Chapter 4

Holes

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

Stanley looked out across the vast wasteland. The air seemed thick with heat and dirt. “Not much,” he said, then hastily added, “Mr. Sir.”

Read the passage aloud. What does the word hastily tell you about how Stanley answers?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens from the moment Stanley steps off the bus to the moment Mr. Sir tells him how long he will be thirsty.

1. The bus driver says “Be careful,” and Stanley cannot tell what he means. Why might the author start the chapter with a warning nobody explains?Author's choice

2. Mr. Sir says to call him by his name, “Mr. Sir.” What does that rule do to the way the two of them talk?Character

3. Mr. Sir asks what Stanley sees and offers to let him run, before he explains why there is no fence. Why might he go in that order?Inference

4. Stanley feels “a little sorry for the guard and the bus driver.” Is that kind, or odd, given where he is going?Moral reasoning

5. A sign warns against guns, explosives and drugs, and Stanley thinks, “Well, duh!” What does that joking voice do to the moment?Tone

Make a Connection Tell about a time you joked about something that was also a little scary. What did the joke do for you?

Vocabulary

Crossword

1
			2	3
4

5		6



7



	8

9

Across

Across 1. Very large and wide.
Across 4. Land where almost nothing can live or grow.
Across 7. Bare, with nothing growing.
Across 8. Paused because he was unsure.
Across 9. With thanks.

Down

Down 2. Empty and lonely.
Down 3. In a hurry; very quickly.
Down 5. Complained in a low, unhappy voice.
Down 6. Very uncomfortable or unhappy.

The words in the chapter

vast Stanley looked out across the vast wasteland.
wasteland Stanley looked out across the vast wasteland.
hastily “Not much,” he said, then hastily added, “Mr. Sir.”
barren The land was barren and desolate.
desolate The land was barren and desolate.

hesitated Stanley hesitated.
miserable Stanley thought about the long, miserable bus ride
grumbled the guard grumbled
gratefully Stanley said gratefully.

Critical thinking

1. Mr. Sir has soda for the guard and the driver but not for Stanley, whose canteen is empty. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Mr. Sir seems to see Stanley.

2. Mr. Sir explains the rules for digging: one hole a day, every day, five feet deep. Using two pieces of evidence, explain whether the rules are fair to Stanley.

3. Mr. Sir asks “You thirsty?” and Stanley answers gratefully. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Mr. Sir's reply shows about him.