Mississippi Bridge Reading Comprehension Questions
by Mildred D. Taylor
Book Summary
This novella, part of the Logan family saga, tells the story of Jeremy Simms, a white boy who is friends with Black children during the Great Depression. The main event involves a tragic bus accident where a rickety bridge collapses, sending a bus full of Black passengers into the river. The story highlights the racial prejudice and injustice of the time, as rescue efforts prioritize white lives over Black lives, deeply affecting Jeremy.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Mississippi Bridge.
1.What happened to the old bridge as the Black children's bus was crossing?
2.Who was Jeremy's friend who was on the Black children's bus?
3.Who was blamed for the bridge accident?
4.Why do you think Jeremy was upset about how the rescue was handled?
5.What does Jeremy's friendship with Moe Turner tell you about Jeremy?
6.Why do you think the white bus crossed the old bridge first, before the Black bus?
7.What lesson does Jeremy learn about fairness by the end of the story?
8.What is one big idea the story teaches about how people were treated during that time?
9.How did the way people were rescued from the river show the unfairness Jeremy felt?
10.In the story, what does the word 'rickety' mean when describing the bridge?
11.What does it mean when the bridge 'collapsed' into the river?
12.Jeremy felt a deep sense of 'injustice'. What does 'injustice' mean in this story?
13.If you were Jeremy and saw such an unfair event happen, what would you do or how would you try to make things better?
14.The story shows how people were treated unfairly because of their race. How can we make sure everyone is treated fairly today, like Jeremy wished?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Mississippi Bridge to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Mississippi Bridge with children.
What was your favorite part of Mississippi Bridge? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Mississippi Bridge, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Mississippi Bridge make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Mississippi Bridge to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Mildred D. Taylor wanted young readers to learn from this story?
Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Mississippi Bridge?
Mississippi Bridge by Mildred D. Taylor is recommended for grades 2-4 readers with an AR level of 3.8. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Mississippi Bridge?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Mississippi Bridge, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Mississippi Bridge 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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