‘Holes’ by Louis Sacher home reader questions.

Week 1 - Read chapters 1-5 and answer the following questions:

1) ‘The only trees are two old oaks on the eastern edge of the “lake”’. (Page 1). Why is the word
‘Lake’ written in inverted commas?
To show that is it is called a lake, but it is not actually a lake, so just saying lake might mislead
you.
2) Why would a camper at Camp Green Lake actually try to get bitten by a scorpion or even a
rattlesnake?
So they could spend a day or two recovering in their tent instead of digging a hole.
3) Write down 5 things that we learn about the character Stanley Yelnats in chapter 3.
4) According to Stanley, what three things do you need to be a successful inventor?
Intelligence, perseverance, and just a little bit of luck.
5) What is special about the name ‘Stanley Yelnats’?
It is spelt the same frontwards and backwards.
6) Why did Stanley think ‘well duh!’ when he saw the sign explaining what you were not allowed
to bring to Camp Green Lake (page 12)
Because it is common sense that people would not be allowed to bring those things, there is no
need for a sign.
7) Why is there no fence around Camp Green Lake?
Because there is nowhere to run, the camp has the only water for a hundred miles, so no one
would survive if they escaped.
8) What does Mr Sir mean when she says, ‘ This isn’t Girl Scout camp’? (page 14)
He means that they are not at a fun camp and they will not be having fun.
9) After reading the first five chapters, what do we know about why Stanley has been sent to
Camp Green Lake?
He was arrested but he was innocent. It has something to do with his dad’s latest project –
trying to invent a way to recycle old sneakers – that lead to his arrest.

Week 2 – Read chapters 6 – 8, then answer the following questions.

1) Why did the teachers never take Stanley’s complaints about Derrick Dunne seriously?
Because Derrick was so much smaller than Stanley and some of them found it amusing that a ‘little
kid like Derrick’ could pick on someone as big as Stanley.
2) Why did Stanley feel like he was holding destiny’s shoes?
Because the sneakers fell on top of him, seemingly out of nowhere, like a gift from God. He thought
the shoes would somehow be a solution to his father’s invention and it seemed like too much of a
coincidence to be a mere accident.
3) Why did the patrol police car pull up next to Stanley?
Because he was running.
4) What do we know about why Stanley has been arrested and sent to Camp Green Lake now?
That he was arrested for stealing Clive Livingston (a famous baseball player’s) sneakers, which had
been given to a homeless shelter to be auctioned off later that day for charity. He had not stolen the
sneakers, but the sneakers fell out of the sky on top of him, and he did not know the importance of
the sneakers.
 5) Why do you think Clive Livingston had the nickname – ‘Sweet Feet’ if his shoes were ‘anything but
sweet’?
It is probably an ironic nickname, because his feet probably smell the opposite of sweet.
6) Why did X-ray claim to have his own special shovel, that no one else was allowed to touch?
Because it was shorter than the others, and the holes that the boys dug had to be as deep as their
shovel, so X-ray got away with digging a smaller hole.
7) Why did Madame Zeroni not think Myra Menke would be a good wife to Elya Yelnats?
Because she was nothing but beautiful. She couldn’t push a plow, she couldn’t milk a goat, she
couldn’t hold an intelligent conversation, she couldn’t look after him when he was sick. She was silly,
foolish and spoilt and would only want him to take care of her.
8) Why did Elya tell Myra that she should marry Igor?
Because he realised that she didn’t actually love him and that her head really was as empty as a
flower pot, because she had trouble deciding between him and Igor.
9) What does ‘enviously’ mean? (page 37)
10) Why does Stanley’s family always blame their ‘no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-
grandfather’ when something bad happens?
Because he took the pig from Madame Zeroni, but never carried her up the mountain like he
promised he would, so she cursed all of his descendants to be doomed for all eternity.
11) Why is it significant that the author tells us that yellow-spotted lizards like to eat the shells of
sunflower seeds? (page 42)
Because Mr Sir eats sunflower seeds, but removes the shells and always spits them out on the floor.
It suggests that a yellow-spotted lizard might be in the story soon.

