The Great Brain Reading Comprehension Questions
by John D. Fitzgerald
Book Summary
The Great Brain is a collection of humorous stories told by J.D. Fitzgerald about his older brother, Tom, who lives in Adenville, Utah, in the late 1800s. Tom is known for his incredibly clever mind, which he uses to come up with ingenious plans to solve problems, make money, and sometimes play tricks on the other children and adults in town. From solving mysteries to teaching lessons, Tom's 'great brain' is always at work, making life interesting and often surprising for everyone around him, especially his younger brother.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about The Great Brain.
1.Who is the narrator of the stories about The Great Brain?
2.What was Tom's very first business venture mentioned in the book?
3.Why did Andy Anderson hide his own bicycle?
4.Why do you think Tom was called 'The Great Brain'?
5.What can you infer about Tom's main motivation for helping people like Sweyn or solving the bicycle mystery?
6.How did Tom make the swimming hole safer for the children?
7.What is a main theme in the stories about The Great Brain?
8.What lesson does the story of Sweyn learning to read teach about the value of education?
9.How does Tom's character change or stay the same throughout the different stories?
10.What does the word 'ingenious' mean in the sentence: 'Tom was known for his ingenious plans to make money'?
11.In the story, what does it mean to be 'baffled' when Andy Anderson's bicycle went missing?
12.What is the best definition for 'schemes' as used in the book, like 'The Great Brain was always coming up with new schemes'?
13.If you were J.D., Tom's younger brother, how would you feel about Tom's 'great brain' and his money-making schemes? Would you want to be like him?
14.Tom often found ways to profit from problems in his town. Do you think it's fair to charge people for solutions to problems, even if you are the one who figured it out?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from The Great Brain to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading The Great Brain with children.
What was your favorite part of The Great Brain? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from The Great Brain, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did The Great Brain make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend The Great Brain to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think John D. Fitzgerald wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is The Great Brain?
The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 4.2. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for The Great Brain?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for The Great Brain, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use The Great Brain 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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