Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Reading Comprehension Questions
by Sarah Scherling, Terry Hoit
Book Summary
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed field mouse, faces a terrible problem: her home will be destroyed by the farmer's plow, but her son Timothy is too sick to move. She seeks help from various creatures, eventually encountering a highly intelligent society of rats who have a secret past with a scientific laboratory called NIMH. These rats, who were experimented on and gained advanced intelligence, agree to help Mrs. Frisby and her family, while also pursuing their own ambitious plan to build a self-sufficient community away from humans.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.
1.What was Mrs. Frisby's biggest problem at the beginning of the story?
2.Who did Mrs. Frisby save from the farmer's cat?
3.Where did the rats of NIMH originally come from?
4.Why was it dangerous for Mrs. Frisby to visit the Great Owl?
5.Why did the rats decide to move to Thorn Valley?
6.How do you think Mrs. Frisby felt when the rats agreed to help her move her house?
7.What lesson does Mrs. Frisby's journey teach us about being brave?
8.What is an important message the story shares about working together?
9.How did Mrs. Frisby's actions show that she was a good mother?
10.What does the word "perilous" mean when Mrs. Frisby's journey to the Great Owl was described as perilous?
11.The rats came up with an "ingenious" plan to move Mrs. Frisby's house. What does "ingenious" mean?
12.If the rats felt "compelled" to move to Thorn Valley, what does that mean?
13.If you were Mrs. Frisby, would you have been brave enough to visit the Great Owl? Why or why not?
14.What do you think might happen to the rats in Thorn Valley? Do you think they will succeed in their new home?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH with children.
What was your favorite part of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Sarah Scherling, Terry Hoit wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Sarah Scherling, Terry Hoit is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 4.7. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH 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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