Week 3 – Read chapters 9 -15 then answer the following questions:

1. Why was there no drain on the floor of the shower to catch all the water?
Because it was so hot that all water evaporated from the heat of the sun.
2. What did Stanley do to make sure she wouldn’t worry about him?
She lied in the letter that she wrote to him, saying that he was doing fun things like swimming and
water skiing at CGL.
3. Find evidence from chapter 9 that shows that X-ray, Armpit and Squid like and respect Stanley.
They give him a nickname – Caveman. They say he is cool and is ‘one tough dude’
4. In chapter 11, why did Stanley think it was a good thing that he had promised to give anything
interesting that he found to X-ray?
Because X-ray was the leader, and it was important to stay on his good side if he wanted to survive
at CGL.
5. Why was it an inappropriate place for Stanley to mention wanting to work for the F.B.I?
Because CGL is a place for boys who have broken the law, so they would not be fans of the F.B.I.
Stanley could make enemies of them if he told them that.
6. How had Stanley’s body changed since arriving at Camp Green Lake? (Chapter 13)
He skin (particularly on his hands) has become much tougher. He has lost 5 pounds.
7. How did X-ray show his appreciation to Stanley after he had given him the interesting object he had
found?
He allowed Stanley to move up once place in the line.
8. What did Stanley find surprising about the warden?
 She was a woman. He had presumed she was a man.
9. At this point in the story, what do you think the warden is looking for?
Open.
10. Why do you think Stanley: ‘Dug the hole into his memory’?
It is the hole where the interesting object was actually found. He wants to dig and see if he finds
anything else interesting.

Week 4 – Read chapters 16 -20 then answer the following questions:

1. Why did Stanley decide not to go out at night and dig the hole himself?
Because he didn’t like the idea of digging during the day AND all night.
2. Find and copy the sentence in page 18 that describe how Stanley’s body has changed as a result of
the digging at Camp Green Lake.
His muscles had strengthened, and his hands were tough and callused.
3. Define ‘callused’.
4. On page 82, why does Stanley laugh?
Because he is surprised that Zero does not know how to read and write. All this time he had thought
Zero was reading over his shoulder.
5. Find an example of a complex sentence in chapter 19.
6. Why do you think Squid react so angrily when Stanley asked if he was okay? (page 83).
Because he was embarrassed that Stanley had noticed he was upset and crying.
7. Why is it ‘unfortunate’ for Stanley that Mr Sir was not going to die? (page 91.)
Because after this Mr Sir would surely have it in for Stanley, and treat him especially badly. He
would blame Stanley for what had happened to him.

Week 5 – Read chapters 21-25 then answer the following questions:

1. At the start of chapter 21, why does the author repeat the words from the previous chapter – ‘He
won’t die, the warden had said. Unfortunately for you.’
It shows the reader that the words are on Stanley’s mind and are worrying him.
2. On page 93, Stanley states that a rattlesnake would be a lot more dangerous if it didn’t have a
rattle. Why do you think this is?
Because the rattle warns people that the snake is coming. Without this there would be no
forewarning.
3. Why was Zero’s hole smaller than the others holes?
Because he was the one who had dug Stanley’s hole, so he hadn’t been digging his own while the
other boys were.
4. In chapter 22, what does Stanley discover about the golden tube that he found?
That it was actually half of a lipstick container and that the initials K.B. stood for Kate Barlow.
5. Why is the fourth of July a special day in America? (The answer for this is not in the story!)
It is Independence Day in America.
6. Why did everybody in the town of Green Lake expect Kate Barlow to marry Trout Walker? (Page
102-103)
Because he was the son of the richest man in the county, His family owned most of the peach trees
and all of the land on the east side of the lake.
 7. In chapter 24, how does Mr Sir get his revenge on Stanley?
By pouring all the water on the floor instead of into Stanley’s canteen.
8. Why did Doc Hawthorn’s head often smell of onions in the morning? (pg. 108-109)
Because he used Sam’s special ointment on his head to stop him from losing any more hair, as he
was almost completely bald.

