Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. What does Smoke take a bite of after Mrs. Starch’s criticism?

2. Where is the scheduled field trip for Mrs. Starch’s class?

3. What does Nick believe he has captured in the blur of his video camera lens?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How is Mrs. Starch described, and what evidence supports this description?

2. Why is the field trip in the Everglades cut short?

Paired Resource

Big Cypress Preserve

• This article describes the Big Cypress Preserve and ways individuals can enjoy the park.
• This resource offers another connection point to the themes The Fragile Environment and Books and the Real World.
• What is Big Cypress Preserve located near? What are some of the advantages of visiting this park? Who created the park, and what was the purpose of its creation? What places can visitors travel to within the park? What kinds of animals might be seen in the park?

“The Science of Wildfires”

• This 8-minute video explains wildfires, possible causes, and why they can become dangerous.