The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude ChandlerWarner
Reading Comprehension Questions
with Skills Review Activities
NAME: ______
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
I. The Four Hungry Children
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. Why do the older children want to buy bread?
______
______
2. What does Jessie ask the baker's wife?
______
______
3. Where are the children's parents?
______
______
4. Why are the children not with their grandfather in Greenfield?
______
______
5. Why does Henry say grandfather will be mean?
______
______
6. Who went to sleep first?
______
______
7. What do Jessie and Henry overhear the baker and his wife saying?
______
______
8. What do the children plan to do?
______
______
9. How much money do the children have?
______
______
10. Where did the children put the bread before they left?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 1
Circle or write the correct word choice.
1. There are ______children in the story.
forfour
2. ______will the children sleep?
wearwhere
3. ______parents are dead.
theirthere
4. ______are benches to sleep on.
their there
5. The children can ______the adults talking.
hear here
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
II. Night is Turned into Day
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. How were the children able to see the road?
______
______
2. Why did Jessie say it would be best to wake Benny?
______
______
3. How did Violet get Henry to wake up?
______
______
4. Where did the children find to sleep?
______
______
5. What does Jessie say they will do at night?
______
______
6. What does Benny want when he wakes up?
______
______
7. How did the children drink water?
______
______
8. Why did the children get behind the bushes?
______
______
9. Why did the children choose to go to SilverCity?
______
______
10. Why do the children like the place they are?
______
______
11. Why is it good that it is hot?
______
______
12. What did the children not hear?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 2
Find the errors in each sentence below.
1. henry benny violet and jessie did not hear the storm coming
2. There were cookies cake and bread at the bakery.
3. The children had a knife bread and money.
4. Will Benny pretend to be a bear a dog or a cat?
5. The children could find apples berries or fish.
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
III. A New Home in the Woods
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. What kind of morning does Jessie wake up to?
______
______
2. What did Jessie think about the boxcar that she saw?
______
______
3. How were the children able to get up to the old train car?
______
______
4. What was in the boxcar?
______
______
5. Where does Violet think they could wash?
______
______
6. Why does Benny not want to live in the boxcar?
______
______
7. Besides bread, what does Benny want?
______
______
8. Why does Henry not want to leave?
______
______
9. What does Jessie say they can have for supper?
______
______
10. What did the children hear?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 3
Fill in each blank with the correct word choice.
1. There was ______brook near the boxcar.
a an
2. Benny thought ______engine would take the boxcar.
a an
3. Benny wanted ______cup of milk.
a an
4. Jessie has ______idea.
a an
5. Now it was ______sunny day.
a an
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
IV. Henry Has Two Surprises
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. What was wrong with the dog the children saw?
______
______
2. How did Jessie help the dog?
______
______
3. What two surprises will Henry have?
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______
4. What did Henry bring with him?
______
______
5. What did Henry think of the dog?
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______
6. Why are they calling the dog Watch?
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______
7. Why was the bread cut into five pieces instead of four?
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______
8. How were the beds made soft?
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______
9. What does Jessie say the other side of the boxcar will be?
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______
10. Where did Jessie get the string for the clothesline?
______
______
11. How was the problem about where to put water solved?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 4
Find the errors in each sentence.
1. henry went to buy food and milk
2. why is it so hot
3. violet did not see the moon
4. jessie washed in the brook
5. will henry have to hide
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
V. The Explorers Find Treasure
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. Why did Jessie get up right away?
______
______
2. What was the refrigerator?
______
______
3. How does HENRY think he can make money?
______
______
4. What does Jessie want to find?
______
______
5. What does Jessie think will be treasures?
______
______
6. What did Benny want to find at the dump?
______
______
7. How will the children carry the dishes back?
______
______
8. What did Benny find for drinking milk?
______
______
9. How will the children get the dishes even cleaner?
______
______
10. Where did the children put the dishes?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 5
Find the errors in each sentence.
1. henry wont show whats in the bundles.
2. Violet isnt sad today.
3. benny cant wait to use the pink cup
4. Jessies good at solving problems.
5. Watch isnt walking on four legs yet
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
VI. A Queer Noise in the Night
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. What different things did Henry buy?
______
______
2. What town did Henry go to?
______
______
3. Who did Henry work for?
______
______
4. What did Henry do with the cookie the cook gave him?
______
______
5. What does Violet want to do?
______
______
6. Why did Benny find sticks for Jessie?
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______
7. Why did Henry say the spoon was magic?
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______
8. What work did Henry do in the afternoon?
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______
9. How will the children make a pool for swimming?
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______
10. Why did the children close the door?
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______
11. How did the children know when it was safe?
______
______
12. What do you think the noise may have been? Explain your answer.
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 6
Fill in the blank with the correct word choice.
