Chapter 37 · Holes

Copywork

Now that they really were almost there, it scared him. Big Thumb was his only hope. If there was no water, no refuge, then they’d have nothing, not even hope.

Read the passage aloud. Why might the word "hope" come twice in these lines?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens in this chapter, from the base of the mountain to the moment Zero falls and will not get up.

Why might getting close to Big Thumb scare Stanley more than being far from it? Inference
Zero says, “If a gnat lands on me, it will knock me over.” What does that joke tell us about him? Character
The gnats leave the boys and prefer what Zero has thrown up. Why might the author include such a gross detail? Author's choice
Stanley does not give Zero any more words because he needs to save his strength. Was that a good decision for Zero? Moral reasoning
The chapter begins with Stanley's “We’re almost there” and ends with Zero silent. How does the mood change between them? Plot structure

Make a Connection Tell about a time you were afraid to find out the answer to something you hoped for.

Vocabulary

hope: Big Thumb was his only hope. A wish that something good will happen.
refuge: If there was no water, no refuge, then they’d have nothing, not even hope. A safe place to go in danger.
zigzagged: Instead they zigzagged back and forth Moved in sharp turns from side to side.
altitude: increasing their altitude by small increments Height above the ground or sea.
hovered: A swarm of gnats hovered around them Stayed in the air in one place.
attracted: attracted by their sweat Drawn toward something.
wrenching: Zero made a horrible, wrenching noise Painful, as if twisted hard.
weary: Zero’s sick and weary face Very tired.
urged: “C’mon, Zero,” he urged. Pushed someone to act.

Critical thinking

Stanley says, “There’s got to be water around somewhere.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he has seen that leads him to say so.
The slope gets steeper and the weeds grow thornier. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how the climb is wearing the boys down.
Zero falls and will not get up, and Stanley tells him the sundae is being made right now. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Stanley is trying to do.