Matilda by Roald Dahl

Comprehension Companion
By Lorie Kaehler

Name______________________________________________
Anticipation Guide for Matilda
The purpose of these questions is to introduce ideas and issues
that are addressed in the book. Circle agree or disagree for
each. Remember that there are no wrong answers, but be
prepared to give reasons for your opinion.
1. People who read dont get bored.
Agree
Disagree
2. People who dont read are missing something important.
Agree
Disagree
3. Your brain needs exercise just like your body.
Agree
Disagree
4. Even the smartest people still have something to learn.
Agree
Disagree
5. Television isnt very good for your brain.
Agree
Disagree
6. If you are nice to people, theyll act nicer to others.
Agree
Disagree
7. Its okay to get revenge if someones really mean to you.
Agree
Disagree

Name _________________________________________________
The Reader of Books
1. How do Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood feel about their daughter Matilda?
_________________________________________________________
2. What is the name of Matildas brother?
_________________________________________________________
3. What is Matildas favorite thing to do?
_________________________________________________________
4. Who is Mrs. Phelps?
_________________________________________________________
Name 2 things you have in common with Matilda:
5. _______________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________
Find each vocabulary work in the book. Read each sentence
containing the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the
meaning.
7. unaccompanied (p.12)
I think it means__________________________________________
8. instinctively (p.15)
I think it means__________________________________________
9. interfere (p. 16)
I think it means___________________________________________
7. formidable (p.18)
I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
Mr. Wormwood, the Great Car Dealer
Answer in complete sentences.
Review
1. What country does Matilda live in?

2. Why does Matilda like to read so much?

Chapter Questions
3. Name one way Matildas father Mr. Wormwood cheats his customers.

4. How does Matilda feel about the way her dad treats his customers?

5. What did Matilda ask for that made her father so mad at the end of
chapter 1?

6. Why does Matilda have a different view of life from her parents?

7. What does Matilda vow to do at the end of the first chapter?

8. Is Matilda someone you would want to have as a friend? Why or why

not?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.
9. convert (p.24)
I think it means_________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
The Hat and the Superglue
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Why is this chapter called The Hat and the Superglue?

2. Name one problem Mr. Wormwood had because of the hat stuck to his
head.

3. What happened to the boy down the road?

4. Did Mr. Wormwood deserve this? Why or why not?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.
5. rakish (p.30)
I think it means__________________________________________
6. spluttered (p.34)
I think it means__________________________________________
7. skulking (p.35)
I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
The Ghost
Answer in complete sentences.
1. What did Mr. Wormwood do to Matildas library book?

2. Whats the name of the librarian?

3. What do they call the television?

4. What did the plot depend on?

5. How did Matilda convince her family that there was a ghost in the
house?

6. What was Matilda getting revenge for?

7. What was the name of the boy who loaned Matilda his parrot?

8. What do you think the chapter called Arithmetic will be about?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.

8. comparative (p.38)
I think it means__________________________________________

9. chastened (p.38)
I think it means__________________________________________
10.intensified (p.39)
I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
Arithmetic
Answer in complete sentences.
1. What was the math problem Mr. Wormwood gave his son about?
(What was he supposed to be figuring out?)

2. What was Mr. Wormwoods reaction when Matilda solved the

problem in her head?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.
3. brandishing (p.46)
I think it means__________________________________________
4. distinctly (p.47)
I think it means__________________________________________
5. obliged (p.49)
I think it means__________________________________________
6. obediently (p.51)
I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
The Platinum-Blonde Man
Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
1. How did Matilda trick her father into putting peroxide on his hair?

2. What would you have done if you were Mr. Wormwood?

_____________________________________________________________

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.
3. anxiously (p.64)
I think it means__________________________________________

Use each of the vocabulary words in a sentence that shows

you know what it means.
1. Platinum- very light color
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Peroxide- a liquid that bleaches things
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

3. Tonic a medicine or lotion

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4. Diluted watered down
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
Miss Honey
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Whats the difference between Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull?

2. What advice does Miss Honey give Matildas class on the first day of
school? (hint: its about Miss Trunchbull)

3. What does Matilda do on the first day of school that amazes her
teacher?

4. What did Matilda write a limerick about while she was sitting in
class?

over

5. How did Matilda learn to read and to multiply?

6. The next chapter is called The Trunchbull. Who is Miss

Trunchbull?

7. What do you think is going to happen in this chapter?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.
9. bewilderment (p.67)
I think it means__________________________________________
10. Severely (p.69)
I think it means__________________________________________
11. recite, recital (p. 70)
I think it means__________________________________________
7. prodigy (p.75)
I think it means__________________________________________

8. random (p.77)
I think it means__________________________________________
9. understatement (p.77)
I think it means__________________________________________
10. witty (p.78)
I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
The Trunchbull
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Trunchbull bought a car from Mr. Wormwood. Do you think she got
a good deal?

