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

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. What type of tree is Wilbur’s home underneath?

2. Who leads Wilbur out of the enclosure?

3. Who is Wilbur’s first animal friend on the farm?

Short Answer

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

1. How does Fern initially demonstrate her strong commitment to her beliefs and ideals?

2. What happens to Wilbur during his first taste of freedom? Summarize the plot points and describe his reaction.

Paired Resource

“Production Cycle of Swine”

• This USDA article outlines the living conditions and slaughtering methods of pigs on farms, including information on the age they are typically slaughtered (usually around six months). (Teacher-appropriate; not student facing)
• This is a teacher-facing resource offering language and facts that might be selectively chosen and used to help clarify for students Wilbur’s main problem in the story and its connection to The Inevitable and Fleeting Nature of Life.

“Family Pigs Prefer Their Owner's Company As Dogs Do, but They Might Not Like Strangers”

• This brief scientific article looks at the bonds that pet pigs form with their human owners and how they are similar to the bonds between dogs and humans.