Review Why Monkeys Live in Trees

by Julius Lester

The Case of the Monkeys That Fell from the Trees

by Susan E. Quinlan

1. Why do the animals have a contest?

To see who can eat an entire pile of black dust in one day.

2. Why does the contest prove to be more difficult than the animals thought?

It proves more difficult because the mound of dust is actually a mound of black pepper.

3. What does the monkey say he has to do between bites of pepper?

He says he needs to lie down in the grass to rest between bites.

4. What does Leopard see in the tall grass?

Leopard sees hundreds of monkeys who all look alike in the grass.

5. Why is the monkey able to eat all the pepper?

Many monkeys pretend to be one monkey; after each mouthful they change places in the grass and go back to take a new mouthful.

6. Why do most of the animals fail in the contest?

They don’t learn from the experiences of those whose turns came first.

7. Why is the selection “Why Monkeys

Live in Trees” fiction?

The animal characters talk. It is a folk tale.

8. Why do scientists think it is strange

to see monkeys falling from trees in the rain forest?

Monkeys are skilled tree climbers.

9. What mystery do the scientists try to solve?

The mystery of why howling monkeys were suddenly falling from trees for no apparent reason.

10. Why does Glander suspect the monkeys have been poisoned?

After ruling out diseases, parasites, and starvation, he thought they might have been poisoned by eating leaves of poisonous plants.

11. Why is Glander fascinated that the monkeys eat madera negra leaves?

He is perplexed because they are highly poisonous.

12. What do the Glanders conclude about why some monkeys died, but others did not?

They conclude that monkeys generally sample leaves to determine if they are poisonous. At the time the monkeys died, however, their food choices were limited due to a severe drought. The monkeys that died probably ate too many of the toxic leaves.

13. What makes Glander think that howler monkeys may provide useful tips to scientists?

He believes that the monkeys’ choice of leaves might help scientists choose plants worth sampling for medicinal use.

14. Why is the selection “The Case of the Monkeys That Fell from the Trees” nonfiction?

Everything in it is true. It is an article that tells about real animals

and ideas.

15. What is fiction?

Writing that tells about imaginary people, animals, and events. It contains one or more made-up elements. Examples include short stories and folk tales.

16. What is nonfiction?

Writing that tells about real people, animals, places, events, and ideas. Everything in a work of nonfiction must be true. Examples include biographies and newspaper articles.

17. An image of one’s self, as seen in a mirror.

reflection

18. Cried out in a low, loud voice.

bellowed

19. Events; occurrences

incidents

20. Suddenly, without warning

abruptly

21. Serious pain or sadness

distress

22. In a stately manner, like a king or queen

regally