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Chapter 44

Holes

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

He gathered his remaining strength, and tried to pull himself up out of the hole. Suddenly, a bright light was shining in his face.

Read the passage aloud. What does the word "Suddenly" do to the second sentence?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens in this chapter, from Stanley waiting in the hole to the light in his face.

1. Stanley says, “It’s it,” sounding more certain than he really was. Why might he pretend to be sure?Character

2. Stanley decides to dig wider instead of deeper, and tells himself it makes more sense. How good is his reasoning?Inference

3. Zero goes to refill the jars because Stanley makes too much noise when he walks. Was that a good plan, and who is taking more risk?Moral reasoning

4. The author keeps Stanley in the dark for most of the chapter. How does that change the way we feel as he digs?Tone

5. The Warden says, “You boys have been a big help.” Why might the author end the chapter on her words?Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you worked hard on something and someone else got to enjoy the result.

Vocabulary

Crossword
12
345
6
78
9
Across
  • Across 1. Brought together; collected.
  • Across 6. Unsafe; likely to fall.
  • Across 7. To fall in.
  • Across 9. To push something thin in to pry it loose.
Down
  • Down 2. Still left over.
  • Down 3. How something feels to the touch.
  • Down 4. Passed through loose material to find something.
  • Down 5. Great surprise.
  • Down 8. Easier to notice; clearer.
The words in the chapter
  • gathered He gathered his remaining strength
  • remaining He gathered his remaining strength
  • precarious As his tunnel grew deeper and wider—and more precarious
  • astonishment His voice was filled more with astonishment than with excitement.
  • sifted Stanley sifted his fingers through the fresh piles of dirt
  • texture It had the cool, smooth texture of metal.
  • wedge tried to wedge it free
  • collapse He didn’t want the side of the hole to collapse
  • pronounced the hard object became more pronounced

Critical thinking

1. Stanley digs a tunnel under the metal object to get it free. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he works out what to do.

2. Stanley says it might be a treasure chest, then that it might be a metal suitcase. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he changes his mind.

3. Zero stays calm and steady as Stanley digs. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Zero does for Stanley during the night.