The Outsiders: Chapter 1 Comprehension Questions and Vocabulary
NAME: _______________________________Date: ______________ Period: ______
Answer the following questions on the lines. Answer in complete THOUGHTS.
1.What happens to Ponyboy on his way home from the movies?
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2. Who is the narrator of The Outsiders? ________________________________________
3. What two groups of teenagers does Ponyboy describe?
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4. Briefly describe the conflict between the Greasers and the Socs.
5. What happened to the Curtis brothers’ parents? _________________________________
6. How is Ponyboy different than the other Greasers?
7. Why did Ponyboy have a hard time with his oldest brother, Darry?
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8. Exposition: Explain why Ponyboy tells us repeatedly, “I don’t use my head.”
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9. Contrasting Points of View- Describe Steve and Soda’s differing points of view on having Ponyboy go out with them.
Steve: _______________________________________________________________
Soda: _______________________________________________________________
10. Important Quotation: Darry tells Ponyboy “You don’t ever think…..not at home or anywhere when it counts.” What do these words reveal about Darry?
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11. Author’s Tone- I thought of Sylvia and Evie and Sandy and Two-Bit’s many blondes. They were the only kind of girls that would look at us, I thought. Tough, loud girls who wore too much eye makeup and giggled and swore too much.
The author’s tone (through the narrator) seems to be: a.) lively b.) depressed c.) discontent
Now, circle three words or phrases in the passage above that best convey this tone.
12. Summarize- “Need a haircut, greaser?”- write three sentences that summarize the events connected to this quotation.
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Vocabulary for Chapter 1
Asset- (page _______) an advantage or source of strength
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Unfathomable- (page _______) not capable of being understood or grasped
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Rivalry- (page _______) a continues striving for advantage over another
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Gingerly- (page _______) cautiously; carefully
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Sagely- (page _______) wisely; knowingly
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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ART CONNECTION (page 3 in your portfolio):Ponyboy explains “tuff” as being “tuff means cool, sharp – like a tuff-looking Mustang or tuff record.” What do you think is “tuff”? One a piece of construction paper, make a collage or montage of what is “tuff”. Use magazines, computer-generated graphics, or hand-drawn pictures
The Outsiders: Chapter 2 Comprehension Questions and Vocabulary
NAME: _______________________________Date: ______________ Period: ______
1. In chapter two, where are Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny going?
2. Who do they meet and what happens?
3. Where do the Socs hang out? What do they do for fun?
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4. Where do the Greasers hang out? What do they do for fun?
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5. What does Ponyboy tell Cherry about Johnny while standing in line for popcorn?
6. What kind of rules do gang members follow in fights?
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7. Who says “Things are rough all over.” and what does he/she mean?
8. Cause/Effect- Why does Two-Bit say Dally “deserves whatever he gets” (page 29) if Tim Shepard fights him?____________________________________________________________________________
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9. Characterization: Ponyboy realizes that Cherry and Marcia “weren’t alike.” (page 30). In your own words, explain Ponyboy’s reasoning for this claim.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10. Summarize- His white T-shirt was splattered with blood. I just stood there, trembling with sudden cold. I thought he might be dead; surely nobody could be beaten like that and live. (page 32)
Write three sentences that summarize the events connected to this passage.
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Vocabulary for Chapter 2
Roguishly- (page _______) in a mischievous waySentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Incredulous- (page _______) not ready to believe; doubting
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Nonchalantly - (page _______) in a casual and unenthusiastic manner
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Abiding- (page _______) obeying
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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Digested- (page _______) thought over; absorbed
Sentence from the book: _________________________________________________
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This novel includes many idioms- expressions that have meanings different from what their words usually suggest. Literal means “word for word.” Figurative means “not literal,” characterized by figures of speech or symbolic expressions. Write the literal meaning of each phrase in column 1 and the figurative meaning in column 2.
Phrase/Page Literal Meaning Figurative Meaning1. “never cracks a
book” page 2
2. “beer blasts for kicks” page 3
3. “knock our heads together” page 8
4. “…you’ve always got your nose in a book.” Page 13
5. “It’s a shame you can’t ride bull as good as you can talk it.” Page 38
“TUFF TALK” In your portfolio (page 8 and 9 in your portfolio), write about the following:
Chapter 2 (page 8): Fill out the chart to compare and contrast what we know about the Socs and Greasers SO FAR (clothes, hair, cars, and girls)
Chapter 2(page 9) : The two groups in this book are affected by many factors; some they can control and some they cannot. What factors have influenced you? Make sure to list ones that you can and cannot control. Feel free to make a chart.