Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice: Comprehension Questions and Vocabulary by Chapter
Comprehension Questions For Weasel By Cynthia Defelicezip 1
Do you love reading historical fiction books that are full of adventure, suspense and emotion? If so, you might enjoy reading Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice. This book tells the story of a boy named Nathan who lives in Ohio in 1839 and faces a ruthless enemy named Weasel who threatens his family and friends. But how can you make the most of your reading experience and deepen your understanding of this book? One way is to use comprehension questions that will help you to think critically and creatively about what you read. In this article, you will learn what comprehension questions are, why they are important, how to use them and some examples of comprehension questions for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice. Let's get started!
Comprehension Questions For Weasel By Cynthia Defelicezip 1
What is Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice?
Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice is a historical fiction book that was published in 1990. It is set in Ohio in 1839, when the state was still a frontier and many Native Americans were forced to leave their lands. The book follows the adventures of Nathan, a 12-year-old boy who lives with his father, his sister Molly and his friend Ezra, a Shawnee boy who was adopted by Nathan's father after his parents were killed by Weasel. Weasel is a former soldier who became a bounty hunter and a murderer. He is known for scalping his victims and leaving them alive to suffer. He also has a habit of stealing children and selling them as slaves. Nathan hates Weasel and wants to kill him, especially after he attacks his family and kidnaps Ezra. Nathan sets out on a dangerous journey to rescue Ezra and confront Weasel, but he also learns some valuable lessons about courage, friendship and forgiveness along the way.
The book has several themes that explore the issues of violence, justice, survival, identity and family. It also shows the contrast between the white settlers and the Native Americans, and how they have different views on nature, culture and spirituality. The book is written in a simple and engaging style that captures the reader's attention and emotions. The book has 10 chapters and each chapter has a title that summarizes its main event.
Why use comprehension questions for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice?
Comprehension questions are questions that ask you to demonstrate your understanding of what you read. They can be based on different levels of understanding, such as literal, inferential and evaluative. Literal questions ask you to recall facts or details from the text, such as who, what, when, where and how. Inferential questions ask you to draw conclusions or make inferences from the text, such as why, what if, how come and so what. Evaluative questions ask you to express your opinions or judgments about the text, such as do you agree, what do you think, how do you feel and what would you do.
Using comprehension questions for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice or any other book you read can have many benefits for your reading skills and understanding. Some of these benefits are:
They can help you to improve your vocabulary by learning new words and their meanings from the context.
They can help you to recall details from the text by testing your memory and attention.
They can help you to infer meanings from the text by using clues and evidence from the text.
They can help you to analyze characters by exploring their traits, motivations, actions and relationships.
They can help you to compare and contrast events by identifying similarities and differences between them.
They can help you to evaluate themes by examining the messages and values of the text.
They can help you to make connections by relating the text to your own experiences, other texts or the world.
By using comprehension questions for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice or any other book you read, you can enhance your reading comprehension and enjoyment.
How to use comprehension questions for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice?
To use comprehension questions for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice or any other book you read, you can follow these steps:
Before reading
Before reading the book, you can use comprehension questions to activate your prior knowledge, preview the book and set a purpose for reading.
Activate prior knowledge
To activate your prior knowledge, you can ask yourself or someone else some questions about what you already know about the historical period, the Native American culture and the concept of weaseling. For example:
What do you know about Ohio in 1839?
What do you know about the Shawnee tribe?
What do you know about weaseling?
By activating your prior knowledge, you can activate your background information and schema that will help you to understand the text better.
Preview the book
To preview the book, you can ask yourself or someone else some questions about what you can see on the cover, title, blurb and illustrations of the book and make predictions about what it is about. For example:
What do you see on the cover of the book?
What does the title of the book mean?
What does the blurb of the book tell you?
What do you think will happen in the book?
By previewing the book, you can activate your curiosity and interest and make some hypotheses that you can confirm or revise as you read.
Set a purpose for reading
To set a purpose for reading, you can ask yourself or someone else some questions about what you want to achieve or learn from reading the book. For example:
Why are you reading this book?
What do you hope to learn from this book?
How will this book help you in your life or studies?
By setting a purpose for reading, you can motivate yourself and focus your attention on the main ideas and goals of the text.
During reading
During reading the book, you can use comprehension questions to monitor your comprehension, use reading strategies and answer comprehension questions.
Monitor comprehension
To monitor your comprehension, you can ask yourself or someone else some questions about what you understand or don't understand from what you read. You can also use some techniques to check your understanding such as summarizing, questioning, clarifying and predicting. For example:
What is happening in this chapter?
