Comprehension Questions Ch. 1-4
Chapter 1-4
CHAPTER 1
1. Who is the narrator of The Outsiders?
Ponyboy is a fourteen year old kid. Ponyboy's parents died in a car accident.
2. What two groups of teenagers does Ponyboy describe? Compare the two groups.
Socs and the Greasers. Socs are the socials who are from the middle class and have more money. They are the west side rich kids. They drive two kinds of cars, corveirrs and mustangs. The Greasers are poor kids who are low lives. They do not live on the nice part of town, they come from difficult homes.
3. Why did the Socs beat up Ponyboy?
Ponyboy is walking home alone from the movie because he is a Greaser and he is alone. He is also one of the youngest ones of the group.
4. Why did Ponyboy have a hard time with his oldest brother?
Darry expects him to have good grades and keep them and to also play sports. Whatever Darry says goes. He has high expectations for him. He wants more from him because he is a smart kid. He wants his brother to have more than him because does roofing.
5. How are Ponyboy and his friends like you? Different than you?
Steve is 17 and works in the gas station with Soda. His thing is cars, he is amazing with cars. He is Soda's best friend and does not like Ponyboy.
Two-Bit Matthews-his real name is Keith, he is 18 and is still in high school, a junior in high school. He can never be quiet, he always has something to say.
Dallas Winston "Dally"-he is from New York. He is the toughest of the gang and wild. He has a reputation with the police as far as crimes.
Johnny is the youngest and is everyone's kid-brother, he is everyone's pet.
Sodapop is Ponyboy's older brother who is seventeen and works at the gas station. He protects his brother. He is also the most handsome of the group.
6. Why do you think the author uses non-standard English?
He wants us to relate to Ponyboy and in the gang. He wants you to be in Ponyboy's frame of mind.
7. “Greaser” is first used in the first paragraph on page one. How far must you read before you have a good idea of who or what a greaser is? (Reading to the end of a sentence, paragraph, page, or further is one strategy to use when you find a word you don’t know.)
The Greasers are poor kids who are low lives. They do not live on the nice part of town, they come from difficult homes.
CHAPTER 2
1. Where do the Socs and Greasers hang out? What do they do for fun?
They go to the drive ins and hang out at the drive ins. They see the doubles. It's called the nightly double drive in movie.
2. How do the Greasers learn more about the Socs?
By talking to Cherry and Marsha they learn about what the Socs do. Their gang is not as different as the Greasers.
3. What kind of rules do gang members follow in fights?
It is a fair fight if it is man to man, using their fists. It is a rough fight if they take about any weapons. It is also a fair fight if it is one on one, the wrongdoer and the person who objects it.
4. How could Cherry be a problem for Dally?
She might get into trouble with the Socs. The Socs could beat them up. He could go to jail and the cops again.
5. Why do you think Johnny spoke up to Dally?
He likes the girls. Part of it is also that the girls haven't done anything wrong. He is kinda putting Dally in his place.
6. Why didn’t Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally pay to get into the drive-in movie?
Dally refuses to obey the law. Dally is a rebel and wants to disobey the laws.
7. What is Cherry’s real name? Why is she called Cherry?
Her name is Sherri. She is called Cherry because of her hair, it is red.
8. What did Cherry do when Dally brought her a Coke?
She throws it in his face. She does this because he does things to get attention and disrupts her.
9. Give three reasons why Cherry and Marcia are not scared of Johnny and Ponyboy even though, like Dally, they are Greasers.
They are kind and have a good attitude.
They are protective and stick up for the girls.
She says that they look young and clean and innocent.
10. What are two rules Greasers have for themselves?
1. Stick together
2. Don't get caught
11. How did Johnny get beaten up?
He was searching for the football so he can practice, and a mustang pulls up with four Socs and attack him and beat him.
12. What did Cherry mean when she said, “Things are rough all over”?
Everyone has problems regardless of who you are and where you come from.
CHAPTER 3
Chapter 3:
1. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry become good friends?
They are polite with each other. They can easily talk to each other with no struggle.
2. Do the characters in this book seam “real”? Why or why not? How does try to make them believable?
It is believable because some kids have the same situations as people in real life do. Some kids are abused and abandoned. Some have no parents, drunk parents, or one parent. They make them believable.
3. Why did Cherry and Marcia leave their dates?
She is trying to prevent a fight between the Socs and Greasers. She also does not want her parents to be angry if they find out who they are hanging with.
4. Why do you think Darry hit Ponyboy?
Because Ponyboy was late coming home. What really angers him was when Ponyboy defended Soda and picking sides.
5. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry told each other things they had never told anyone else before?
The two trust each other. They are going through the same struggles and issues which means that they can relate to each other.
6. Do you agree with Johnny that having friends care for you is not the same as having your own folks care about you? Why or why not?
