Chapter 1
What is the name of the camp where Stanley is sent?
Camp Green Lake.
What is the name of the protagonist in Holes?
Stanley Yelnats
What nickname does Stanley receive from the boys at Camp Green Lake?
Caveman
What is the reason Stanley's great-great grandfather was cursed?
He broke a promise to Madame Zeroni.
What does Stanley find while digging his hole one day?
A fossilised fish.
Describe the current state of the lake at Camp Green Lake.
The lake is dried up.
Name one of the three items Stanley was carrying with him in his rucksack, when he arrived at Camp Green Lake.
Toothbrush, toothpaste and a box of stationary.
What is the name of the counsellor who introduces Stanley to the other boys?
Mr. Pendanski.
What task did Elya Yelnats fail to complete that resulted in the curse?
He did not carry Madame Zeroni up to the top of the mountain and sing to her as he'd promised.
What does Mr. Pendanski tell Stanley about finding something interesting while digging his hole?
Mr. Pendanski says that if he finds anything interesting he should report it to one of the counsellors and he might get a day off.
Why is Camp Green Lake not a typical summer camp?
Because it's a juvenile detention centre.
How does Stanley feel about his family's history of bad luck?
He believes his family is cursed because of his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather."
List the nicknames of at least three other boys in Stanley's tent.
X-Ray, Armpit, Zero, Squid, Magnet, Zig-zag.
Describe the physical condition of Stanley's first hole.
The ground was dry and hard, making the hole very difficult to dig.
How do the other boys react when Stanley finds the fossil?
The other boys are not very impressed and don't think that the fossil will earn Stanley a day off.
What is the daily task assigned to the boys at Camp Green Lake?
To dig holes 5ft deep and 5ft wide.
Describe Stanley's physical appearance as related to us in Chapter 3 of the story.
Overweight.
What advice does Mr. Pendanski give Stanley about his situation at Camp Green Lake?
Make friends, work hard and build your character.
How does Stanley feel physically and emotionally, after digging his first hole?
Stanley feels physically and emotionally drained, but also proud of his achievement.
Why does Stanley report the find to Mr. Pendanski anyway?
Stanley still hopes to get a day off. That's why he reports the find to Mr. Pendanski.
Name three creatures mentioned in the first chapter.
Rattlesnakes. Scorpions. Yellow spotted lizards.
What ironic comment does Stanley make about Camp Green Lake?
Stanley thinks the name ironic because it's not green and there's no water.
Who does Stanley realise to be the unelected leader of the group?
X-Ray.
Explain the significance of the mountain and the song in Elya Yelnat's story.
The mountain represents a place of renewal and fulfillment of promises, and the song is part of the ritual that was supposed to lift Madame Zeroni’s curse. By not completing the task, Elya’s failure is believed to have brought bad luck to his descendants.
What is Mr. Pendanski's response when Stanley shows him the fossil?
Pendanski tells Stanley that the warden has no interest in fossils, indicating that it is not valuable enough to warrant a reward or a day off.