What do you think will happen next?
Who are the main characters and what are they like?
What are some words or phrases that you don't know or understand?
How can you find out their meanings?
By monitoring your comprehension, you can identify and fix any problems or gaps in your understanding and improve your retention and recall of information.
Use reading strategies
To use reading strategies, you can apply some skills or methods that will help you to comprehend the text better. Some of these strategies are skimming, scanning, rereading, annotating and visualizing. For example:
You can skim the text by quickly looking over it to get a general idea of what it is about.
You can scan the text by looking for specific information or keywords that you need.
You can reread the text by reading it again more carefully or slowly to clarify or deepen your understanding.
You can annotate the text by writing notes, comments or questions on it to highlight important points or express your thoughts.
You can visualize the text by creating mental images or drawings of what you read to enhance your imagination and memory.
By using reading strategies, you can enhance your comprehension and engagement with the text and make it more meaningful and enjoyable.
Answer comprehension questions
To answer comprehension questions, you can respond to some questions that are based on the literal, inferential and evaluative levels of understanding. You can use evidence from the text to support your answers. For example:
LITERAL: Who is Weasel and what does he do?
ANSWER: Weasel is a former soldier who became a bounty hunter and a murderer. He scalps his victims and leaves them alive to suffer. He also steals children and sells them as slaves.
INFERENTIAL: Why does Nathan want to kill Weasel?
ANSWER: Nathan wants to kill Weasel because he hates him for attacking his family and kidnapping Ezra. He also wants to stop him from hurting more people.
EVALUATIVE: Do you agree with Nathan's decision to kill Weasel? Why or why not?
ANSWER: I do not agree with Nathan's decision to kill Weasel because I think that violence is not a good solution and that killing someone is wrong. I think that Nathan should try to find another way to deal with Weasel.
By answering comprehension questions, you can demonstrate your understanding and interpretation of the text and express your opinions and judgments about it.
After reading
After reading the book, you can use comprehension questions to review your comprehension, extend your comprehension and reflect on your comprehension.
Review comprehension
To review your comprehension, you can ask yourself or someone else some questions about what you remember or learned from the book. You can also use some techniques to review your comprehension such as recalling, summarizing and synthesizing. For example:
What are the main events that happened in the book?
What are the main characters and how did they change throughout the book?
What are the main themes or messages of the book?
How can you summarize the book in one sentence?
How can you synthesize the book with another text or source that you know?
By reviewing your comprehension, you can consolidate your understanding and memory of the text and identify the main points and takeaways of it.
Extend comprehension
To extend your comprehension, you can ask yourself or someone else some questions about how you can relate or apply what you read to your own experiences, other texts or the world. You can also use some techniques to extend your comprehension such as connecting, comparing and applying. For example:
How does this book relate to your own life or experiences?
How does this book compare to another book or text that you have read or seen?
How does this book apply to the world or society today?
What are some connections that you can make between this book and other topics or subjects that you know?
What are some actions that you can take based on what you learned from this book?
By extending your comprehension, you can enrich your understanding and appreciation of the text and make it more relevant and useful for you.
Reflect on comprehension
To reflect on your comprehension, you can ask yourself or someone else some questions about how you feel or think about what you read. You can also use some techniques to reflect on your comprehension such as evaluating, questioning and sharing. For example:
How do you feel about what you read in this book?
What do you think about what you read in this book?
What did you like or dislike about this book?
What did you learn from this book?
What questions do you still have about this book?
How would you rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10?
Who would you recommend this book to and why?
By reflecting on your comprehension, you can assess your strengths and weaknesses as a reader and identify what you gained and enjoyed from the text.
Sample comprehension questions for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice
To give you an idea of what kind of comprehension questions you can use for Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice, here is a list of sample comprehension questions for each chapter of the book with possible answers. You can use these questions as they are or modify them according to your needs and preferences.
Chapter
LITERAL
INFERENTIAL
EVALUATIVE
The Attack
Who is Nathan's father? (He is a white settler who lives in Ohio with his children Nathan and Molly.)
Who is Ezra? (He is a Shawnee boy who was adopted by Nathan's father after his parents were killed by Weasel.)
Who is Weasel? (He is a former soldier who became a bounty hunter and a murderer.)
What does Weasel do to Nathan's father? (He scalps him and leaves him alive to suffer.)
What does Weasel do to Ezra? (He kidnaps him and takes him away.)
fear for him and his family.)How does Nathan's father survive the attack? (He survives because he is strong and brave and because Nathan and Molly take care of him.)
Do you think Nathan's father did the right thing by adopting Ezra? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he did the right thing because he showed kindness and compassion to a boy who lost his parents and needed a family.)
