Crash Reading Comprehension Questions
by Jerry Spinelli
Book Summary
The story is about a seventh-grade boy, John Coogan, nicknamed 'Crash,' who is a star football player and a bully. He has always picked on his Quaker neighbor, Penn Webb, who is smaller, quieter, and has different interests. Crash's life starts to change when his beloved grandfather, Scooter, comes to live with them after a stroke. Crash also develops feelings for a girl, Jane Forbes, who is friends with Penn and dislikes Crash's bullying. Through these experiences, especially Scooter's illness, Crash begins to question his own behavior and values, learning about empathy, friendship, and acceptance.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Crash.
1.What is John Coogan's nickname in the story?
2.What does Penn Webb believe in because he is a Quaker?
3.What big event happens to Crash's grandfather, Scooter?
4.Why do you think Jane Forbes doesn't like how Crash treats Penn?
5.How does Crash start to feel about Penn after Scooter gets sick?
6.What might happen to Crash and Penn's friendship after the big race?
7.What does the word 'teasing' mean in the sentence: 'Crash starts teasing Penn right away because Penn is different'?
8.What does 'approve' mean when the story says: 'Jane doesn't approve of how Crash treats Penn'?
9.What is the meaning of 'empathy' in the sentence: 'Crash starts to feel empathy for Penn'?
10.What is a big lesson Crash learns by the end of the story?
11.How does Scooter's illness help Crash change his behavior?
12.How can you tell that Crash changes from the beginning of the story to the end?
13.What would you do if you saw someone teasing another person just because they were different?
14.How do you think Penn felt when Crash started to be kind to him instead of teasing him?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Crash to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Crash with children.
What was your favorite part of Crash? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Crash, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Crash make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Crash to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Jerry Spinelli wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Crash?
Crash by Jerry Spinelli is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of AR 5.0. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Crash?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Crash, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Crash for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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