2. What did Miss Honey ask Miss Trunchbull?

3. What did Miss Trunchbull say?

4. What are some things Miss Honey could do to help Matilda?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.

5. intrigue (p.87)
I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
Answer in complete sentences.
The Parents
1. What does Matilda do while the rest of her class has a lesson?

2. Why did Miss Honey go to the Wormwoods house?

3. What happened when Miss Honey went to the Wormwoods house?

4. The next chapter is called Throwing the Hammer. What do you

think it will be about?

Find each vocabulary word in the book. Read each sentence containing
the vocabulary word and make your best guess about the meaning.
5. presumed (p.91)
I think it means__________________________________________
6. inconvenient (p.94)
I think it means__________________________________________

Name_______________________________________
Throwing the Hammer
Answer in complete sentences.
1. What is the name of Matildas new friend?

2. What is the Chokey?

3. Name one reason Hortensia was put in the chokey.

4. What was Throwing the Hammer?

Name_______________________________________
Bruce Bogtrotter and the Cake
Answer in complete sentences.
1. How does Matilda think Trunchbull gets away with being so mean?

2. What did Bruce Bogtrotter get in trouble for?

3. Did Bruce Bogtrotter actually do what he was accused of?

4. What do you think Miss Trunchbull has planned for Bruce Bogtrotter?

5. What did Bruce Bogtrotter get in trouble for?

6. Did Bruce Bogtrotter actually do it?

7. How does Miss Trunchbull punish Bruce Bogtrotter?

8. What does Miss Trunchbull do when Bogtrotter finishes the cake?

9. Why doesnt Bruce Bogtrotter get hurt?

10. Do you think Miss Trunchbull will get back at Bruce? How do you
think shell do it? Draw a picture.

Name_______________________________________
Lavender
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Why is this chapter called Lavender?

2. What has to be on the table when Miss Trunchbull teaches a lesson?

3. What did Lavender do to make Miss Trunchbull unhappy?

4. How do you think Trunchbull will react?

Name_______________________________________
The Weekly Test
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Name one thing a student in Matildas class got in trouble for.

2. Name one way a student in Matildas class was punished.

3. How would you feel if you had a weekly test like this one?

4. Whats going to happen next?

Name_______________________________________
The First Miracle
Answer in complete sentences.

1. Why does the glass with the newt in it tip over?

2. Why was this chapter called The First Miracle?

3. The next chapter is called The Second Miracle. What might it be?

Name ______________________________________________
The Second Miracle
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Was your prediction correct? Did you guess what the second miracle
was? What was the second miracle?

2. Make a list of the ten most important things that have happened in this
book so far in order.

Name_______________________________________
Miss Honeys Cottage
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Where do Miss Honey and Matilda go after the second miracle?

2. How does Matilda feel about her new power?

3. What is Miss Honeys house like? (Think about where Matilda has to
go to get water.)

4. What do you think will happen at Miss Honeys house?

If you have extra time draw a picture of a scene from the book on the
back.

Name_______________________________________
Miss Honeys Story
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Review: Tell one thing about Miss Honeys cottage.

2. Why is Miss Honey willing to share her secret with Matilda?

3. What was Miss Honeys childhood like? (Hint: There was a tragedy
in her life. Who took care of her?)

4. Name one thing Matilda and Miss Honey have in common.

5. Why is Miss Honey so poor?

6. What surprise did Matilda find out at the end of the chapter?

If you have extra time draw a picture

of a scene from the book on the back.

Name __________________________________________________
The Names
Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
What were the three questions Matilda asked Miss Honey?
1. __________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
4. Why is this chapter called The Practice?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. What do you think Matildas plan is?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Write four words to describe each of these people.
Matilda
Mr. Wormwood
6. ________________
10. ___________________
7. _________________

11. ___________________

8. _________________

12. ___________________

9. ________________

13. ___________________

Miss Honey
14. ___________________

Miss Trunchbull
18. ____________________

15. ___________________

19. ____________________

16. ___________________

20. ____________________

17. ____________________

21. ____________________

Name __________________________________________________
The Third Miracle
Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
1. What was the third miracle?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. How does Miss Honey feel at the end of the chapter?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Did Trunchbull deserve this? Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Name __________________________________________________
A New Home
Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
1. Why does Miss Honey think Matilda lost her ability to move things with her eyes?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Why do you think Matildas father is in such a hurry to leave?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Did you like this book? Rate it from 1 to 5 and give your reasons.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Matilda Name Trivia

Across
1. the librarian
3. the cake eater
4. She spent time in the chokey
6. Miss Trunchbull's first name
8. Matilda's brother
9. the name of the parrot owner
10. Miss Honey's first name
Down
2. Matilda's new friend
5. One of Matilda's classmates
7. Mr. Wormwood's first name
8. Miss Honey's father's name