There is something with being with a family. There is this unbreakable bond, they will always be there until the end. But with friends, they could sometimes come and go.
7. What did Cherry say was the main difference between the Socs and the Greasers?
The Socs are more smarter. Then the Greasers are more emotional and have different sets of values. They are not sophisticated.
8. What was the name of Sodapop’s horse? What happened to Soda’s horse?
Mickey Mouse. He was taken away from Soda because he was sold.
9. Why did Ponyboy think that maybe his world and Cherry’s weren’t so different?
They watch the same sunset. And still they have the same problems and go through the same issues.
10. Why did Johnny stare at the rings on the Soc’s hand?
That Soc was the one who beat up Johnny and gave him the scare on his face.
11. Why did Cherry and Marcia let their drunken boyfriends drive them home?
They are avoiding a fight between the Socs and the Greasers and they do not want to get in trouble.
12. What was the last thing Cherry says to Ponyboy before she leaves in the car?
She says that she could fall in love with Dally.
13. How long has it been since Ponyboy’s parents were killed?
8 months
14. Why was Ponyboy late getting home?
Because he fell asleep in the vacant lot with Johnny.
Chapter 4:
1. Who (Greasers or Socs) do you think was wrong in this situation in this chapter?
The greasers were wrong about stabbing the boy. The Socs were wrong because they entered a different territory.
2. If you had been one of the Socs how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? If you had been one of the Greasers, how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? What causes the difference?
I would be sad then angry. They would be scared of the consequences.
3. Why did Ponyboy turn to Dally for help?
Dally could do anything. He can give them money. He is an older and wiser person, they're gonna help them get out of it.
4. What does Bob say a Greaser is?
A man with long hair. White trash with long hair.
5. What do the Socs do to Ponyboy?
They shoved his face into a fountain and almost drowned.
6. What does Ponyboy see when he recovers consciousness?
He saw Bob lying there lifeless.
7. Why did Johnny attack Bob?
He did it to stop him from drowning Ponyboy.
8. Where do Johnny and Ponyboy go when the leave the park?
They go to find Dally and he is at Bucks house.
9. What does Dally give Johnny and Ponyboy?
He gives a gun and some money. He also gives him a new dry shirt.
10. Where does Dally tell them to go?
They go to the church.
11. How do they get there?
They ask the farmer.
12. How do they find the church?
The farmer gave them directions to find the church. It was a sun burned farmer.
1. Who is the narrator of The Outsiders?
Ponyboy is a fourteen year old kid. Ponyboy's parents died in a car accident.
2. What two groups of teenagers does Ponyboy describe? Compare the two groups.
Socs and the Greasers. Socs are the socials who are from the middle class and have more money. They are the west side rich kids. They drive two kinds of cars, corveirrs and mustangs. The Greasers are poor kids who are low lives. They do not live on the nice part of town, they come from difficult homes.
3. Why did the Socs beat up Ponyboy?
Ponyboy is walking home alone from the movie because he is a Greaser and he is alone. He is also one of the youngest ones of the group.
4. Why did Ponyboy have a hard time with his oldest brother?
Darry expects him to have good grades and keep them and to also play sports. Whatever Darry says goes. He has high expectations for him. He wants more from him because he is a smart kid. He wants his brother to have more than him because does roofing.
5. How are Ponyboy and his friends like you? Different than you?
Steve is 17 and works in the gas station with Soda. His thing is cars, he is amazing with cars. He is Soda's best friend and does not like Ponyboy.
Two-Bit Matthews-his real name is Keith, he is 18 and is still in high school, a junior in high school. He can never be quiet, he always has something to say.
Dallas Winston "Dally"-he is from New York. He is the toughest of the gang and wild. He has a reputation with the police as far as crimes.
Johnny is the youngest and is everyone's kid-brother, he is everyone's pet.
Sodapop is Ponyboy's older brother who is seventeen and works at the gas station. He protects his brother. He is also the most handsome of the group.
6. Why do you think the author uses non-standard English?
He wants us to relate to Ponyboy and in the gang. He wants you to be in Ponyboy's frame of mind.
7. “Greaser” is first used in the first paragraph on page one. How far must you read before you have a good idea of who or what a greaser is? (Reading to the end of a sentence, paragraph, page, or further is one strategy to use when you find a word you don’t know.)
The Greasers are poor kids who are low lives. They do not live on the nice part of town, they come from difficult homes.
CHAPTER 2
1. Where do the Socs and Greasers hang out? What do they do for fun?
They go to the drive ins and hang out at the drive ins. They see the doubles. It's called the nightly double drive in movie.
2. How do the Greasers learn more about the Socs?
By talking to Cherry and Marsha they learn about what the Socs do. Their gang is not as different as the Greasers.
