I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) Reading Comprehension Questions
by Lauren Tarshis
Book Summary
Eleven-year-old Dex loves learning about extreme weather and gets the chance of a lifetime to ride with a famous storm chaser. But when a massive EF5 tornado heads straight for his hometown of Joplin, Missouri, Dex must survive the deadliest storm and find his way back to his family.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12).
1.Who is Dr. Norman Gage?
2.What is the name of Dex's older brother?
3.What animal does Dex find and rescue right after the tornado passes?
4.Why is Marcus acting sad and quiet at the beginning of the story?
5.Why does Dr. Gage's plan to safely film the storm go wrong?
6.How do Dex's feelings about tornadoes change by the end of the book?
7.What is an important lesson Dex learns about heroes in this story?
8.What does the story show about the community of Joplin after the tornado?
9.How does the tornado change Marcus's behavior from the beginning of the story to the end?
10.Read this sentence: 'The tornado left a trail of debris across the entire town.' What does 'debris' mean?
11.What does a tornado 'siren' do?
12.If a storm is described as 'severe,' what does that mean?
13.Dex was very brave during the tornado. What is a time you had to be brave during a scary situation?
14.Marcus used his Navy SEAL training to help people after the storm. How can you help others in your community when something bad happens?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) with children.
What was your favorite part of I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12)? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12), who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Lauren Tarshis wanted young readers to learn from this story?
Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12)?
I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) by Lauren Tarshis is recommended for grades 2-4 readers with an AR level of 4.0. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12)?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12), covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 (I Survived #12) 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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