The Trumpet of the Swan

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. When does Sam want to return to the camp?

2. What is the name of baby swans, according to Sam?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the problem Sam faces when he isn’t camping? What does it reveal about Sam’s feelings about camping?

2. What is the reaction of the swans when they first see Sam, and how does he build trust between himself and the swans?

Paired Resource

“How Simple Ideas Lead to Scientific Discoveries”

• This 7-minute video explores the purpose of posing questions to discover scientific concepts.
• Information in the video might serve as a foundation for discussing Sam’s methods of observation and learning in these chapters, which connect to the theme of The Journey to Adulthood.
• How have simple ideas been used to make scientific discoveries? How might Sam’s method of asking questions cause him to draw scientific conclusions?

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. What does the fifth cygnet pull on to communicate with Sam?

2. Where do the swans migrate for the winter?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What does the cob tend to think about based on his interactions with the pen?

2. What challenges might Louis face as he grows? What abilities does Louis realize he has?

Paired Resource

“Where Do Birds Go in Winter?”

• This resource explains migration habits of some birds.
• Shared themes include The Journey to Adulthood and Social Systems.
• Where do birds go in the winter? How are birds able to navigate the globe? Where do the swans go in the winter? What skills might the swans possess to navigate their journey?

“Migration”

• This article explores migration and its purpose in animals.
• Shared themes include The Journey to Adulthood and Social Systems.
• What is the purpose of migration in different species? What is likely the purpose of migration for the swan family?

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. To whom does Louis reach out for help regarding his disability?

2. Where does the cob fly to help Louis?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the difference between the teacher’s method of resolving mathematical questions and Sam’s classmates’ methods? Which do you believe to be the most practical?

2. What problems arise when Louis returns to the lake having learned to read and write?

3. What is the cob’s moral dilemma? How does he justify his actions?

Paired Resource

“How Do Animals Communicate?”

• This 9-minute video explores the ways in which animals communicate with one another.
• This information offers a chance to further discuss the themes of Social Systems and The Nature of Friendship.
• What are a few ways animals can communicate? Why might it be difficult for humans to identify animal communication? Is Mrs. Hammerbotham’s assertion that only humans need to communicate correct? What kinds of obstacles might animals like Louis need to overcome?

Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. Where does Louis agree to work for the summer?

2. What is another name for the camp according to Mr. Brickle?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Louis concerned about the purchase of his trumpet? What does this concern illustrate about Sam’s personality?

2. How do people have an impact on the environment of the skunk? What does this scene reveal about Sam’s attitude toward nature? What warning might the novel offer to people?

Paired Resource

Waste Pollution

• This article explores the impact of human waste on animals.
• Shared themes include Social Systems.
• What are some of the problems waste pollution can cause for animals? How is the skunk in The Trumpet of the Swan a victim of waste pollution?

Chapters 13-15

Reading Check

1. How much does Mr. Brickle pay Louis for his work at Camp Kookooskoos?

2. Where is Louis’s next job located?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Louis’s experience at Camp Kookooskoos help him to develop his musical abilities intentionally and unintentionally?

2. How does Louis use his skills to convince the hotel clerk to permit his stay? What might his skills indicate about his ability to communicate?

Chapters 16-18

Reading Check

1. Where does Louis go after leaving Boston?

2. Which swan does Louis encounter the week before Christmas?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What change overcomes Louis regarding his music while playing in Philadelphia? What are the possible reasons for this change?

2. How is Louis able to secure Serena’s and his freedom? Why is freedom important to Louis?

Chapters 19-21

Reading Check

1. Where do Louis and Serena fly to meet Louis’s family members?

2. Where does the storekeeper donate the additional funds from Louis’s moneybag?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What does Sam enjoy most about the zoo? How does it compare to some of his previous interests in the novel?

2. What reasons might Louis have for giving up writing? Use evidence to support your reasoning.

Recommended Next Reads

The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars

• This novel is about a 14-year-old girl whose brother disappears soon after a flock of swans relocates to a nearby lake.
• Shared themes include The Journey to Adulthood and Social Systems.
• Shared topics include coming-of-age, disabilities, and family.
• The Summer of the Swans on SuperSummary

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

• This novel is about a young cricket who is accidentally swept away from the country to New York City where he develops unlikely friendships.
• Shared themes include The Journey to Adulthood, Social Systems, and The Nature of Friendship.
• Shared topics include problem-solving, music, and anthropomorphism.
• The Cricket in Times Square on SuperSummary