Reading Comprehension Worksheet

This work will be graded using state standards, in which you are graded on a scale of 1-6, four and above being a passing score.

So that you know what is expected of you, this worksheet for the first chapter we will do as a class.

An easy A—enjoy!

Lennie and George arrive at the riverbank to camp

George realizes Lennie has a mouse in his pocket, throws it away

They talk about the plan once they reach the farm

Lennie gets wood, finds his mouse again—but George throws it away

George gets mad, rages at Lennie

George feels guilty—they talk about their plan to buy their own farm and be “free”

Make sure to include: Main characters, brief description (George: small, smarter, gets angry with

Lenniebut feels guilty about it. Lennie: huge, mentally slow, likes to touch

soft things)

Where are they? Why are they there?

Where are they planning to go tomorrow?

What is their big “life” plan? (What do they want to eventually buy?)

(Remember that you can use pictures and words…)

George: Anger at Lennie for getting them in

trouble at their last job (touching the girls dress)

Frustration at how his life is wrapped around ALWAYS taking care of Lennie

Concern that Lennie will talk tomorrow, and lose them their job

Guilt that he was mean to Lennie Daydreaming about owning his own

farm some day

Lennie: Rabbits! I want to take care of

rabbits! Mice! I want a fresh one like

George promised! Why do the animals die when I

pet them? I’m scared when George gets

mad. I’m sorry I made George mad. “I ain’t gonna say a word, I ain’t

gonna say a word…” I like beans with ketchup.

 

Character Personality Traits How the author reveals them

George Milton Takes care of Lennie

Sometimes resents Lennie

You need to have four examples—so please add two of your own!)

Through dialogue, it is clear that Lennie is mentally disabled, and George has to care for him. When Lennie offers to leave to live in a cave, George says he couldn’t survive on his own.

George gets really mad and rants at Lennie, telling how great his life could be without him to have to care for.

Character Personality traits How the author reveals them

Lennie Small Mentally retarded

He likes to touch soft things

Doesn’t know his own strength

Please add one additional observation!

Lennie fixates on small, odd things like mice, rabbits, and ketchup. He can’t remember the things that George tells him.

He had a mouse in his pocket that he liked to touch, he looks forward to getting a puppy he can pet and taking care of the rabbits!

He accidentally kills the mice he used to get from his Aunt Clara, but didn’t seem to understand why they died.

First image: _A_ Explanation:

This line conveys important information about the two main characters. It shows the reader that even in situations when they could be “equal,” Lennie is always following George. This shows that clearly Lennie is not mentally capable of much, and will always be a follower.

Be sure to include: Who is in charge? (provide evidence of this

—a line from the book, or behavior example, etc.)

How does George feel about Lennie? (provide evidence!)

How does Lennie feel about George? (provide evidence!)

How contented is each man with their life? What does their contentment/discontent have to do with each other?