Holes - questions for 9A

NOTE: I will omit a few questions, due to popular demand. :) This is an updated version:

Questions to Holes - year 9 Holes by Louis Sachar

Write the answers to the questions in your notebook:

PART ONE - Chapters 1 & 2:

1. Explain the irony in the name Camp Green Lake.
2. Why will campers sometimes permit themselves to be bitten by a rattlesnake or a scorpion?
3. Why did Camp Green Lake always manage to find campers despite the appalling conditions?
4. What choices did the judge give Stanley?

Chapters 3 & 4:

1. Why did Stanley have a box of stationery?
2. How do we know that Stanley was very unhappy at home?
3. Briefly explain the curse of the gypsy.
4. Why did Stanley’s apartment smell of burning rubber and foot odour?
5. What did everyone in the family like about Stanley Yelnat’s name?

Chapters 5 & 6:

1. Why was Mr. Sir in such a bad mood?
2. According to Counselor Pendanski, what one rule should Stanley always remember?
3. What nickname did the boys in Stanley’s tent use for Mr. Pendanski?
4. For what crime was Stanley sent to Camp Green Lake?

Chapters 7 & 8:

1. How did Stanley’s weight help him for once in his life?
2. Who was Elya Yelnats?
3. Describe Madame Zeroni.
4. How was Sarah Miller different from Myra Menke?

Chapters 9 & 10:

1. Explain why the sign on the rec. room said “Wreck Room”.
2. Why is Stanley’s letter home so comical?

Chapters 11 & 12:

1. How did X-ray get his nickname?
2. Why was Stanley glad to be called “Caveman”?

Chapters 13 & 14:

1. Describe the object that Stanley had found
2. What occurs when the water truck arrives that indicates Stanley’s status in the group of boys is improving?
3. Describe the Warden.

Chapters 15 & 16:

1. Why was the Warden treating the campers so well?
2. According to ZigZag, how did the Warden know all their names?

Chapters 17 & 18:

1. Why was Stanley relieved when the boys returned to their regular spot to dig?

Chapters 19 & 20:

1. How did Magnet get his nickname?
2. What is the secret ingredient of the Warden’s nail polish?

Chapters 21 - 24:

1. Describe Green Lake as it was one hundred years ago.
2. How did Mr. Sir punish Stanley?

Chapters 25 & 26:

1. According to Sam, what could onions cure?
2. Describe what happened to Sam.

Chapters 27 & 28:

1. What is Zero’s real name and why is it significant?
2. Explain how Kate died.

PART TWO - Chapters 29 & 30:

1. Why did Mr. Pendanski fire his pistol into the air?

Chapters 31 & 32:

1. Where did Stanley think that Zero might have taken refuge?
2. Why did Stanley steal Mr. Sir’s truck?

Chapters 33 & 34:

1. Why did Stanley think he might have to return to the camp?
2. Why did Stanley’s heart stop when he peered into the bottom of one of the holes?
3. Describe what Stanley found while walking across the dry and barren wasteland.

Chapters 35 & 36:

1. Who was under the boat?
2. What did the boys see when they finally reached the western edge of the lake?

Chapters 37 - 40:

1. Why was Stanley reluctant to stop and rest? 

Chapters 41 - 44:

1. Why did Zero steal when he was young?
2. What did Stanley uncover in the hole?

Chapters 45 & 46:

1. Why did Stanley start to think about his mother?

Chapters 47 & 48:

1. What did Ms. Morengo advise Stanley to do when the Warden ordered him to open up the suitcase?
2. Do you think she gave him good advice? Explain your answer.

Chapter 49 & PART THREE - Chapter 50:

1. Describe the new product that Stanley’s father has just invented.
2. What happens at Green Lake for the first time in over one hundred years?
3. Describe the woman who is singing the lullaby to Zero at the end of the story.

Essay topics (choose two to write about)

1. Compare and contrast the characters Stanley and Zero. Use physical and personality traits in your descriptions.
2. Discuss the significance of the nicknames of the boys at Camp Green Lake.
3. Why is the book called Holes?

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