Swindle (Swindle #1) Reading Comprehension Questions
by Gordon Korman
Book Summary
Griffin Bing, known as 'The Man with the Plan,' finds a valuable Babe Ruth baseball card in an old house. He is tricked by a greedy collector, S. Wendell Palomino (Swindle), into selling it for a tiny fraction of its true worth. Furious and determined to get justice, Griffin assembles a team of his friends, each with a unique skill, to break into Swindle's heavily guarded mansion and steal the card back. The team faces numerous challenges and close calls but ultimately succeeds through clever planning and teamwork.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Swindle (Swindle #1).
1.What valuable item did Griffin Bing discover in the old, condemned house?
2.How much money did S. Wendell Palomino (Swindle) pay Griffin for the baseball card?
3.Which friend was known for being small and agile, making them good for getting into tight spaces during the heist?
4.Why did Griffin decide to recruit his friends to help get the card back instead of just calling the police?
5.How do you think Swindle felt when he realized the valuable baseball card was missing from his house?
6.What does the team's decision to sell the card through a reputable auction house instead of just keeping it tell you about their intentions?
7.What important lesson did Griffin and his friends learn by working together to get the card back?
8.Which theme best describes why Griffin was so determined to get the baseball card back from Swindle?
9.How did Melissa Dukakis's special skill as an actress contribute to the success of the team's plan?
10.In the sentence, "Griffin was exploring an old, condemned house," what does the word "condemned" mean?
11.When Griffin realized he had been "swindled" by Mr. Palomino, what does it mean to be "swindled"?
12.The team planned a daring "heist" to get the card back. What is a "heist"?
13.If you were Griffin, after realizing you had been tricked by Swindle, would you have tried to get the card back like he did, or would you have chosen a different way to handle the situation? Explain your choice.
14.Each member of Griffin's team had a special skill. Which character's special skill do you think was the most important for the team's success in getting the card back, and why?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Swindle (Swindle #1) to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Swindle (Swindle #1) with children.
What was your favorite part of Swindle (Swindle #1)? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Swindle (Swindle #1), who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Swindle (Swindle #1) make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Swindle (Swindle #1) to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Gordon Korman wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Swindle (Swindle #1)?
Swindle (Swindle #1) by Gordon Korman is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 4.8. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Swindle (Swindle #1)?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Swindle (Swindle #1), covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Swindle (Swindle #1) 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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