The Houdini Box By Brian Selznick
Vocabulary Houdini is a magician. A. Person who writes for magazines. B. Person who performs tricks.
Answer b. Person who performs tricks.
Vocabulary The animals are trying to escape from the zoo! A. Come in. B. Break loose.
Answer b. Break loose.
Vocabulary The shoppers were bustling. A. Scurrying B. Chattering
Answer A. scurrying
Vocabulary The car appeared from over the hill. A. Came into view B. Stayed in one place
Answer B. Came into view
Vocabulary We visited the Washington monument. A. Memorial B. Head quarters
Answer A. Memorial
Vocabulary The cookie crumbled. A. Stuck to the floor B. Fell to pieces
Answer b. Fell to pieces
Vocabulary The food vanished from the Thanksgiving table. A. disappeared B. darkened
Answer a. disappeared
Comprehension Questions
Comprehension What did Victor and Houdini have in common? They wanted to travel. They had a box with their initials on it. They liked to perform magic tricks.
Answer c. They liked to perform magic tricks.
Comprehension Victor was upset because he could not… Locate his mother at the train station. do the things that Houdini did.
Answer b. Do the things that Houdini did
Comprehension Right after Victor learned about each one of Houdini’s tricks, he… Tried to do what Houdini had done. told his Aunt Harriet the secret.
Answer a. Tried to do what Houdini had done.
Comprehension Houdini probably promised to write Victor a letter be he was… Worried that Victor would get in trouble. Impressed with Victor’s determination.
Answer b. Impressed with Victor’s determination.
Comprehension What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection? To entertain with a story about a boy that wants to be a magician. to persuade children to do magic tricks for their friends.
Answer a. To entertain with a story about a boy that wants to be a magician.
Comprehension What kind of person is Victor? Helpful because he did a lot of chores around the house. Daring because he approached Houdini at the train station.
Answer b. Daring because he approached Houdini at the train station.
Comprehension Victor was so excited after reading Houdini’s monument because he… Had always wondered what Houdini’s real name was. Realized the box that he was given as a boy had belonged to Houdini.
Answer b. Realized the box that he was given as a boy had belonged to Houdini.
Comprehension What happed after Victor played ball with his son? He went to visit Houdini. He found Houdini’s box in the attic.
Answer b. He found Houdini’s box in the attic.
Comprehension In what way was Victor the same at the beginning and the end of the story? He was excited about magic. He took a train to visit someone.
Answer a. He was excited about magic.
Comprehension Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when she read the letter that Victor showed her? She was sad because her husband had just died. She was angry because she had to give Houdini’s box away.
Answer a. She was sad because her husband had just died.
Good luck on your test! Make sure you double check your answers!