Pre-reading Questions

1. What makes a good mystery story?

2. What are some mysteries that you have read?

3. Do you like mysteries, why or why not?

4. Looking only at the title and cover, make a prediction about what will happen in this story. (Don't read the back yet!)

5. Has The Westing Game won any awards? Is so, which ones?

6. Has Ellen Raskin (the author) written any other youth novels?  Is so, which ones?

Chapter 1 Questions

Answer one numbered question, and everyone also answer the star question in the same post!

Chapter 1:
1. What was unusual about Sunset Towers?  Why does it make a good setting?

2. Find the page that the word alcove .  What page?  What does that word mean?  Where would you find an alcove?

3. Why was the delivery boy described as "uncommon" looking?

4.  Where was Sydelle staring suspiciously?  How did Barney convince Sydelle to take the apartment?

5. Why was Barney described as a very good salesman?

6. Find the page with the word bookie.  What does this mean?  Where would you hear that word?

*. At the end of the chapter we were told one of the tennants were a mistake.  Which tennant do you think was a mistake and why?

Chapter 2 Questions

Chapter 2:

1. What is the story of the two "unfortunate fellows"?

2. What does Chris see through his binoculars?  How is Chris different from other people?

3. Who is Sandy McSouthers?

4. In chapter 2, it describes someone as "stocky."  What does that mean and who was described that way?

5. What page do you find the word "maggots?"  What are they?  Where would you find them?

6. What page do you find the word "asylum?"  What does it mean?  Who would be there?

7. Imagine what Sunset Towers looks like.  Draw a picture based on what the book said and your own imagination.  Would you ever live there?  Why or why not?

Chapter 3 questions

Don't forget to keep your character charts going so you don't get confused!  Don't read ahead of our weekly assignment please.  Answer one of these questions (once they have all been answered, then add onto someone's response) and leave your name after your comment!

1.  What is a hassock, and what page was it mentioned?  Who was on one?

2. What is a podiatrist, and who is one?

3. Describe Mrs. Wexler's relationship with her daughters.

4. How is JJ Ford connected to Mr. Westing?

5. What was in the package Sydelle Pulaski carried into her apartment?  Why do you think this is important?

6. What do you think of the book so far?? Any early predictions?

Chapter 4 Questions

1. What did Turtle find when she entered the house?
2. Why were sixteen people given letters from Mr. Westing?
3. What was unusual about Mr. Westing's obituary?  What game did he play?
4. What information did the newspaper leave out?
5. What page did "pyrotechnic" appear?  What does it mean?  Can you think of another word that looks like that word?
6. What does the word "heir" and "beneficiary" mean?  Who in the book was an heir or beneficiary?

Chapter 5

1. Who shows up for the reading of the will?  Who does not come?

2. What was Sam Westing holding in the coffin?

3. Why is Judge JJ Ford surprised to see E.J. Plum?

4. What does Sydelle's dress remind Turtle of?  Why do you think that may be important?

5. What page did "relinquish" show up on?  What does it mean?

6. What page does "morbid" show up on?  What does it mean?  Write a sentence using that word.

7. What page does "scrutiny" show up on?  What does it mean?  Who is under scrutiny?

Chapter 7

1. What are some of the rules of the "Westing Game?"
2. Which partnership do you think will do well? Why?
3. Which partnership might run into problems? Why?
3. Is there anything in this chapter that was supposed to be funny/sarcastic?
4. What was Angela's and Sydelle's strategy?
5. What does pompous mean? What page? Who is described that way?
6. What does shrewd mean? What page?  What is described that way?

Chapter 8

1. What were Chris' clues?  Who does he think did it?
2. What do Turtle and Flora think their clues mean?
3. Whose clues do you think are most helpful? Why?
4. What had been taken?  Who do you think did it?
5. Tell one of the other clues and what the pair thinks it means.
6. What does "pretentious" mean?  What page?  What is described as "pretentious"?

