Multiple Choice

1. B (Various chapters)

2. D (Various chapters)

3. C (Various chapters)

4. A (Various chapters)

5. B (Various chapters)

6. B (Various chapters)

7. D (Chapter 19)

8. A (Various chapters)

9. B (Various chapters)

10. D (Various chapters)

11. A (Various chapters)

Long Answer

1. Mateo references pop culture figures to identify who Mr. Kermit is. These figures serve as inspiration for Mateo and the others in the novel. For example, Mateo compares Mr. Kermit to the Grinch, which inspires the class to steal the vuvuzelas, an event that mirrors the Grinch’s actions when he attempts to steal Christmas. Mateo later inspires his classmates with a reference to the flying car in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. This car inspires the class to rebuild Mr. Kermit’s car for the science fair. (Various chapters)

2. At the beginning of the novel, none of the characters are excited to be at school and especially not in Room 117. Each of them is impacted by the negative perception of the Unteachables—this exemplifies the concept of a bucket-dipper. As the year progresses, however, the support of Mr. Kermit—though it may have been for selfish reasons at first—causes the students to support Mr. Kermit in return. Because the students and Mr. Kermit continue to fill one another’s buckets, they begin to enjoy school.