The Railway Children — Chapter 1 Comprehension Quiz

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What were the names of the three children in the story?
A) Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis
B) Ruth, Peter, and Phyllis
C) Roberta, James, and Phyllis
D) Roberta, Peter, and Ruth

2. What did Peter want to be when he grew up?
A) A doctor
B) An Engineer
C) A soldier
D) A teacher

3. What present did Peter get for his tenth birthday that later broke?
A) A toy train set
B) A model engine
C) A rocking-horse
D) A bicycle

4. What was the name of the family's dog?
A) Rex
B) Spot
C) James
D) Bobbie

5. What food did Peter ask for when he was sick in bed?
A) Ice cream
B) A pigeon-pie
C) Chocolate cake
D) Soup

6. Who was especially good at fixing things, like the rocking-horse and the doll's cradle?
A) Mother
B) Ruth
C) Father
D) Peter

7. What happened after the two gentlemen visited and talked to Father in the Library?
A) Father took the children to the country
B) Father was called away on business and left in a cab
C) Father fixed Peter's engine right away
D) The family moved to a new house

8. How did Mother look after the gentlemen left?
A) Happy and excited
B) Sleepy and bored
C) Pale, with big shining eyes, as if very upset
D) Angry at the children

Short Answer Questions

9. Why did Peter feel he couldn't tell his father about the broken engine right away, and what did he do instead?

10. How did Roberta know that her mother had been crying, even though Mother tried to hide it? What did Roberta decide to do about it?

11. What mysterious change happens at the end of this chapter? Describe what the children noticed was different in their family's life.

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Answer Key

1. A) Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis
2. B) An Engineer
3. B) A model engine
4. C) James
5. B) A pigeon-pie
6. C) Father
7. B) Father was called away on business and left in a cab
8. C) Pale, with big shining eyes, as if very upset

1. Peter waited until after Father's dinner and after-dinner cigar to tell him about the broken engine because Mother suggested this show of patience and unselfishness, even though Peter was anxious about it the whole time.

1. Roberta heard her mother's breath catching (as if crying) when Mother came to kiss the children goodnight. Roberta decided to pretend to be asleep and not let Mother know that she knew, because if Mother didn't want them to know she'd been crying, Roberta felt they shouldn't let on that they knew.

1. Two mysterious gentlemen visited Father, there was a serious conversation in the Library, and then Father was suddenly called away "on business" in a cab. Mother came back looking pale and upset, and the happy, comfortable life the children knew was about to change completely.