1. Violet will ______a hem.
so sew
2. Henry would like a swimming ______..
pool pull
3. Jessie can ______a sound.
hear here
4. Benny wants ______eat a cookie.
two to
5. The children ______happy.
are our
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
VII. A Big Meal From Little Onions
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. Why do you think Henry and Jessie did not tell the others about the noise?
______
______
2. What will the children do to be safe?
______
______
3. Who is Mrs. Moore?
______
______
4. What is Henry's job for the morning?
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______
5. What question was Henry glad not to answer?
______
______
6. Why do you think Henry wants to order meat?
______
______
7. What did Benny and the other children build?
______
______
8. Why did Henry wish a little that he could stay at the boxcar?
______
______
9. What is Henry saving from his work in the garage?
______
______
10. Why did Dr. Moore laugh?
______
______
11. What did the doctor tell Henry about cherry pickers? The doctor told Henry they could use more
cherry pickers if they were as careful as
______
______
12. Why did Henry buy salt?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 7
Find the errors in each sentence.
1. mrs moore likes henry
2. dr moore is very nice
3. the stew will have turnips meat onions and carrots in it
4. theyll use the nails and the hammer
5. how many children will pick cherries
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
VIII. A Swimming Pool at Last
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. What was all around the little pool that Jessie found?
______
______
2. How did Henry find out the pool was about one foot deep?
______
______
3. Who didn't mind hard work?
______
______
4. Why did Jessie wash the socks at that time?
______
______
5. What happened when the first log was put down?
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______
6. What did the children do with the brush?
______
______
7. What did the girls do while the boys swam?
______
______
8. What was the bell made of?
______
______
9. What did Watch chase in the woods?
______
______
10. What did Benny like about supper?
______
______
11. What do the children think they will eat tomorrow?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 8
Write the words from each line in alphabetical order.
1. eggs bread milk
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______
2. Henry Violet Benny
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______
3. stone bell stick
______
______
4. water walk woods
______
______
5. tree tired table
______
______
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
IX. Fun in the Cherry Orchard
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. Why is Jessie worried about all four of them picking cherries?
______
______
2. What is Henry's plan for the children to pick cherries?
______
______
3. What does Dr. Moore think Benny can do?
______
______
4. Why were the children allowed to eat cherries?
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______
5. Why didn't Mrs.Moore want to go in?
______
______
6. What did Jessie tell Dr. Moore about their parents?
______
______
7. What did Benny especially like at lunch?
______
______
8. Why does Dr.Moore think $4 is just right?
______
______
9. What does Dr.Moore read about?
______
______
10. What is the doctor going to do about the situation?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 9
Write each sentence correctly.
1. the reward is for 5,000
______
______
2. the children earned 4
______
______
3. what will benny do with 1
______
______
4. will the bread cost 2
______
______
5. dr moore has more than 4
______
______
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
X. Henry and the Free-for-all
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. What does James Henry Alden do each year?
______
______
2. What was special about the Free-for-all?
______
______
3. How did Henry get to the Field Day?
______
______
4. Why did Henry enter the race?
______
______
5. What happened when Henry began to see how fast he could run?
______
______
6. Why did Henry want to pass number 16?
______
______
7. What did Henry say his name was?
______
______
8. What did Dr.Moore not tell Henry?
______
______
9. What will Henry do with the money?
______
______
10. Why do Jessie and Violet want to make a book?
______
______
11. What idea did Violet have about the words?
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______
12. How did Benny become motivated?
______
______
13. What did the children have for supper?
______
______
14. What is Benny proud of?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 10
Fill in each blank with the correct homophones choice.
1. Jessie ______how to read.
new knew
2. Dr. Moore got to ______Henry running.
see sea
3. Violet held up ______words.
two to
4. Henry ______- the race
one won
5. We will cook ______potatoes.
are our
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
XI. The Doctor Takes a Hand
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. What are the girls doing with Benny's old stockings?
______
______
2. What does Benny want to be added that is unusual?
______
______
3. What did Benny do after the girls cut his hair?
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______
4. What was special (to Benny) about what he did?
______
______
5. Why did Violet continue to cry?
______
______
6. Who does Henry get for Violet?
______
______
7. Why do you think Dr.Moore knew the way to the boxcar without being told by Henry?
______
______
8. Where were the children taken?
______
______
9. What will Dr.Moore get if he sees the man?
______
______
10. Who is the man that came to visit?
______
______
11. What kind of person do you think the grandfather is?
______
______
12. What do you think will happen next in the story?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 11
Number the statements below in the order in which they happened in the story.
______Grandfather came to visit.
______Benny cut Watch's hair.
______Violet became sick.
______Benny got a haircut.
______The doctor came to get the children.
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
XII. James Henry and Henry James
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. Why does Grandfather say he won't tell the children who he is?
