Breathing Underwater

Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. Greece (Chapter 1)

2. The train (Chapter 3)

3. Wimpy (Chapter 3)

4. Dirk (Chapter 4)

5. Elsa (Chapter 5)

6. Beer (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. Nick believes that Caitlin is not physically abused because he only slapped her once. He claims that she intentionally provoked him. (Chapters 1-2)

2. When Nick details the Mustang and his father accuses him of having scratched the paint, he realizes that the relationship he has with his father is not normal. (Chapter 3)

3. Nick’s friends agree to protect Caitlin because Nick hit her. Nick feels his friends have taken Caitlin’s side. (Chapter 4)

Chapters 7-12

Reading Check

1. A pen (Chapter 8)

2. Football practice (Chapter 8)

3. Ray (Chapter 9)

4. The fictitious Desmond Rogers / dolphins (Chapter 10)

5. Saint (Chapter 11)

6. Leo (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. Nick is angry Caitlin did not step out of class to call him. He is also angry that she has made plans to go somewhere without him. (Chapter 7)

2. Nick is embarrassed because Caitlin’s necklace is cheap. He bullies her into taking it off and throws it out the window. (Chapter 9)

Chapters 13-18

Reading Check

1. A “fat loser” (Chapter 13)

2. A ring (Chapter 14)

3. The Sphynx sorority (Chapter 15)

4. American Poetry Test (Chapter 16)

5. Saint (Chapter 17)

6. The water (Chapter 18)

Short Answer

1. Nick did not vote for Caitlin as homecoming queen because he felt insecure about the attention she was getting. Caitlin credits Nick for making her popular despite her friendship with Elsa, who she believes is overweight. (Chapter 17)

2. Nick notices Leo’s controlling behavior but feels that he and Leo are similar. (Chapter 18)

3. He felt left out of the situation. He did not like that she demonstrated courage and independence. (Chapter 18)

Chapters 19-24

Reading Check

1. A ring (Chapter 19)

2. Nick (Chapter 20)

3. A picture of Tom (Chapter 21)

4. A solo at the winter concert (Chapter 22)

6. Mrs. Higgins (Chapter 23)

Short Answer

1. Mrs. Higgins compliments Nick’s character and tells him that making a mistake does not make him a bad person. She encourages Nick to submit his poem to the school’s literary journal. (Chapter 24)

2. Nick believes Tom will see him as weak if he reveals his father’s abuse. (Various chapters)

Chapters 25-31

Reading Check

1. Neysa (Chapter 26)

2. At the Winterfest carnival (Chapter 26)

3. Leo (Chapter 27)

4. Caitlin’s ring (Chapter 27)

5. Mario (Chapter 29)

Short Answer

1. Nick recognizes the same controlling behavior he used toward Caitlin in Leo’s relationship. He decides to end his friendship with Leo to alter the same pattern of behavior in himself. (Chapter 25)

2. Nick intentionally provokes his father, and when he begins to hit him, Nick tells him he will not accept his abuse any longer. (Chapter 30)

3. Caitlin reveals to Tom that Nick has been abused by his father. She also tells him the poem Nick wrote is about Tom. Tom apologizes to Nick because he did not understand what he was struggling with. (Chapter 31)