Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. How did Jonathan Frisby know the rats?

A) He met them on the farm.

B) He met them in the marketplace.

C) He met them at the Boniface Estate.

D) He met them at the NIMH laboratory.

2. What did the owl mean in saying, “The rats on Mr. Fitzgibbon’s farm have—things—ways—you know nothing about. They are not like the rest of us”? (Chapter 8)

A) He is foreshadowing the rats’ super intelligence.

B) He is foreshadowing the rats’ Plan.

C) He is foreshadowing the rats’ hatred for other species.

D) He is foreshadowing the rats’ ability to use telepathy.

3. Which is the correct sequence of events?

A) Mrs. Frisby meets the owl; Mrs. Frisby is captured by Billy; Mrs. Frisby meets the rats.

B) Mrs. Frisby meets the owl; Mrs. Frisby meets the rats; Mrs. Frisby is captured by Billy.

C) Mrs. Frisby meets the rats; Mrs. Frisby meets the owl; Mrs. Frisby is captured by Billy.

D) Mrs. Frisby meets the rats; Mrs. Frisby is captured by Billy; Mrs. Frisby meets the owl.

4. Who is the leader of the rats?

A) Brutus

B) Justin

C) Jenner

D) Nicodemus

5. How did Justin escape the cage at the lab?

A) He read the instructions to open the latch.

B) He shook the cage back and forth until it fell.

C) He snuck out when his cage was accidentally left open.

D) He asked Nicodemus for help.

6. Why was the maze so cruel in Nicodemus’s opinion? (Choose the best answer)

A) The rats would be shocked when they made a wrong turn.

B) The illusion of freedom kept them running it over and over.

C) The illusion of being fed kept them running it over and over.

D) The rats would be prodded when they made a wrong turn.

7. What was the difference in views between Nicodemus and Jenner?

A) Nicodemus wanted to continue stealing, but Jenner wanted to stop.

B) Nicodemus wanted to help Mrs. Frisby, but Jenner did not.

C) Nicodemus wanted to stop stealing, but Jenner wanted to continue.

D) Nicodemus did not want to help Mrs. Frisby, but Jenner did.

8. What does NIMH stand for?

A) National Institute of Medical History

B) National Institute of Mouse Health

C) National Institute of Medical Health

D) National Institute of Mental Health

9. Why did the rats become tired of their life of luxury?

A) They became bored and felt useless.

B) Stealing became more and more difficult.

C) Keeping up the lifestyle took up all their time.

D) The life of luxury prevented them from learning.

10. How does Mr. Ages break his leg?

A) He falls off Jeremy’s back.

B) He is attacked by Dragon.

C) He is crushed by the cinder block.

D) He falls off the roof of the farmhouse.

11. Which adjective best describes Justin?

A) Thoughtful

B) Wise

C) Brave

D) Careful

12. What is the Rat Race?

A) An endless, pointless pursuit

B) A long, tiresome pursuit

C) A meaningful pursuit

D) A brief, simple pursuit

13. How do the rats find out that NIMH is coming to the farm?

A) Brutus overhears Mr. Fitzgibbon talking.

B) Mrs. Frisby overhears Mr. Fitzgibbon talking.

C)  Mr. Ages overhears Mr. Fitzgibbon talking.

D) Justin overhears Mr. Fitzgibbon talking.

14. What do the rats want to do in Thorn Valley? (Choose the best answer)

A) Grow their own food

B) Create their own electricity sources

C) Expand their colony

D) Set up an advanced stealing operation

15. What is Mrs. Frisby’s main priority?

A) Helping the rats escape

B) Keeping herself and Mr. Ages safe

C) Moving her home and children in time

D) Learning as much as she can about NIMH

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How is the rats’ enhanced intelligence reflected in Nicodemus’s plan for his future in comparison to the owl’s plan for his future?

2. Why do the scientists choose to exterminate the rats instead of recapturing them and continuing their experiment?

3. Why is Jonathan Frisby revered by the rats, and how does this help Mrs. Frisby save her family?