?
Chapter 9:
23. Sai Fong and his elderly friend invite Mario and Chester in for a dinner party. What did they eat? What story did Sai Fong tell?
24. Why should Chester eat Mulberry leaves?
Chapter 10:
25. Why are the 3 friends having a party in the newsstand? How does the fire start?
26. How do each of the animals react to the fire?
27. Which character puts out the fire?
Chapter 11:
28. Chester decides to not run after the fire. Why does he decide to stay?
29. Why does Mama conclude that Chester must go?
30. Why does Chester blame himself for the fire?
31. Why does Mama change her mind and let Chester stay at the newsstand?
Chapter 12:
32. Why does Tucker want Chester to learn more music?
33. How does Chester recive a musical education?
34. Mr. Smedley is so impressed with Chester’s music that he does what?
Chapter 13:
35. Why do so many people gather at the newsstand?
36. How does Mama use Chester’s fame to make money?
37. Why is Chester not happy?
38. How does Mario know that Chester is sad?
Chapter 14 and 15:
39. How do Tucker and Harry respond to Chester’s plans of retirement?
40. Why does Chester decide to play the song he plays as his last concert song?
41. When Chester plays the subway station becomes quiet and still…why?
42. How does Mario say goodbye to Mario?
43. How does Mario know Chester has left for good? How does Mario feel about him leaving?
44. How do Tucker and Harry feel about Chester leaving?