The Sign of the Beaver

Comprehension
Chapters 1-2

Name: __________________ Date: ______________

Answer each question with a complete sentence. Use your

book to help you answer the questions.

Chapter 1

1. Why does Matt’s father leave him alone in the wilderness?

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2. What two gifts does Matt’s father give him before Matt’s
father leaves?
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3. Why are these gifts so important?

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4. Why does Matt’s father tell him to cut notches on sticks?
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Chapter 2

5. Why was it so important for Matt to keep the fire from

burning out?
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6. How does Matt start fires?

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7. What advice does Matt’s father give him about relating with
Indians?
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8. What did Matt miss that he didn’t think he would miss?

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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension
Chapters 3-4

Name: _________________ Date: _______________

Answer each question with a complete sentence. Use your

book to help you answer the questions.

Chapter 3

1. Why does Matt find it hard to trust Ben?

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2. Describe Ben.
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3. Why do you think Ben could not go back to town?

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4. What did Ben take? Why was what Ben took so important to
Matt?
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5. Predict what Matt will have to do now that Ben has taken the
important item.
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Chapter 4

6. What or who broke into Matt’s house?

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7. What was damaged?

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8. How would you react if you were Matt in this situation?

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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension
Chapters 5-7

Name: _________________ Date: _______________

Answer the following questions with complete sentences. Use

your book to help you.

Chapter 5

1. What advise does Matt’s father give Matt about bees?

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2. What food item does Matt’s mother persuade Matt and his
father to take with them on their trip to the Maine Territory?
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3. What happens to Matt when he tries to get honey from the

beehive?
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4. What quick actions by the Indian play an instrumental part in
Matt’s recovery?
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Chapter 6

5. Why do you think Matt did not like to Saknis as he did to Ben?
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6. What does the Indian word nkweniss mean?

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7. Why did Matt think Attean was laughing at him?

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8. What was Matt’s gift? Do you think this was an appropriate
gift?
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9. Why does Saknis want Attean to learn to read?

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Chapter 7

10. How did Matt feel about teaching reading?

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11. How does Attean feel about his reading lessons with Matt?
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12. What was the problem that Matt discovered as he began
teaching?
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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension
Chapters 8-10

Name: __________________ Date: _______________

Answer the following questions with complete sentences. Use

your book to help you.

Chapter 8

1. Does Matt think Attean will return for the reading lessons?
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2. What book does Matt read to Attean? Why does he skip

sections of the book?
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3. Why does Attean think the white man, in the story, is not as
smart as an Indian?
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Chapter 9

4. What does Attean show Matt how to do?

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5. Why did Attean become upset about the story?

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Chapter 10

6. Why did Matt change the story?

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7. What word did Matt skip?

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8. How did Attean catch fish?
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9. What did Attean show Matt to make? Why did he show Matt
this?
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10. How did Attean cook the fish?

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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension
Chapters 11-12

Name: ________________ Date: __________________

Answer the following questions with complete sentences. Use

your book to help.

Chapter 11

1. How many weeks had Matt’s father been gone?

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2. What did Attean think of Matt’s work?

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3. What causes Attean’s dog to have such a strange nose?

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4. Why does Matt not trust Attean’s dog?

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5. What is the sign of the beaver?
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6. Why is the sign of the beaver so important to Attean and his

tribe?
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7. Why does Matt need to learn to find his way around in the
forest?
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8. How does Attean find his way around in the forest?

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9. How did Attean cheer up Matt at the end of chapter 11?

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Chapter 12

10. What did Matt decide he needed?

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11. What was wrong with the bow that Matt made?
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12. How did Attean help Matt?

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13. Describe how Attean made the bow and arrow?

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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension
Chapters 13-15

Name: ____________________Date: ___________________

Answer with complete sentences. Use your book to help you.

Chapter 13

1. What did Matt watch for in the forest?

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2. What was trapped?

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3. Why wouldn’t Attean free the trapped animal?

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4. Why was Matt upset with Attean?

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5. Describe Matt’s daydream.
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6. Name 4 different things that Attean taught Matt how to do.

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Chapter 14

7. To whom did Attean tell the story of Robinson Crusoe?

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8. What story from the Bible was similar to the Indian legend?
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9. Who was Gluskabe?

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Chapter 15

10. Retell the day of the greatest adventure in your own words.
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11. Why did Attean ask for the bear’s forgiveness?
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12. What did Attean say was squaw work?

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13. Why did Matt feel resentful?

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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension Questions
Chapters 16-17

Name: ___________________ Date: __________________

Answer each question with a complete sentence. Use your

book to help you answer the questions.

Chapter 16
1. List two things that could have happened to Matt’s father to
delay his journey.
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2. Why would Matt not complain about the walk to Attean’s

home?
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3. What made Matt think of Saknis as a king?

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4. Why do you think Attean would not eat any of the bear?
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Chapter 17
5. Describe what the wigwam looked like.
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6. Explain the differences in attitudes of Attean’s grandfather

and grandmother toward white men.
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7. Why would it take Attean so long to get a gun?

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8. What happened to Attean’s father and mother?

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9. Why could Matt never go back tot he Indian village without

being asked first?
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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension
Chapters 18-19

Name: __________________ Date: _________________

Answer each question with a complete sentence. Use your

book to help you answer the questions.

Chapter 18
1. Why was Matt worried about his family?
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2. What was trapped?

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3. What did Matt decide to do about the trapped animal?

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4. Describe Attean’s grandmother.

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5. Was Attean really mad at his dog? How do you know?
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Chapter 19
6. Why did Attean’s grandmother change her mind about Matt?
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7. Why did Matt pay close attention to what the squaws were
doing?
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8. What did Matt lose in the game? Did he ever get it back?
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9. What was Matt able to do with Attean’s dog that he couldn’t

do before?
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10. Explain why Matt no longer feels alone in the forest.

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 The Sign of the Beaver
Comprehension
Chapters 20-25

Name:__________________ Date:________________

Use you book to answer the following questions. Answer with

complete sentences.

Chapter 20-21

1. Why would Attean not be coming to Matt’s cabin for lessons

for a period of time?
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2. Describe what Attean must do in order to become a man.

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3. Describe Attean’s appearance after he became a man.

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4. What does Saknis want Matt to do?
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Chapters 22-24

5. Why would Matt not go live with the Indians?

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6. What gift did Attean give to Matt? Why do you think he gave
this gift to Matt?
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7. What gift did Matt give to Attean? Why do you think he gave
this gift to Attean?
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8. Describe what Matt did with one of the blankets.

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9. Why was Matt’s family delayed in getting to the cabin?
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10. Do you think Matt’s family could come to understand Matt’s

relationship with Attean and the Indians? Why or why not?
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