______
______
2. How will Mr. Alden get to know his grandchildren?
______
______
3. Why won't Dr. Moore take the money?
______
______
4. What would Benny like to see in Mr. Alden's garden?
______
______
5. What is Henry thinking about Mr. Alden?
______
______
6. What is Henry's surprise?
______
______
7. What had the children imagined about their grandfather?
______
______
8. How did the doctor know about the boxcar?
______
______
9. Who is the only one who has not seen the boxcar?
______
______
10. What did the children do at the boxcar?
______
______
11. What will the children do tomorrow?
______
______
12. Do you think the children will like the house? Why or why not?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 12
Find the errors in each sentence.
1. where will the children live
2. dr moore and mrs moore had already seen the boxcar
3. they saw the pink cup teapot tablecloth and fireplace
4. do the children live in greenfieldmissouri
5. maybe they live near silver city kansas
Student Copy
The Boxcar Children
XIII. A New Home for the Boxcar
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. Describe Mr. Alden's house.
______
______
2. What kinds of things are in Benny's room?
______
______
3. What does the man who came to visit at Mr. Alden's want?
______
______
4. How did the lady feel about Watch's haircut?
______
______
5. What did Jessie miss?
______
______
6. Where do the children go while the surprise is being brought?
______
______
7. What was the surprise?
______
______
8. How long do the children plan to live with Mr. Alden?
______
______
Student Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 13
Write one sentence about each character listed below.
1. Henry
______
______
2. Violet
______
______
3. Benny
______
______
4. Jessie
______
______
5. Dr.Moore
______
______
6. Mr. Alden
______
______
Teacher Copy
The Boxcar Children
I. The Four Hungry Children
Answer each question in a complete sentence.
1. Why do the older children want to buy bread?
Bread is healthier than cake.
2. What does Jessie ask the baker's wife?
Jessie asks if they can spend the night in exchange for working for the baker's wife.
3. Where are the children's parents?
The children's parents are dead.
4. Why are the children not with their grandfather in Greenfield?
The children do not like their grandfather.
5. Why does Henry say grandfather will be mean?
Grandfather never came to visit them.
6. Who went to sleep first?
Benny and Violet went to sleep first.
7. What do Jessie and Henry overhear the baker and his wife saying?
They overhear plans of taking Benny to a Children's Home.
8. What do the children plan to do?
The children plan to run from the baker and his wife.
9. How much money do the children have?
The children only have around four dollars.
10. Where did the children put the bread before they left?
The children put the bread in a laundry bag.
Teacher Copy
Skill Review
Chapter 1
Circle or write the correct word choice.
1. There are --- children in the story.
forfour
2. --- will the children sleep?
wear where
3. --- parents are dead.
theirthere
4. --- are benches to sleep on.
their there
5. The children can --- the adults talking.
hear here
Teacher Copy
The Boxcar Children
II. Night is Turned into Day
Answer each question.
1. How were the children able to see the road?
Light from the moon helped the children to see.
2. Why did Jessie say it would be best to wake Benny?
Jessie thought they could walk faster if Henry did not have to carry Benny.
3. How did Violet get Henry to wake up?
Violet said Benny could pretend that he was a bear looking for food.
4. Where did the children find to sleep?
The children found a haystack to sleep in.
5. What does Jessie say they will do at night?
Jessie says they will walk at night.
6. What does Benny want when he wakes up?
Benny wants to eat.
7. How did the children drink water?
The children had to drink right from a pump.
8. Why did the children get behind the bushes?
The children hid because they heard a horse and cart coming.
9. Why did the children choose to go to SilverCity?
The baker and his wife were going to Greenfield to look for the children, so the children did not want to go there.
10. Why do the children like the place they are?
There is a fountain for drinking, woods for sleeping, and the children can tell that not many people come to this place.
11. Why is it good that it is hot?
The children must sleep on the ground, so it's good that it is not cold.
12. What did the children not hear?
The children did not hear a storm coming.
Teacher Copy
Skills Review
Chapter 2
Write each sentence correctly.
1. Henry Benny Violet and Jessie did not hear the storm coming.
Henry, Benny, Violet, and Jessie did not hear the storm coming.
2. There were cookies cake and bread at the bakery.
There were cookies, cake, and bread at the bakery.
3. The children had a knife bread and money.
The children had a knife, bread, and money.
4. Will Benny pretend to be a bear a dog or a cat?
Will Benny pretend to be a bear, a dog, or a cat?
5. The children could find apples berries or fish.
The children could find apples, berries, or fish.
Teacher Copy
The Boxcar Children
III. A New Home in the Woods
Give a short answer to each question.
1. What kind of morning does Jessie wake up to?
Jessie wakes up to a stormy morning.