Chapter 9

1.  What does "uppity" mean?  What page is it on?  Who does it describe?
2. What are "hors d'oevres'?  When does it mention them?  How do you pronounce it?
3. Why was Turtle's mom being so nice before the party?
4. Give two examples from this chapter that Grace disliked Turtle and favors Angela:
5. What did Judge Ford find out about Mr. Hoo over the phone?
6. What are two things being posted on the bulletin board?  Why do you think this is important?

Chapter 10

1. Why does the party go "on and on"?
2. What are the TWO reasons Angela is upset?
3. What is Sydelle trying to start conversations about? Why?
4. Who are the two people at the party NOT heirs? 
5. What does the word "paternal" mean?  Why is Judge Ford asking about it?
6. What does "abstention" mean"?  What page?  Why did Madame Hoo do it?
7. What does "coiffure" mean?  What page?  Why did Grace want Angela to change it?

Chapter 11

1. What dilemma do the tenants face the 3rd morning?
2. Who does Sydelle blame for stealing her book?  Why couldn't they read it?
3. What does Theo suggest to the tenants who have gathered for the meeting?
4. Why is there confusion about Turtle's name?  Why do you think that is?
5. What was the answer to Judge Ford's question?
6. What is a "larcenist"?  What page?  Who is accused of being on?
7. What is an "alibis"?  What page?

Chapter 12

1. Describe what happens in Mrs. Theodorakis in the kitchen:
2. According to JJ Ford, who are the four people with Westing connections?
3. What is strange when the Judge calls a private detective.  Any predictions about who she is talking to?
4. What are some of the "truths" Turtle decides to blurt out?
5. What did it say Turtle's "crutch" is?
6. What did Angela steal from Turtle?

Chapter 13

1. What did the bomber use to set off the bomb?
2. What are 'mementos'? On what page does it appear? Who was looking at 'mementos'?
3. Who is the only person to talk to Chris and ask him questions? How does this person relate to Chris?
4. What happened just as Otis Amber entered the restaurant? Do you think this was planned?
5. According to the fireman, what was the reasoning behind the bombs? Are the characters convinced of this?
6. What does 'demeaning' mean? On what page does it appear? Why is it demeaning to "smile without good reason"?
7. Where was the bomber planning to set the next bomb? Who do you think the bomber is targeting?

Chapter 14

1. What was Angela searching for under the hoods of the cars in the parking lot? Why did she think she should search there?
2. Why did the doorman refuse to accept a tip from the judge?
3. What does 'amends' mean? On which page does it appear? Who is trying to make amends? For what action?
4.Why were the tenants buying so many Westing Paper Products?
5. Who yells "Boom!" at unsuspecting people throughout the week? Why is he/she doing this?
6. Where is the quote "May God thy gold refine" from? Who figures this out?
7. What does 'deception' mean? On what page does it appear? What is the deception?

Chapter 15

1. Why did Doug suspect that Mr. Westing's murder may have been a doctor?
2. Shin Hoo told Jake Wexler that he though he could squeeze him in at the restaurant. Explain why this statement is ironic.
3. Who is Judge Ford working with as a private detective to find information on heirs?
4. Why is Judge Ford surprised at McSouthers' description of Mrs. Westing?
5. What does 'presided' mean? On what page is it found? Who presided at the bench? Who presided at the front door?
6. What does 'profound' mean? On what page is it found? What is profound about the story of the soothsayer?
7. What was the rumor about Violet?

Chapter 16

1. What does Angela do to suggest to the reader that she already knew what was in that specific present?
2. What do the police conclude about the explosion? Do they search the other apartments?
3. What does 'amnesia' mean? On what page can it be found? Who has amnesia?
4. What does 'incriminating' mean? On what page can it be found? What was incriminating?
5. Who is in Angela's hospital room with her? What does she keep doing? Why do you think she is doing that?
6. Who do we discover is the bomber? Why do you think he/she decided to bomb the party?
7. Any predictions about what is to come?