Chapter Eleven & Twelve 1. What did X-Ray ask Stanley to do the next time he found something interesting?

X-Ray asked Stanley to give him the next interesting thing he found claiming that he was too blind to find anything himself and that it was only fair that he get a day off before Stanley as he had been there much longer. 2. How did X-Ray get his nickname?

He informed Stanley that X-Ray was simply pig latin for his real name which was Rex. 3. Why was Stanley surprised that X-Ray was the leader of the group?

Stanley was rather surprised as X-Ray was one of the smallest in the group and Stanley obviously equated leadership with physical size and strength. (Conduct a discussion as to the qualities we might look for in a leader.) 4. Why was Stanley glad to be called Caveman?

Stanley was glad because he believed that by calling him Caveman the other boys were accepting him as part of their group. 5. What was Mr. Pendanski doing when Stanley finally dragged himself back to the compound?

Mr. Pendanski was conducting a group session asking each of the boys what they hoped to do with their lives. 6. What caused the smile to disappear from Zero's face?

Mr. Pendanski offended Zero by telling him that he wasn't completely useless thus implying that he had little respect or hope for Zero. Pendanski is beginning to show his true colors.

Chapter Thirteen & Fourteen 1. Why was Stanley reluctant at first to retrieve the glistening object from the pile of dirt?

It took a lot of effort for him to climb out of the hole and he wasn't sure if he had actually seen anything. Furthermore, even if it was something, he had already promised it to X-Ray. 2. Describe the object that Stanley had found.

It was a metallic gold tube about the size of his finger, open on one end and closed on the other. He also noticed the letters K B etched inside the outline of a heart. 3. How did Stanley respond when ZigZag asked to examine the gold tube?

Instead of showing it to ZigZag he took the tube to X-Ray. 4. What advice did Stanley offer X-Ray about showing the tube to the Warden?

He advised X-Ray to wait until early the next day and then pretend he had just discovered the tube. That way X-Ray would be given an entire day's rest from digging. 5. What occurs when the water truck arrives that indicates Stanley's status in the group of boys is improving?

The boys always stand in line in a certain (hierarchical) order when waiting to have their canteens refilled. X-Ray instructs Stanley to move ahead of Zero in the line thus improving his status. 6. Describe the Warden.

The Warden was a tall woman with red hair and dark red fingernail polish and she wore a black cowboy hat and black cowboy boots. Her sleeves were rolled up and her arms and face were covered with freckles. 7. Why was Stanley surprised when the Warden addressed him as Caveman?

Stanley was surprised that she knew his nickname as they had never met before. 8. What instructions did the Warden give to Mr. Pendanski?

She insisted that Pendanski refill the canteens. 9. X-Ray had waited until the next day to reveal the discovery of the gold tube. Why is this time lag significant?

It's significant as the readers suspect that the Warden is looking for something to be uncovered in a particular spot of the dried up lake bed. By waiting 24 hours to reveal the discovery, X-Ray inadvertently causes the Warden to think that the tube was found at another location. Thus if there was anything else buried along with the gold tube it will be in the other hole where Stanley initially uncovered it.

Chapter Fifteen & Sixteen 1. Why was the Warden treating the campers so well?

She was anxious to find whatever it was she was looking for so she made sure the boys received plenty of water and allowed them to work in pairs so they wouldn't tire themselves out. 2. Why was Stanley so sure he wouldn't find anything despite his careful search through the dirt dug up by Zero?

He knew that they were searching in the wrong hole and that anything that the Warden was looking for would likely be in the same spot where Stanley had originally found the gold tube. 3. According to ZigZag how did the Warden know all their names?

ZigZag believed that the Warden had hidden microphones and cameras everywhere including their tents, the Wreck room and even the shower. 4. Why did Stanley decide against digging at night?

He was too tired after digging all day and furthermore, the shovels were always locked up at night. 5. Why did Zero not get the joke about the old lady who lived in a shoe? Zero had never heard the nursery rhyme about the old lady and the shoe. Chapter Seventeen & Eighteen 1. What indications are there that the Warden is growing impatient?

She arrives later in the morning and leaves earlier in the afternoon and she begins to complain about the slow pace of their digging. At one point she even jabs at Armpit with a pitchfork leaving holes in his shirt and drawing blood. 2. Explain Stanley's sudden collapse.

ZigZag had accidentally struck Stanley in the side of his head with the shovel causing him to collapse in the hole. 3. Why was Stanley relieved when the boys returned to their regular spot to dig?

He knew exactly how much he would be expected to dig each day and he no longer had to worry about other shovels swinging past his face. 4. Why did Stanley not have to worry about Zero reading over his shoulder?

Zero confesses to Stanley that he doesn't know how to read or write. 5. How do we know that more than just Stanley's hands had become callused during his stay at the camp?

Stanley is unwilling to teach Zero to read and write. Like many of the other boys, Stanley's heart had hardened in order to help him survive his ordeal at Green Lake. Chapter Nineteen & Twenty 1. Why was Stanley having difficulty sleeping?

Stanley heard a strange noise and thought at first it was an animal. He soon realized it was Squid crying in the cot next to him. Embarassed by the situation the next morning, Squid claimed that it was just his allergies that were causing him problems. 2. Describe the racial makeup of Stanley's work crew.

X-Ray, Armpit, and Zero were black, Stanley, Squid and ZigZag were white while Magnet was Hispanic. 3. How did Magnet get his nickname?

Magnet claimed that he couldn't help taking things because his fingers were like magnets. 4. Why did Stanley get blamed for stealing from Mr. Sir?

The other boys decided to share the sunflower seeds that Magnet had stolen from Mr. Sir. When Mr. Sir noticed his sunflower seeds missing he returned to the boys only to discover that Stanley had the seeds or in the words of the author, he (Stanley)was in the wrong place at the wrong time 5. Predict the consequences for Stanley's misdeed.

Answers will vary. 6. What is the secret ingredient of the Warden's nail polish?

According to the Warden the secret ingredient is rattlesnake venom which is only toxic when it's wet. 7. Explain the unusual turn of events in the Warden's cabin. The Warden slapped Mr. Sir across the face leaving three long red marks across the side of his face. After a few moments Mr. Sir collapsed to the floor writhing in pain.