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  1. English
  2. Year 8
  3. Reading
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Autobiographical Writing: Roald Dahl's 'Boy' 2

In this series of worksheets, students will be guided in their reading of Roald Dahl's autobiography 'Boy'. Students need a copy of the text.

'Autobiographical Writing: Roald Dahl's 'Boy' 2' worksheet

Key stage:  KS 3

Curriculum topic:   Reading

Curriculum subtopic:   Read a Wide Range of Texts

Difficulty level:  

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Worksheet Overview

QUESTION 1 of 10

This worksheet is part of a series based on Roald Dahl's autobiography Boy. The worksheet is based on the chapter called 'The bicycle and the sweet-shop'. You must read this chapter before attempting the questions. 

 

POLPERRO, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Jars of sweets displayed in a traditional sweet shop window, August 26, 2013 in Polperro, Cornwall, England. - stock photo

Roald Dahl's main memory of Llanduff Cathedral School was the sweet shop he and his friends used to visit on their way home. What were Roald Dahl's favourite sweets?

bonbons and glacier mints

acid drops and pear drops

sherbet suckers and liquorice bootlaces

What did Thwaites say that the liquorice bootlaces were made from?

Stack of liquorice reels isolated on white - stock photo

rat blood

bat blood

cat blood

Thwaites tells the boys the story his father told him about how the bootlaces are made. Reread the section in the chapter and then put the stages in the correct order below.

Column A

Column B

step 1
The men shovel the rat mash onto the concrete floo...
step 2
A steam roller flattens the mash which is left to ...
step 3
A cruncher is lowered into the stew to crunch up t...
step 4
The black pancake is cut into strips to make bootl...
step 5
The rats are boiled in a steel cauldron to make a ...

Thwaites' father finished his story by giving a warning to the boys. What did he say would happen if they ate too many liquorice bootlaces?

Their teeth would turn black.

They would turn into rats.

They would go floppy like liquorice.

Why do you think Thwaites' father told the boys the story?

to stop them from eating too many sweets

to entertain them

to make them scared of rats

Roald Dahl tries to make the sweet shop more vivid for the reader by using the five senses to describe the sweets. 

Match the description of the sweets below with the sense that is being used to describe them.

Column A

Column B

The sherbet fizzed.
touch
The gobstoppers were hard round balls.
taste
The gobstoppers changed colour.
sound
The pear-drops smelled of nail varnish.
smell
The sherbet suckers were delicious.
sight

Thwaites' father tells the boys another story about Tonsil Tickler sweets that the boys thought contained anaesthetic. What was his explanation as to why sweet shops sold them to children?

to soothe their sore throats

to keep them quiet

to help clean their teeth

What was the owner of the sweet shop called?

Mrs Cratchet

Mrs Batchet

Mrs Pratchet

Roald Dahl describes how the boys detested Mrs Pratchet and he creates an image of a very unpleasant woman. 

Carefully read the description of her and select the three correct descriptions of her below.

has dirty clothes

has a moustache

is round and plump

has dirty black hands

has a mouth like a sour lemon

The chapter ends with a cliff-hanger to keep the reader in suspense. What do the boys discover?

a dead rat

a dead mouse

a dead toad

  • ANSWERS
  • Question 1

Roald Dahl's main memory of Llanduff Cathedral School was the sweet shop he and his friends used to visit on their way home. What were Roald Dahl's favourite sweets?

CORRECT ANSWER
sherbet suckers and liquorice bootlaces
EDDIE SAYS
Roald Dahl's favourite sweets were sherbet suckers and liquorice bootlaces.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 2

What did Thwaites say that the liquorice bootlaces were made from?

Stack of liquorice reels isolated on white - stock photo

CORRECT ANSWER
rat blood
EDDIE SAYS
Thwaites claimed the liquorice bootlaces were made from rat blood!
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 3

Thwaites tells the boys the story his father told him about how the bootlaces are made. Reread the section in the chapter and then put the stages in the correct order below.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A

Column B

step 1
The rats are boiled in a steel ca...
step 2
A cruncher is lowered into the st...
step 3
The men shovel the rat mash onto ...
step 4
A steam roller flattens the mash ...
step 5
The black pancake is cut into str...
EDDIE SAYS
step 1 = The rats are boiled in a steel cauldron to make a stew.
step 2 = A cruncher is lowered into the stew to crunch up the rat bones.
step 3 = The men shovel the rat mash onto the concrete floor.
step 4 = A steam roller flattens the mash which is left to cool.
step 5 = The black pancake is cut into strips to make bootlaces.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 4

Thwaites' father finished his story by giving a warning to the boys. What did he say would happen if they ate too many liquorice bootlaces?

CORRECT ANSWER
They would turn into rats.
EDDIE SAYS
Thwaites' father warned that if they ate too much liquorice they would turn into rats.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 5

Why do you think Thwaites' father told the boys the story?

CORRECT ANSWER
to stop them from eating too many sweets
EDDIE SAYS
Thwaites' father told the boys the story to stop them from eating too many sweets.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 6

Roald Dahl tries to make the sweet shop more vivid for the reader by using the five senses to describe the sweets. 

Match the description of the sweets below with the sense that is being used to describe them.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A

Column B

The sherbet fizzed.
sound
The gobstoppers were hard round b...
touch
The gobstoppers changed colour.
sight
The pear-drops smelled of nail va...
smell
The sherbet suckers were deliciou...
taste
EDDIE SAYS
The sherbet fizzed. = sound
The gobstoppers were hard round balls. = touch
The gobstoppers changed colour. = sight
The pear-drops smelled of nail varnish. = smell
The sherbet suckers were delicious. = taste
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 7

Thwaites' father tells the boys another story about Tonsil Tickler sweets that the boys thought contained anaesthetic. What was his explanation as to why sweet shops sold them to children?

CORRECT ANSWER
to keep them quiet
EDDIE SAYS
Thwaites' father suggests that sweet shops sell Tonsil Ticklers to keep children quiet!
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 8

What was the owner of the sweet shop called?

CORRECT ANSWER
Mrs Pratchet
EDDIE SAYS
The owner of the sweet shop was called Mrs Pratchet.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 9

Roald Dahl describes how the boys detested Mrs Pratchet and he creates an image of a very unpleasant woman. 

Carefully read the description of her and select the three correct descriptions of her below.

CORRECT ANSWER
has dirty clothes
has a moustache
has dirty black hands
EDDIE SAYS
Mrs Pratchet has a moustache, wore dirty clothes and has dirty black hands.
  • ANSWERS
  • Question 10

The chapter ends with a cliff-hanger to keep the reader in suspense. What do the boys discover?

CORRECT ANSWER
a dead mouse
EDDIE SAYS
The boys discover a dead mouse which ends the chapter on a cliff-hanger.
---- OR ----

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