Grade 4AR Level 5.5

The Midwife's Apprentice

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Reading Comprehension Questions

by Karen Cushman

19 curated questions

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Book Summary

The story follows a homeless, nameless orphan girl in medieval England who is taken in by a stern village midwife. Named Beetle, and later Alyce, she becomes the midwife's apprentice, learning the difficult and often unpleasant trade. Through trials, failures, and a period of self-discovery working at an inn, Alyce eventually finds her own identity, gains confidence, and earns her place as a capable and compassionate helper in her community.

Reading Comprehension Questions

19 curated questions across multiple comprehension levels. Use after your child finishes the book.

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1Where was the nameless orphan girl first discovered by Jane Sharp?

Comprehensioneasy

2What new skill did Alyce learn while working at the inn?

Comprehensioneasy

3Why did Alyce decide to rename herself from 'Beetle'?

Inferencemedium

4What can you infer about Jane Sharp's character based on her treatment of Alyce?

Inferencehard

5What does Alyce's decision to run away after the failed birth reveal about her state of mind?

Inferencemedium

6How did Alyce's time at the inn contribute to her growth and eventual return to midwifery?

Inferencehard

7What is a central theme of 'The Midwife's Apprentice' regarding identity?

thememedium

8Which of the following best describes the main lesson Alyce learns by the end of the story?

themehard

9The story suggests that true learning often comes from:

thememedium

10How does Alyce's relationship with Edward the cat reflect her own need for companionship and kindness?

analysismedium

11Compare Alyce's initial feelings about herself to her feelings by the end of the book. What caused this change?

analysishard

12How does the author use the setting of medieval England to enhance the story's themes?

analysishard

13What does the word 'meager' mean in the context of Alyce's meals?

Vocabularymedium

14When the villagers 'scoffed' at Beetle, what were they doing?

Vocabularyeasy

15What is the meaning of 'resolve' as Alyce decides to return to the village?

Vocabularymedium

16In the story, 'compassion' is shown by Alyce towards the red-headed girl. What does 'compassion' mean?

Vocabularyhard

17If you were Alyce, what would you have done after failing the birth? Would you have run away, or faced Jane Sharp immediately? Explain your reasoning.

discussionhard

18How do you think Alyce's experiences as an orphan and living in a dung heap at the beginning of the story influenced her character and her desire to help others?

discussionhard

19The book explores the idea of what it means to be 'useful.' How does Alyce's understanding of her own usefulness change throughout the story?

discussionhard

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All 19 questions

Across recall, inference, theme, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

Answer keys

For parents — what a strong answer looks like at this grade.

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Key Vocabulary

Important words from The Midwife's Apprentice to discuss with your child.

dung heapmidwifeapprenticescoffedbewildereddiligentmeagerponderedresolvecompassion

Discussion Prompts

Great open-ended questions for car rides, dinner, or read-alouds.

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1“What was your favorite part of The Midwife's Apprentice? Why did it stand out to you?”

2“If you could talk to any character from The Midwife's Apprentice, who would you choose and what would you ask them?”

3“How did The Midwife's Apprentice make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?”

4“Would you recommend The Midwife's Apprentice to a friend? What would you tell them about it?”

5“What lesson or message do you think Karen Cushman wanted young readers to learn from this story?”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What reading level is The Midwife's Apprentice?

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman is recommended for grades 3-5 readers with an AR level of 5.5. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.

What are good comprehension questions for The Midwife's Apprentice?

ReadBuddy provides 19 carefully crafted comprehension questions for The Midwife's Apprentice, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.

How can I use The Midwife's Apprentice 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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Want your child to try the full quiz?

The app does it for any book.

Scan any book cover. ReadBuddy generates the comprehension questions, your child answers in the app, and you get a weekly summary by email. Free, no ads, COPPA-compliant.

Scan any book

Camera → questions in seconds

AI-tuned per child

Adapts to grade & interest

Weekly parent report

What they read & understood