Do you think Weasel is evil or mentally ill? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he is evil because he deliberately hurts and kills people for his own pleasure and profit.)
Do you think Nathan should try to rescue Ezra or stay with his father? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he should try to rescue Ezra because he is his friend and brother and he might be in danger.)
Do you think Nathan's father will recover from his injury? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he will recover because he has a strong will to live and he has his children to support him.)
The Journey Begins
What does Nathan decide to do after the attack? (He decides to go after Weasel and kill him.)
What does Molly decide to do after the attack? (She decides to stay with their father and take care of him.)
What does Nathan take with him for his journey? (He takes a rifle, a knife, a blanket, some food and water, and a pouch with some money and a locket.)
Who does Nathan meet on his way? (He meets a man named Finney who lives in a cabin in the woods.)
What does Finney tell Nathan about Weasel? (He tells him that Weasel is heading north to Fort Amanda where he sells his scalps and children.)
How does Nathan feel about leaving his father and sister? (He feels sad and worried but also determined and hopeful.)
How does Molly feel about staying with their father and letting Nathan go? (She feels scared and angry but also proud and supportive.)
How does Nathan's father feel about Nathan's decision? (He feels proud and grateful but also concerned and guilty.)
How does Finney help Nathan? (He helps him by giving him some information, advice, food and shelter.)
How does Nathan trust Finney? (He trusts him because he seems friendly, honest and helpful.)
Do you agree with Nathan's decision to leave his father and sister? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I agree with his decision because he wants to save Ezra and stop Weasel from hurting more people.)
Do you agree with Molly's decision to stay with their father and let Nathan go? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I agree with her decision because she wants to take care of their father and respect Nathan's choice.)
Do you agree with Nathan's father's reaction to Nathan's decision? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I agree with his reaction because he loves his son and wants him to be safe but also respects his courage and determination.)
Do you think Finney is a good person or a bad person? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he is a good person because he helps Nathan without asking for anything in return.)
Do you think Nathan should trust Finney or be careful of him? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he should trust Finney but also be careful of him because he doesn't know him very well and he might have ulterior motives.)
The Trap
What does Nathan do after leaving Finney's cabin? (He follows Weasel's trail north to Fort Amanda.)
What does Nathan see on his way? (He sees some animals, plants, rivers, hills and signs of human activity.)
What does Nathan find near Fort Amanda? (He finds a campfire with some scalps and a cage with some children.)
What does Nathan do when he sees the campfire and the cage? (He tries to free the children but he gets caught in a trap set by Weasel.)
What does Weasel do when he sees Nathan in the trap? (He mocks him, beats him and prepares to scalp him.)
Why does Nathan follow Weasel's trail? (He follows it because he wants to find Ezra and kill Weasel.)
Why does Nathan see different things on his way? (He sees different things because he travels through different landscapes and seasons.)
Why does Nathan find a campfire and a cage near Fort Amanda? (He finds them because Weasel is camping there and waiting to sell his scalps and children.)
Why does Nathan try to free the children? (He tries to free them because he feels sorry for them and wants to help them.)
Why does Weasel set a trap for Nathan? (He sets a trap for him because he knows he is following him and wants to catch him.)
Do you think Nathan is brave or foolish for following Weasel's trail? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he is brave because he faces many dangers and difficulties for a noble cause.)
Do you think Nathan is curious or bored by what he sees on his way? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he is curious because he observes and learns from his surroundings.)
Do you think Nathan is lucky or unlucky to find the campfire and the cage? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he is lucky because he finds a clue to where Ezra is but also unlucky because he falls into a trap.)
Do you think Nathan is right or wrong to try to free the children? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he is right because he shows compassion and courage to the children.)
Do you think Weasel is smart or cruel to set a trap for Nathan? Why or why not? (Possible answer: I think he is cruel because he uses a trick to capture and hurt Nathan.)
The Rescue
Who rescues Nathan from Weasel's trap? (Ezra rescues him by hitting Weasel with a rock and cutting the rope that holds the trap.)
How do Nathan and Ezra escape from Weasel's camp? (They run away with the other children and hide in the woods.)
What do Nathan and Ezra do after they escape from Weasel's camp? (They talk about what happened to them, share some food and water, make a plan to go back home and rest for the night.)
Who are the other children that were in Weasel's cage? (They are some white and Native American children that were kidnapped by Weasel from different places.)
What do the other children do after they escape from Weasel's camp? (They decide to go their own ways, some of them go to Fort Amanda, some of them go back to their homes and some of them stay with Nathan and Ezra.)
How does Ezra manage to resc