The Drinking Gourd Reading Comprehension Questions
by F. N. Monjo
Book Summary
The Drinking Gourd tells the story of young Tommy, who lives on a farm with his family. He discovers that his family's barn is a secret 'station' on the Underground Railroad, helping runaway slaves escape to freedom in the North. Tommy learns about the dangers and bravery involved and plays an important role in guiding a family of runaways, using the stars of the Big Dipper, also known as the Drinking Gourd, as their guide.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about The Drinking Gourd.
1.What did Tommy discover hiding in his family's barn one night?
2.Who helped Tommy's family guide the runaway slaves to the next safe house?
3.What did Tommy's family use as a guide to help the slaves travel at night?
4.Why do you think Papa and Reverend Ross spoke in hushed tones about 'passengers'?
5.How do you think Tommy felt when he was asked to keep the baby quiet?
6.What might have happened if the slave catcher had found the runaway slaves in the barn?
7.What important lesson does Tommy learn about helping others?
8.What is one big idea or message the author wants us to learn from this story?
9.How did Tommy change from the beginning of the story when he was just curious, to the end when he was helping guide the runaways?
10.What does the word 'runaway' mean in the story?
11.In the story, what does 'station' mean when Papa talks about their barn?
12.What does it mean to have 'courage,' like Tommy showed when the slave catcher came?
13.If you were Tommy, would you have been brave enough to help the runaway slaves, even with the danger? Why or why not?
14.Why do you think it was so important for Tommy's family to keep their work a secret?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from The Drinking Gourd to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading The Drinking Gourd with children.
What was your favorite part of The Drinking Gourd? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from The Drinking Gourd, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did The Drinking Gourd make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend The Drinking Gourd to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think F. N. Monjo wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is The Drinking Gourd?
The Drinking Gourd by F. N. Monjo is recommended for grades K-2 readers with an AR level of 3.2. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for The Drinking Gourd?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for The Drinking Gourd, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use The Drinking Gourd 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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