TKMB Reading Questions
Chapters 7-11
Short Answer.
Be sure you respond to the questions using complete sentences for full credit.
Chapter 7
1. What romantic thing does Dill ask Scout to do, and why does she get frustrated with him?
2. At the beginning of Chapter 7, what does Jem reveal about how his pants were found?
3. What does that suggest to you?
4. List the four items that Jem and Scout find in the Radley tree.
5. What does Jem want to leave in the hole in the tree? What prevents him from doing this?
Chapter 8
1. What happens to Mrs. Radley? How does this enhance the mystery of the Radley house? Explain.
2. Describe the creative way that Jem builds a snowman. Why does he need to build it this way?
3. Why is Atticus displeased with Jem’s snowman? Explain.
4. What tragedy happens to Miss Maudie?
5. How did the weather make things worse?
6. What unexpected item does Scout get the night of Miss Maudie’s tragedy?
7. Who is it from? Why did this person give it to Scout?
8. Update your plot diagram and character foldable.
Chapter 9
1. Why does Scout almost get into a fist fight at school?
2. Why does Aunt Alexandra disapprove of Scout? Be specific.
3. What are the two primary reasons Scout gets into trouble with her Uncle Jack? Be specific.
4. What does Atticus predict will be the outcome of the trial? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
5. Re-read the last line of the chapter. What does it suggest about Atticus’ character? Explain.
Short Answer.
Be sure to respond to each part of the questions using complete sentences.
Chapter 10
1. On page 90, we have the famous quote that gives us the title of the novel. Why is it a sin to kill a
mockingbird? On a deeper level, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird because they are ___________ .
2. Who is Tim Johnson? Be specific.
3. What does Atticus do that impresses Jem?
4. What does this story reveal about Atticus?
Chapter 11
1. Who is Mrs. Dubose? Be specific.
2. How does Atticus treat Mrs. Dubose? How does he instruct the children to behave toward Mrs. Dubose?
3. Briefly summarize what Mrs. Dubose says to Jem to make him lose his temper.
4. Briefly summarize how Jem responded to Mrs. Dubose’s insults.
5. What does Jem have to do to make up for his destruction?
6. What new information do we learn about Mrs. Dubose at the end of the chapter?
7. Atticus calls Mrs. Dubose courageous. Do you agree? Why or why not?
8. Earlier in the novel, Atticus tells Scout, “You never really know a person until you climb into his or her shoes
and walk around in them.” How does Mrs. Dubose’s story relate back to this quote?
Theme Activity
In your composition books, turn to a fresh page and make a web on the concept of empathy. List 3 characters who
are misunderstood at first, but later are revealed to be more than what they seemed on the surface. For each
character, give their first impression, how they seemed later, and how you know this new information. Your diagram
should have at least 10 circles in all, including the center circle.