PRE- READING QUESTIONS:

1. If you could be an animal, what would you like to be and why?

2. Do you know your grandparents? What where your favourite moments with them?

VOCABULARY
1. Ventriloquism noun, an act where the person speaks in a way that makes it appear
that the words are being said by a large doll
Sample Sentence: My cousin knows ventriloquism and hes really good. You can
never see his lips moving!
Sample Sentence:
2. Tuxedo noun, a formal black suit worn with a white shirt and a black bow tie.
Sample Sentence: He looked really good in a tuxedo.
Sample Sentence:
3. Kitten noun, a young cat
Sample Sentence: I like kittens because theyre adorable.
Sample Sentence:
4. Adorable - adjective, very attractive or delightful
Synonym: Cute, Delightful
Antonym: Hateful
Sample Sentence: The adorable child hugged her dog and petted it.
Sample Sentence:
5. Flea-bitten adjective, bitten by fleas
Sample Sentence: The cat scratched hits ears and the owner knew he was no
flea-bitten.
Sample Sentence:
6. Toilet-trained adjective, trained to use the toilet properly
Sample Sentence: Kids are usually toilet-trained at the age of 3.
Sample Sentence:
7. Stinking adjective, that smells foul
Synonym: Awful
Antonym: Sweet, Clean
Sample Sentence: The sock was stinking the place that it really smelled horrible.
Sample Sentence:
8. Huffing verb, to puff or blow; breathe heavily
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Synonym: breathe, blow

Sample Sentence: The kid was huffing as his father ordered him to do his
homework.
Sample Sentence:
9. Exhausted adjective, extremely tired
Synonym: Tired, weary
Antonym: Active, Strong
Sample Sentence: After running for 10 minutes, the students were very
exhausted and wanted to just go home.
Sample Sentence:
10. Ordinary adjective, plain or undistinguished
Synonym: Usual, normal
Antonym: Exceptional, Different
Sample Sentence: If Waldo is wearing ordinary clothes, no one can really find
him.
Sample Sentence:
11. Chuckle verb, to laugh softly
Synonym: Laugh, Smile
Antonym: Frown, Cry
Sample Sentence: The father chuckled to himself when
he knew he bought the perfect gift for his son.
Sample Sentence:
12. Cranky adjective, being ill-tempered or grouchy
Synonym: Grumpy, Mean
Antonym: Happy, Cheerful
Sample Sentence: Im afraid of the old man who lives next to our house. He is
always cranky.
Sample Sentence:
13. Gobble verb, to swallow or eat hastily or hungrily
Synonym: Swallow, Devour
Antonym: Nibble
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Sample Sentence: He was so hungry that he gobbled the meal in just a few
minutes.
Sample Sentence:
14. Pushy adjective, using forceful methods to make others do what you want them to
do.
Synonym: Forceful
Antonym: Modest, Shy
Sample Sentence: The pushy salesperson would not leave me alone even though
I said I didnt want to buy the product.
Sample Sentence:
15. Condition noun, a way of living or existing
Synonym: Status, Situation
Sample Sentence: I do not like this weather condition. Its too cold.
Sample Sentence:
16. Padded verb, to travel along on foot.
Synonym: Walk
Sample Sentence: The cat padded towards his owner and meowed.
Sample Sentence:
17. Skimp verb, to spend less time, money, etc., on something than is needed
Synonym: Cheap
Antonym: Spend
Sample Sentence: Parents shouldn't skimp when it comes to their child's safety.
Sample Sentence:
18. Craving noun, a very strong desire for something
Synonym: Appetite, Hunger
Antonym: Dislike, Distaste
Sample Sentence: I felt a sudden craving for French fries, so I pulled into the
nearest fast-food restaurant.
Sample Sentence:
19. Extremely adverb, very great in degree
Synonym: Very, Totally, Overly
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Antonym: Little, Mildly

Sample Sentence: Do not go outside. Its extremely dangerous because of the
storm.
Sample Sentence:
20. Dignified adjective, serious and somewhat formal
Synonym: Noble, Formal
Antonym: Bad, Common, Poor
Sample Sentence: He looked very dignified in his new suit
Sample Sentence:
21. Leisure noun, time when you can do whatever you want to do
Synonym: free time, spare time
Antonym: work, labour
Sample Sentence: In his leisure, he paints and sculpts.
Sample Sentence:
22. Take-off noun, the moment when an airplane, helicopter, etc., leaves the ground
and begins to fly.
Synonym: Flight,
Antonym: Stay
Sample Sentence: Please remain seated during take-off.
Sample Sentence:
23. Peppy adjective, full of energy; able to move fast.
Synonym: Active, Alert
Antonym: Lazy, Inactive
Sample Sentence: The song was a peppy little dance number.
Sample Sentence:
24. Open-minded adjective, willing to consider different ideas or opinions
Synonym: Open to, Approachable
Antonym: Biased
Sample Sentence: He's one of the most open-minded people I've ever met.
Sample Sentence:
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25. Composure noun, calmness especially of mind, manner, or appearance

