Round 1
1. Why was Brian traveling in a bushplane? (Chapter 1)
Brian was traveling in a bushplane because he was on his way to northern Canada to visit his father after his parents' recent divorce.
What new menace plagued Brian with the rising of the sun? How was the problem solved? (Chapter 4)
The menaces that plagued Brian were mosquitoes and black flies that bit his skin. The problem was eventually solved when the morning sun grew hotter, causing the insects to disperse into the woods.
What sight caused Brian to “do nothing, think nothing?” (Chapter 7)
The sight that caused Brian to "do nothing, think nothing" was encountering a large black bear eating raspberries in the patch right next to him. He was so paralyzed with fear that he froze completely until the bear simply walked away.
Why did Brian think that “he had never felt so rich somehow?” (Chapter 10)
Brian thought that "he had never felt so rich somehow" because he had successfully secured seventeen nutritious turtle eggs to eat. After nearly starving, having a reliable food supply made him feel wealthy and secure.
What is the secret to finding the foolbirds? (Chapter 15)
The secret to finding the foolbirds was learning to look for their distinct pear-shaped outlines rather than trying to spot their camouflage colors. By focusing on their shape in the brush, Brian could spot them before they flew away.
2. Why did Brian’s mother give him a hatchet? How did Brian feel about the gift? (Chapter 1)
She gave him a hatchet so he could use it while staying with his father in Canada. Brian felt a bit awkward and embarrassed about wearing the hatchet on his belt, but he wanted to make his mother happy.
Explain why Brian had both good and bad luck. (Chapter 4)
Brian was unlucky because he was stranded alone in the wilderness following a horrific plane crash that killed the pilot. However, he was lucky: he miraculously survived the impact and managed to land in a lake rather than smashing into trees.
What caused Brian to cry until he was all cried out? (Chapter 8)
Brian was caused to cry until he was all cried out after a porcupine entered his shelter during the night and jabbed dozens of painful quills into his leg when he threw his hatchet at it. The combination of intense physical pain, fear, and feeling utterly helpless brought him to tears.
How did Brian make his fishing spear? Why didn’t it work for him? (Chapter 12)
Brian made his fishing spear by whittling a long willow branch into a double-pronged point with his hatchet. It didn't work for him at first because he lacked a sharp enough barb and the fish were simply too fast for his strikes.
After the devastation of the tornado, Brian was able to show some humor. Cite the example (Chapter 16)
After the devastation of the tornado, Brian showed humor by looking at his wrecked camp, shaking his head, and jokingly saying, "Is that the best you can do?" His remark demonstrated his resilient spirit despite losing almost everything he had built.
3. How did Brian know a little about how to fly the plane? (Chapter 2)
Brian knew a little about flying the plane because the pilot let him take the controls earlier in the flight. He also remembered basic concepts about aircraft from books and television.
Brian suffered from a great thirst. Why was he reluctant to drink the water? (Chapter 5)
Although Brian was thirsty, he was reluctant to drink the water because he worried it might be contaminated or make him ill. Furthermore, the shoreline was murky and filled with debris from the crash.
What does Brian discover to be the most important rule of survival? (Chapter 8)
Brian discovers that the most important rule of survival is that self-pity accomplishes nothing. He realizes that crying or feeling sorry for himself will not fix his situation, so he must take action to help himself.
Explain “refraction.” How did understanding this phenomenon help Brian catch his first fish? (Chapter 13)
Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from air into water, making objects beneath the surface appear higher than they actually are. Understanding this phenomenon helped Brian catch his first fish because he learned to aim slightly below where the fish appeared to be in the water.
What did Brian discover while measuring the tornado’s damage? (Chapter 16)
While measuring the tornado’s damage, Brian discovered that the storm had shifted the submerged airplane in the lake, causing its tail section to stick out above the surface of the water.
4. What did Brian plan on doing in order to safely land the plane? (Chapter 2)
Brian planned to wait until the engine ran out of fuel, then glide the aircraft into a body of water. He thought that landing in a lake offered a much higher chance of survival than crashing into trees.
Why did Brian choose to set up his shelter close to the lake? (Chapter 6)
Brian chose to set up his shelter close to the lake so that he would remain near the crash site where rescue planes would likely look. Additionally, staying close to the shore ensured he had easy access to water and could easily keep an eye out for passing aircraft.
Brian finally realized a way to make fire. What is his idea and how did he get his idea? (Chapter 8)
Brian realized he could make fire by using his hatchet to strike sparks against the hard stone wall of his shelter. He got this idea after remembering how the blade had created a shower of bright sparks when it hit the rock during the porcupine attack.
According to Brian, what was the “great, single driving influence in nature?” (Chapter 14)
According to Brian, the "great, single driving influence in nature" was food. He realized that every animal in the forest spent virtually all of its energy either looking for food or trying to avoid becoming food for something else.
What important lesson did Brian quickly remember after dropping the hatchet? (Chapter 18)
After dropping the hatchet into the deep lake water, Brian quickly remembered the important lesson that self-pity is useless and won't solve anything. Instead of panicking or crying, he immediately focused on taking deep breaths so he could dive down to retrieve it.
5. Why did Brian want to find a lake directly in front of him? (Chapter 3)
Brian wanted to find a lake directly ahead because he knew he would be unable to steer the plane very far once the engine cut out completely. Having a lake straight ahead allowed him to glide directly down for a landing without having to execute difficult turns.
What happened after Brian ate so many berries? (Chapter 7)
After Brian ate so many berries, he became violently ill during the night with terrible stomach cramps and vomiting. The bitter berries caused him severe digestive distress until his body completely emptied itself.
How did Brian apply his past science lessons when he was making fire? (Chapter 9)
Brian applied his past science lessons by remembering that fire requires fuel and oxygen to burn. He shredded fine birch bark to serve as tinder and gently blew on the glowing sparks to feed them air until they caught flame.
30. What lessons did the skunk teach Brian? (Chapter 14)
The skunk taught Brian that he needed to properly protect his food supply and respect wild animals' territory. After being temporarily blinded and sprayed while trying to defend his turtle eggs, he realized he needed to construct an elevated, animal-proof storage area.
Some of the changes Brian underwent were permanent. Explain. (Epilogue)
Some of the changes Brian underwent were permanent because he developed a lifelong appreciation for food, nature, and deep observation that never left him. Furthermore, he became much quieter, more thoughtful, and retained a permanent sense of gratitude for the basic necessities of life.