Week 6 – Read chapters 26-29 then answer the following questions:

1. In chapter 26 the reader discovers how Kate Barlow became the famous outlaw. Describe briefly
what caused her to become an outlaw.
She fell in love with Sam, and the village which she loved turned against her for doing so. Sam was
shot and so was Mary-Lou. She took revenge by shooting the sheriff and became the famous outlaw
– Kissin’ Kate Barlow.
2. At the end of chapter 27, we find out Zero’s real name. What is familiar about Zero’s real name?
His last name is Zeroni. This is the name of Madame Zeroni, the old lady that Stanley’s great great
grand father had been cursed by after he had broken his promise to carry her up the mountain.
3. On page 121, how did Kate know that it was Trout Walker who had broken into the cabin before
she actually saw him?
She smelt his dirty feet.
4. Define: ‘loot’.
5. Why was Kate Barlow laughing as she died?
Because she knew that she was their only hope of finding the loot, so she took pleasure in knowing
they would never find it after what they had done to her.

Week 7 – Read chapters 30-33 then answer the following questions:

1. In chapter 30, how does the way the other boys treat Stanley begin to change? Why do you think
this is?
They are very sarcastic with him. They start a fight with him. It’s because he’s not digging his hole all
by himself, Zero is helping him.
2. Why did the Warden not chase after Zero when he ran away?
Because he would have to come back for water eventually.
3. ‘She examined her fingernails and said, “It’s almost time for me to paint my nails again.”’ (page 140)
What does the Warden mean by this comment?
She is going to punish Zero when he comes back like she punished Mr Sir earlier in the book.
4. In chapter 21, why did none of the other boys help Stanley to dig Zero’s hole?
Because Zero had been digging Stanley’s hole for so many days.
5. At the end of chapter 32, why does the author repeat the words ‘empty, empty, empty’?

Week 8 – Read chapters 34-38 then answer the following questions:

1. Find an example of personification on page 152.

The pool hurried away from him, moving as he moved, stopping when he stopped.
2. Define: Mirage.
3. Why do you think ‘Barf Bag’ stepped on a rattlesnake on purpose?
 Probably to avoid digging anymore holes.
4. Why did Stanley keep taking a ‘mental snapshot’ of the Big Thumb?
Because he thought if he took a metal snapshot, then didn’t look at it for 10minutes, it would seem
closer.
5. Why was Stanley scared when he realised he was almost at the Big Thumb?
Because it was their only hope, and if it had no water or refuge then they’d have nothing, not even
hope.
6. What was the first sign that Stanley and Zero were near water?
Bugs, then weeds.
7. How was Stanley able to find water in the end?
By digging a hole in the ground.

Week 9 - Read chapters 39 – 42 then answer the following questions:

1. In chapter 39, what does Zero confess to doing?

He confesses that he was the one who stole the sneakers.
2. Why did people snicker when Hattie Parker told Gladys Tennyson that she was looking lovely this
morning?
Because Hattie was being sarcastic as Gladys was still in her nightgown.
3. Why did Hattie’s face go red when Gladys Tennyson said that her daughter was sick because she
had eaten some bad meat?
Because Hattie’s husband was the butcher.
4. Define: contritely
5. In chapter 41, Zero describes how he used to steal the things that he needed. Do you think it was
wrong of him to steal? Explain your opinion.
Open. No – he only took what he needed because he had nothing.
6. Why do you think that Stanley asks Zero if he wants to dig one more hole at the end of chapter 42?
Because he has a plan to return to CGL to find the buried treasure.

‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar – home reader questions.

Read chapters 43 – 46 then answer the following questions:

1. What did Stanley and Zero plan to do to make sure that they arrived at Camp Green Lake before dark?
They planned to set off at the first hint of daylight.
2. In chapter 43, what was the challenge between Stanley and Zero?
The challenge was who could go the longest without having a drink.
3. On page 193, why does Stanley say to Zero: “I am a camel”?
Because camels store water and so don’t need to drink that often.
4. On page 193, why does the author choose to describe Stanley and Zero’s mouths as ‘stubborn’?
Because both boys are acting stubborn by pretending that they don’t want a drink and are only drinking
because the other boy is, when in fact they are desperately thirsty.
5. On page 201, why do you think Stanley’s voice is “filled more with astonishment than with excitement” after
discovering what he believes to be a treasure chest in the ground?
Because he probably didn’t expect to actually find something of value.
6. Define: precarious (page 202)
7. ‘“It won’t be long now,” the Warden said.’ (pg. 206) what is the Warden waiting for?
 For the yellow-spotted lizards to bite and kill Stanley and Zero so she can get the chest.
8. Why do you think the lizards have not hurt Stanley or Zero?