3. What kind of rules do gang members follow in fights?
It is a fair fight if it is man to man, using their fists. It is a rough fight if they take about any weapons. It is also a fair fight if it is one on one, the wrongdoer and the person who objects it.
4. How could Cherry be a problem for Dally?
She might get into trouble with the Socs. The Socs could beat them up. He could go to jail and the cops again.
5. Why do you think Johnny spoke up to Dally?
He likes the girls. Part of it is also that the girls haven't done anything wrong. He is kinda putting Dally in his place.
6. Why didn’t Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally pay to get into the drive-in movie?
Dally refuses to obey the law. Dally is a rebel and wants to disobey the laws.
7. What is Cherry’s real name? Why is she called Cherry?
Her name is Sherri. She is called Cherry because of her hair, it is red.
8. What did Cherry do when Dally brought her a Coke?
She throws it in his face. She does this because he does things to get attention and disrupts her.
9. Give three reasons why Cherry and Marcia are not scared of Johnny and Ponyboy even though, like Dally, they are Greasers.
They are kind and have a good attitude.
They are protective and stick up for the girls.
She says that they look young and clean and innocent.
10. What are two rules Greasers have for themselves?
1. Stick together
2. Don't get caught
11. How did Johnny get beaten up?
He was searching for the football so he can practice, and a mustang pulls up with four Socs and attack him and beat him.
12. What did Cherry mean when she said, “Things are rough all over”?
Everyone has problems regardless of who you are and where you come from.
CHAPTER 3
Chapter 3:
1. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry become good friends?
They are polite with each other. They can easily talk to each other with no struggle.
2. Do the characters in this book seam “real”? Why or why not? How does try to make them believable?
It is believable because some kids have the same situations as people in real life do. Some kids are abused and abandoned. Some have no parents, drunk parents, or one parent. They make them believable.
3. Why did Cherry and Marcia leave their dates?
She is trying to prevent a fight between the Socs and Greasers. She also does not want her parents to be angry if they find out who they are hanging with.
4. Why do you think Darry hit Ponyboy?
Because Ponyboy was late coming home. What really angers him was when Ponyboy defended Soda and picking sides.
5. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry told each other things they had never told anyone else before?
The two trust each other. They are going through the same struggles and issues which means that they can relate to each other.
6. Do you agree with Johnny that having friends care for you is not the same as having your own folks care about you? Why or why not?
There is something with being with a family. There is this unbreakable bond, they will always be there until the end. But with friends, they could sometimes come and go.
7. What did Cherry say was the main difference between the Socs and the Greasers?
The Socs are more smarter. Then the Greasers are more emotional and have different sets of values. They are not sophisticated.
8. What was the name of Sodapop’s horse? What happened to Soda’s horse?
Mickey Mouse. He was taken away from Soda because he was sold.
9. Why did Ponyboy think that maybe his world and Cherry’s weren’t so different?
They watch the same sunset. And still they have the same problems and go through the same issues.
10. Why did Johnny stare at the rings on the Soc’s hand?
That Soc was the one who beat up Johnny and gave him the scare on his face.
11. Why did Cherry and Marcia let their drunken boyfriends drive them home?
They are avoiding a fight between the Socs and the Greasers and they do not want to get in trouble.
12. What was the last thing Cherry says to Ponyboy before she leaves in the car?
She says that she could fall in love with Dally.
13. How long has it been since Ponyboy’s parents were killed?
8 months
14. Why was Ponyboy late getting home?
Because he fell asleep in the vacant lot with Johnny.
Chapter 4:
1. Who (Greasers or Socs) do you think was wrong in this situation in this chapter?
The greasers were wrong about stabbing the boy. The Socs were wrong because they entered a different territory.
2. If you had been one of the Socs how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? If you had been one of the Greasers, how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? What causes the difference?
I would be sad then angry. They would be scared of the consequences.
3. Why did Ponyboy turn to Dally for help?
Dally could do anything. He can give them money. He is an older and wiser person, they're gonna help them get out of it.
4. What does Bob say a Greaser is?
A man with long hair. White trash with long hair.
5. What do the Socs do to Ponyboy?
They shoved his face into a fountain and almost drowned.
6. What does Ponyboy see when he recovers consciousness?
He saw Bob lying there lifeless.
7. Why did Johnny attack Bob?
He did it to stop him from drowning Ponyboy.
8. Where do Johnny and Ponyboy go when the leave the park?
They go to find Dally and he is at Bucks house.
9. What does Dally give Johnny and Ponyboy?
He gives a gun and some money. He also gives him a new dry shirt.
10. Where does Dally tell them to go?
They go to the church.
11. How do they get there?
They ask the farmer.
12. How do they find the church?
The farmer gave them directions to find the church. It was a sun burned farmer.