What a Character

Pranking Problems

Pickling Pizzazz

Cause & Effect

Digging Deeper

Q $100

Q $200

Q $300

Q $400

Q $500

Q $100 Q $100Q $100 Q $100

Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200

Q $300 Q $300 Q $300 Q $300

Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400

Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500

Final Question© Suzy Red, Lockhart, TX, 2014

Interactive

Game

The (Formerly) Anonymous PRANK CLUB of Fountain Point Middle School

$100 Question from What a Character

What is unique about Oliver’s background?

$100 Answer from What a Character

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Oliver is a foster kid who has moved around many times. Now, he lives with his “forever family.”

$200 Question from What a Character

Why does Ben choose Frank to be in the club?

$200 Answer from What a Character

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Ben thinks Frank is cool and private. He also knows a lot of older students, and he owns a computer. He thinks he would be a great secret agent.

$300 Question from What a Character

How does Bean feel about Sienna when she first meets her? Why?

$300 Answer from What a Character

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Bean does not like Sienna because she is jealous and likes being the only girl in the club.

$400 Question from What a Character

Describe how Sienna feels about her father. How can you tell she feels this way?

$400 Answer from What a Character

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Sienna obviously loves her father because she is excited when she gets to see him or talk to him. However, she is also frustrated and mad with him when he doesn’t keep his promises. She cries and gets upset when he doesn’t come to visit her.

$500 Question from What a Character

Why does Ben finally decide to tell Hector about the secret pranking club?

$500 Answer from What a Character

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Hector gets really angry that Ben won’t let him be in the pickling club, and he thinks that Ben doesn’t want to be friends with him anymore. Ben admits that he doesn’t trust Hector. When Hector storms off, Ben decides to tell him the truth.

$100 Question from Pranking Problems

What is the biggest problem with the pit ball prank?

$100 Answer from Pranking Problems

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The pit balls stink so bad, and everyone refers to Ms. Ruiz’s room as “The Pit of Stink.”

$200 Question from Pranking Problems

What is the main problem with the fog prank?

$200 Answer from Pranking Problems

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They didn’t buy nearly enough dry ice to make enough fog to cover the entire gym floor. This failure was very embarrassing for Ben.

$300 Question from Pranking Problems

Name 2 things that went wrong with the prank at the zoo.

$300 Answer from Pranking Problems

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• No one is scared; everyone laughs at them.

• Ben almost gets hit by a security guard in a golf cart.

• Ben and Bean almost get caught.

Possible Answers:

$400 Question from Pranking Problems

What “problem” occurred with the Saran Wrap prank?

How did they “solve” it?

$400 Answer from Pranking Problems

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The main problem with the Saran Wrap prank was that it didn’t work if the person didn’t wash their hands. When the club figured this out, they were able to tell who did and who didn’t wash their hands after using the restroom!

$500 Question from Pranking Problems

Why does the group disapprove of Sienna’s solo prank?

$500 Answer from Pranking Problems

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Possible answers:•Sienna’s prank was mean because it caused the entire Pioneer Fair to shut down. •It also ruined the group’s escabeche. •It made Ben get sick because of his fear of eating cockroaches. •She executed the prank without telling the other members.

$100 Question from Pickling Pizzazz

Where does Ben get the idea for a pickling club?

$100 Answer from Pickling Pizzazz

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Ben gets the idea of the pickling club from the secretary at the school. He notices the pickles on her sandwich and thinks that is the perfect club to fool adults.

$200 Question from Pickling Pizzazz

What happens to the group’s first batch of pickles?

$200 Answer from Pickling Pizzazz

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The pickles mysteriously disappear, possibly thrown out by the janitor.

$300 Question from Pickling Pizzazz

Why does Hector steal the club’s pickled eggs?

$300 Answer from Pickling Pizzazz

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He wants to be in the club, so he steals the eggs to convince the group to let him in.

$400 Question from Pickling Pizzazz

Why does Principal Lebonsky dislike Ben’s entry for the Pioneer Fair?

$400 Answer from Pickling Pizzazz

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Principal Lebonsky dislikes Ben’s entry because she doesn’t think the escabeche is truly authentic. She also wanted him to enter her pickled egg recipe.

