Chapter 40 · Holes

Copywork

He ate it gratefully. But now as he sat gazing at Big Thumb and the meadow full of flowers, he couldn’t help but wonder about it.

Read the passage aloud. What turns the thought around between the first sentence and the second?

Narration Tell back what happens in this chapter, from Stanley wondering about the onion to the moment he finds the shovel.

The night before, Stanley ate the onion without questioning it. Now he wonders where it came from. What might have changed? Inference
Mrs. Tennyson thanks Sam, and Sam says, “It was the onions.” Why might he turn the thanks away? Character
Hattie mocks Mrs. Tennyson for running out in her nightgown, and Mrs. Tennyson answers by mentioning the bad meat. Was that fair to Hattie? Moral reasoning
Why might the author put Sam's morning on Main Street in the middle of Stanley's wondering about the onion? Author's choice
Stanley finds the shovel and the sack side by side, far down the mountain. How would you explain that? What makes you think so? Theme

Make a Connection Tell about a time something good happened and you were not sure whom to thank.

gratefully: He ate it gratefully. With thanks for a gift or help.
gazing: as he sat gazing at Big Thumb Looking steadily for a long time.
intertwined: He intertwined his fingers and tried to rub out the pain. Twisted together.
snickered: Several people snickered. Laughed quietly in a mean way.
contritely: Hattie said contritely In a way that shows you are sorry.
charity: I don’t take charity Money or help given freely to someone in need.
tonic: It was your onion tonic A drink meant to make someone well.
deserted: think he’d been deserted Left alone by someone who should have stayed.
feebly: Zero said feebly In a weak way.

Mrs. Tennyson says the doctor was wrong and Sam's tonic saved Becca. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why she trusts Sam over the doctor.
After two days of sleep and onions, how are Stanley and Zero doing? Using two pieces of evidence, explain what has improved and what has not.
Stanley waits for Zero to open his eyes before he goes for the shovel. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why he waits.