The Houdini The Houdini BoxBox

By Brian SelznickBy Brian Selznick

VocabularyVocabulary

Houdini is a Houdini is a magician.magician.

A.A. Person who writes for Person who writes for magazines.magazines.

B.B. Person who performs Person who performs tricks.tricks.

AnswerAnswer

b. Person who b. Person who performs performs tricks.tricks.

VocabularyVocabulary

The animals are trying to The animals are trying to escapeescape from the zoo! from the zoo!

A.A. Come in.Come in.

B.B. Break loose.Break loose.

AnswerAnswer

b. Break b. Break loose.loose.

VocabularyVocabulary

The shoppers were The shoppers were bustling.bustling.

A.A. ScurryingScurrying

B.B. Chattering Chattering

AnswerAnswer

A. A. scurryinscurryingg

VocabularyVocabulary

The car appeared from over The car appeared from over the hill.the hill.

A.A. Came into viewCame into view

B.B. Stayed in one placeStayed in one place

AnswerAnswer

B. Came B. Came into into viewview

VocabularyVocabulary

We visited the Washington We visited the Washington monument.monument.

A.A. Memorial Memorial

B.B. Head quartersHead quarters

AnswerAnswer

A. A. MemoriMemorialal

VocabularyVocabulary

The cookie The cookie crumbled.crumbled.

A.A. Stuck to the floorStuck to the floor

B.B. Fell to piecesFell to pieces

AnswerAnswer

b. Fell to b. Fell to piecespieces

VocabularyVocabulary

The food The food vanishedvanished from the from the Thanksgiving table.Thanksgiving table.

A.A. disappeareddisappeared

B.B. darkeneddarkened

AnswerAnswer

a. a. disappedisappearedared

Comprehension Comprehension QuestionsQuestions

ComprehensionComprehension

What did Victor and Houdini What did Victor and Houdini have in common?have in common?

They wanted to travel.They wanted to travel. They had a box with their They had a box with their

initials on it.initials on it. They liked to perform magic They liked to perform magic

tricks.tricks.

AnswerAnswer

c. c. They liked They liked to perform to perform magic magic tricks.tricks.

ComprehensionComprehension

Victor was upset because he Victor was upset because he could not…could not…

Locate his mother at the Locate his mother at the train station.train station.

do the things that do the things that Houdini did. Houdini did.

AnswerAnswer

b. Do the b. Do the things things that that Houdini Houdini diddid

ComprehensionComprehension

Right after Victor learned about Right after Victor learned about each one of Houdini’s tricks, each one of Houdini’s tricks, he…he…

Tried to do what Houdini had Tried to do what Houdini had done.done.

told his Aunt Harriet the told his Aunt Harriet the secret. secret.

AnswerAnswer

a. Tried to a. Tried to do what do what Houdini Houdini had had done.done.

ComprehensionComprehension

Houdini probably promised Houdini probably promised to write Victor a letter be to write Victor a letter be he was…he was…

Worried that Victor would Worried that Victor would get in trouble.get in trouble.

Impressed with Victor’s Impressed with Victor’s determination. determination.

AnswerAnswer

b. b. ImpresseImpressed with d with Victor’s Victor’s

determinadetermination. tion.

ComprehensionComprehension

What is the most likely reason What is the most likely reason the author wrote this the author wrote this selection?selection?

To entertain with a story To entertain with a story about a boy that wants to be about a boy that wants to be a magician.a magician.

to persuade children to do to persuade children to do magic tricks for their friends. magic tricks for their friends.

AnswerAnswer

a. To a. To entertain entertain with a story with a story about a boy about a boy that wants that wants to be a to be a magician. magician.

ComprehensionComprehension

What kind of person is Victor?What kind of person is Victor?

Helpful because he did a lot Helpful because he did a lot of chores around the house.of chores around the house.

Daring because he Daring because he approached Houdini at the approached Houdini at the train station. train station.

AnswerAnswer

b. Daring because he b. Daring because he approached Houdini approached Houdini at the train station. at the train station.

ComprehensionComprehension

Victor was so excited after Victor was so excited after reading Houdini’s monument reading Houdini’s monument because he…because he…

Had always wondered what Had always wondered what Houdini’s real name was.Houdini’s real name was.

Realized the box that he was Realized the box that he was given as a boy had belonged given as a boy had belonged to Houdini. to Houdini.

AnswerAnswer

b. b. Realized the box that he Realized the box that he was given as a boy had was given as a boy had belonged to Houdini. belonged to Houdini.

ComprehensionComprehension

What happed after Victor What happed after Victor played ball with his son?played ball with his son?

He went to visit Houdini.He went to visit Houdini. He found Houdini’s box in He found Houdini’s box in

the attic. the attic.

AnswerAnswer

b. He found b. He found Houdini’s box in the Houdini’s box in the attic.attic.

ComprehensionComprehension

In what way was Victor the In what way was Victor the same at the beginning and same at the beginning and the end of the story?the end of the story?

He was excited about magic.He was excited about magic. He took a train to visit He took a train to visit

someone. someone.

AnswerAnswer

a. He was excited a. He was excited about magic.about magic.

ComprehensionComprehension

Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when she read the letter that Victor she read the letter that Victor showed her?showed her?

She was sad because her She was sad because her husband had just died.husband had just died.

She was angry because she She was angry because she had to give Houdini’s box had to give Houdini’s box away. away.

AnswerAnswer

a. She was sad a. She was sad because her because her husband had just husband had just died.died.

Good luck on your Good luck on your test!test!

Make sure you Make sure you double check your double check your

answers!answers!