$500 Question from Pickling Pizzazz

Name 3 ingredients involved with making escabeche.

$500 Answer from Pickling Pizzazz

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Ingredients for escabeche:

•Carrots•Onions•Jalapenos•Tomatillos•Pickling spice

•Vinegar•Oregano•Cumin•Cilantro•Garlic

$100 Question for Cause & Effect

Effect: Bean has to clean up the fountains in the hallway.

Name the cause.

$100 Answer for Cause & Effect

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Cause: The P.T.A. puts dishwashing detergent in the fountains, which makes them bubble over.

$200 Question for Cause & Effect

Cause: Ben discovers Sienna’s birthday is her first day of school.

What is the effect?

$200 Answer for Cause & Effect

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Effect: Ben convinces the P.T.A. to throw her a surprise birthday party at school.

$300 Question for Cause & Effect

Effect: Ben is afraid of cockroaches.

What is the cause?

$300 Answer for Cause & Effect

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Cause: Ben accidentally ate a cockroach one time at the restaurant.

$400 Question for Cause & Effect

Cause: Principal Lebonsky cancels all extracurricular activities.

What is the effect?

$400 Answer for Cause & Effect

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Effect: The entire school holds a sit-in to protest.

$500 Question for Cause & Effect

Effect: Ben gets sick at the Pioneer Fair.

What is the cause?

$500 Answer for Cause & Effect

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Cause: Sienna releases thousands of crickets at the Pioneer Fair, and Ben is afraid he may have eaten one.

$100 Question from Digging Deeper

Describe Hector’s relationship with his grandmother. Is this a positive relationship? Explain.

$100 Answer from Digging Deeper

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Hector’s grandmother controls everything he does – even what he eats. She uses him to get information about the students at the school. It is not a very positive relationship, from what we can see. However, Hector does stand up to her at the end when he falsely takes credit for the pranking.

$200 Question from Digging Deeper

Why do you think Hector lied about Ben being involved in the “Graffiti Incident?”

$200 Answer from Digging Deeper

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Hector was so tired of his Grandmother controlling him and pressing him for information. He probably lied to her about the “Graffiti Incident” to put an end to her questioning.

$300 Question from Digging Deeper

Why is “P.T.A.” the perfect name for the club?

$300 Answer from Digging Deeper

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Since the real P.T.A. gave them money to start their fake pickling club, it is ironic that they use their initials to pull the pranks at school. The real P.T.A. is supposed to HELP the school, so it is funny that the pranking group decides to use the same name.

$400 Question from Digging Deeper

Diego is a minor character who has a major influence. Why is Diego so important to the story?

$400 Answer from Digging Deeper

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Diego gives Ben advice regularly. He is a positive influence for Ben because he never shows his anger. He is the one who helps the club make the escabeche, and he brings them all together for the right cause.

$500 Question from Digging Deeper

The P.T.A.’s pranks are for fun, but sometimes they hurt people or cause unnecessary problems. Name at least 3 people who were negatively affected by one of their pranks. Explain.

$500 Answer from Digging Deeper

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Possible Answers:•Frank, the school janitor, has to clean up after all of their messy pranks (i.e. bubbles, confetti, pit balls, etc.).•Principal Lebonsky (and the faculty and staff) have to find ways to keep the pranks from being too distracting in school.•The Pioneer Fair participants spent time on their many projects, and then the whole thing was canceled because of a prank.•All extra-curricular activities were canceled, which affected almost every student (including the P.T.A.).•The Zoo Guy wrecked his golf cart because of a prank.

Final Question

What popular idiom correctly relates to this novel? Explain.

Hint: Think about the title!

The (Formerly) Anonymous PRANK CLUB of Fountain Point Middle School

Final AnswerThe (Formerly) Anonymous PRANK CLUB of Fountain Point Middle School

The best idiom to describe this book would be “in a pickle.” Not only does the group actually make pickles, but they are constantly in uncertain situations (i.e. in a pickle.) Each prank they pull causes more complications, and that’s exactly what the idiom means. When you are “in a pickle,” you are in a situation that has gotten a little too complicated!