History
What is Brian's alarm clock each morning?
birds
Why does Brian have to hunt?
to have food/protein to live
What shape is the lake that Brian crashed by?
L-shaped
What differences does Brian notice about summer storms and fall storms?
Summer storms are violent thunderstorms with heavy rain. Fall storms are gray and come more gently, but are cold.
What is the most important reason for making a stronger weapon?
to have more protection
How is Brian like a "two-legged wolf" in the book?
Like the wolf, he must and hunt and kill prey in order to survive
Where does Brian get the idea for using arrowheads?
from his memory of Pintner's Sporting Goods store
At the beginning of the book, how long had Brian been in the woods?
89 days
What does winter "smell" like?
crisp, clean, cook; burning wood
How could you apply Brian's thinking about shooting the arrow into the dirt hummock to a task that you must do well? This thinking could be applied to sports, art, etc.
Answers will be different- teacher/class decides
Who and what are Brian's worst enemies?
himself and winter
Why does Brian bury the coals from the fire in the dirt?
It causes them to burn slower and last longer
How does Brian show the wolves his territory?
by urinating on a stump near camp
Describe what the author means by "fall came on with a softness".
The change between summer and fall is gradual. The temperatures begin to decline, leaves on the trees change color, and cold fronts begin to sweep farther southward.
Discuss Brian's logic about shooting at the porcupine. Do you think Brian was correct in assuming that he couldn't bring down a larger animal because he couldn't take a porcupine? Explain your answer.
The porcupine's spines protect it from predators. The spines also shield it against Brian's arrow. Brian should not have assumed that he couldn't take larger prey based upon that one instance.
What Native American technique does Brian use to survive?
making and using bows and arrows
How does finding the survival pack and freeze-dried food affect Brian's mental attitude?
Brian loses sight of his situation and begins thinking about home, good food, and friends again instead of concentrating on staying alive.
What does Brian learn about territory from the animals in the woods?
The birds sing to warn other birds to stay out of their territory. The wolves leave their mark all around their territory.
Why does the author consider winter the most dangerous thing Brian has faced since the plane crash?
Finding food and staying warm are more difficult in the winter. If not totally protected from the cold, a person can die.
Based upon the ratios of shooting rabbits and foolbirds, which are more difficult to bring down? Why?
Foolbirds are more difficult to hit because they fly.
How is Brian like ancient Native Americans at the end of Chapter Three?
He dubs the lucky arrow the medicine arrow, and he paints the scene of the kill on the wall of his shelter.
Why is it important for Brian to boil his meal as opposed to cooking the meat over an open flame?
Cooking over an open flame causes all of the vitamins and nutrients to drip into the fire. By boiling the meat, Brian can drink the broth and still get the benefit of the vitamins.
Why do you think the bear chooses to attack Brian's camp during the two-week warm spell?
Bears hibernate during the winter and spend a large amount of time "fattening up" beforehand. The bear smells Brian's food and is compelled to eat it.
Why do you think the hunting is better during the two weeks of warmer weather before the first cold weather comes?
Animals prepare for winter by gathering and eating food. They must come out of their homes to do this.
What clues do we get about Brian's character and his feelings about the environment on page 7, the second full paragraph?
Brian must appreciate nature because he notes the beauty of the sunrise over the lake.