Synonym: Coolness, Control
Antonym: Upset
Sample Sentence: After the initial shock she recovered her composure.
Sample Sentence:
26. Realize verb, to understand or become aware of
Synonym: Understand, Know
Antonym: Misunderstand, Disbelieve
Sample Sentence: Do you realize how difficult that stunt is?
Sample Sentence:
27. Black Sheep noun, someone who does not fit in with the rest of a group and is
often considered to be a troublemaker or an embarrassment
Sample Sentence: He was the black sheep of the family.
Sample Sentence:
28. Demand verb, to say in a forceful way that something must be done or given to
you
Synonym: Want, Order
Antonym: Answer, Reply
Sample Sentence: I demand to know what is going on here!
Sample Sentence:
29. Gently adverb, not harsh or violent
Synonym: Mildly, Lightly
Antonym: Loudly, Harshly
Sample Sentence: The vase is very fragile, so handle it gently.
Sample Sentence:
30. Invent verb, to create or produce something useful for the
first time
Synonym: Make, Create
Sample Sentence: Alexander Graham Bell invented the
telephone.
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Sample Sentence:
31. Disappear verb, to stop being visible
Synonym: Leave, Escape
Antonym: Appear
Sample Sentence: The moon disappeared behind a cloud.
Sample Sentence:
32. Crazy adjective, very foolish or unreasonable
Synonym: Silly, Insane
Antonym: Sane, Sensible
Sample Sentence: You are crazy to have paid so much for this car.
Sample Sentence:
33. Mistrustful adjective, not honest and cannot be trusted
Synonym: Wary, Doubting
Antonym: Trusting
Sample Sentence: She is mistrustful of politicians.
Sample Sentence:
34. Complicated adjective, hard to understand, explain, or deal with.
Synonym: Difficult, Complex
Antonym: Easy, Plain
Sample Sentence: The game's rules are too complicated.
Sample Sentence:
35. Deceased adjective, no longer living
Synonym: Gone, Dead
Antonym: Living, Alive
Sample Sentence: Both his parents are deceased.
Sample Sentence:
36. Alarmed adjective, feeling of a sense of danger
Synonym: Worried, Frightened
Antonym: Happy, Calm
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Sample Sentence: The rapid spread of the disease has alarmed many people.
Sample Sentence:
37. Opposable adjective, able to be placed against one or more of the other fingers or
toes on the same hand or foot.
Sample Sentence: Humans have an opposable thumb.
Sample Sentence:

COMPREHENSION CHECK
CHAPTER 1
1. What was Zack supposed to be getting at the pet store?

2. Why didnt Zack get the cute kitten?

3. What did the gray tomcat do?

4. Do you believe that cats can speak?

5. How can you be a good pet owner? List tips on how to take care of your pets.

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Summary
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CHAPTER 2
1. How did the gray tomcat describe the tux kitten?

2. What was the sentence that made Zack change his mind?

3. Who did the tomcat say he was?

4. How is Zack related to the cat?

5. List down the pros and cons of being a cat.

Pros

Cons

Summary
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CHAPTER 3
1. Why didnt Zacks father believed him when he said the cat can talk?

2. Who was great-grandpa Julius?

3. Why didnt the cat talk?

4. What food did the cat want to eat?

5. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

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Summary
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CHAPTER 4
1. Why cant Zack buy the cat herring every time?

2. Why are they going to Chicago?

3. What was the deal Zack made with his father so that the cat can come with them to
Chicago?

4. What was the hardest part about changing from a person to a cat?

5. Name a place where you want to travel to. What are the things you want to see in this

place?
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Summary
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CHAPTER 5
1. What was the claim Zacks dad kept on asking the cat?

2. What was the first animal the cat changed into after dying? How was it?

3. What did he change into the second time? How was it?

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4. How long was the cat dead?

5. Draw and describe your family tree.

Summary
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CHAPTER 6
1. According to Zack, how was the animal very special?

2. Why didnt Grandma Leah believe the cat?

3. What did Grandma Leah used to call her father?

4. Who was the cat?

5. Write about a time you lied and felt guilty.

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Summary

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CHAPTER 7
1. Why was Grandma Leah angry at grandpa Maurice?

2. What were some of his inventions?

3. Did he intend to pay back the money he lost?

4. Where did he put the money?

5. Draw then describe a new invention that you came up with. Be creative as you can!

Summary
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CHAPTER 8
1. Why were they at the bank?

2. Why couldnt they get the money?

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3. Why was the woman surprised?

4. How were they able to get the money?

5. Find the words in below in the box. Circle your answer.

Summary
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BOOK REPORT
Book Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Author: ______________________________

Illustrator: ________________________

Characters:
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Setting:
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Plot/Synopsis (Beginning, Middle, Ending):
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What is your favorite part of the story?
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Do you like this book? Why or why not?
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