Part 1 Chapters 1-5

1. Quote the sentence is Chapter 1, which summarises what Green Lake is like now?
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2. What is the deadliest creature that can be found on the ‘lake’?
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3. How can we tell that using the Warden’s hammock would have terrible consequences?

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4. Why was school probably not a very happy place for Stanley?
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5. The family curse or the great-grandfather losing his fortune cannot be blamed for Stanley’s
family being poor. What would you say is the real reason?
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6. Why was Kate Barlow known as ‘Kissing Kate Barlow’?
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7. Why is the term ‘Camp Green Lake’ an illogical name for this place?
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8. Why do the boys begin their day of digging holes so early each day?
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9. Why isn’t it necessary in this place to have guard towers or electric fences to stop the
inmates from running away?
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10. The boys all have nicknames for themselves but who do they call ‘Mom’? Why might they
have given him that name?
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 Part 2 Chapters 6-8

1. Why did people consider that stealing the sneakers, which Stanley had been accused of

stealing, was such a terrible thing?

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2. Why did Stanley bother to take home the sneakers that fallen from under a freeway

overpass?

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3. What was the purpose of digging holes, according to Mr. Pendanski?

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4. What promise had Elya made to Madame Zeroni?

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5. Instead of marrying Myra, what did Elya end up doing?

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6. Elya’s life from then on was dogged by bad luck. What did he believe was the cause for this?

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7. What did the truck, driven be Mr. Sir, bring the boys?

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8. What was the worst physical problem Stanley experienced as a result of digging for such a

long time?

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9. What do you think that Stanley will do differently when he digs his hole the next day?

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10. Stanley was completely exhausted when he finished digging his hole. Why did he choose to

walk back to the camp instead of accepting a ride in the truck?

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 Part 3 Chapters 9-13

1. What nickname did the boys give Stanley? Why might they have chosen that name?

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2. In his letter to his mother, Stanley pretends that he is at a real recreational camp. What do

you think this shows about his character?

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3. Why does Stanley think finding the rock with the fossil might be his ‘little miracle’?

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4. What promise had Elya made to Madame Zeroni?

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5. Instead of marrying Myra, what did Elya end up doing?

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6. Elya’s life from then on was dogged by bad luck. What did he believe was the cause for this?

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7. What did the truck, driven be Mr. Sir, bring the boys?

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8. What was the worst physical problem Stanley experienced as a result of digging for such a

long time?

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9. What do you think that Stanley will do differently when he digs his hole the next day?

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10. Stanley was completely exhausted when he finished digging his hole. Why did he choose to

walk back to the camp instead of accepting a ride in the truck?

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