TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Reading Questions for Chapter 10 ~ Accelerated
Mrs. Dsida ~ 8th Grade
Name: ______________
Date: ___________
Section: _____________
Directions​: Using your book, answer the following questions about Chapter 10. Provide a
quote where instructed and include the page number in parentheses. Short answers are
acceptable. Be sure to answer ALL parts of each question. You may write on notebook paper
or create a document on your iPad in Pages, Google Docs, or Notes. You may NOT simply
write on this paper to get full credit. You will ​NOT​ need to print your responses if you type.
1. Summarize Scout’s criticisms of her father. What do her criticisms reveal about the values
of her community? How do most people in Maycomb County define “manliness”?
2. Why doesn’t Atticus teach Scout and Jem to shoot the guns he allowed them to get for
Christmas? What rules does he make for how the guns should be handled? Include a ​specific
quote​ from the text to support your answer.
3. According to Atticus, why is it a sin to kill a mockingbird?
4. When Scout complains to Miss Maudie that her neighborhood is “old,” Miss Maudie replies
that it is “settled.” Explain the different connotations of the words “old” and “settled.”
5. How does Miss Maudie respond to Scout’s observation that “Atticus can’t do anything”?
6. What is it about Tim Johnson’s appearance and behavior that makes Jem think that the dog
has rabies? How does Calpurnia respond when she sees the dog?
7. How does Calpurnia demonstrate bravery in this chapter? Include a ​specific quote​ to
support your answer.
8. Why does Mr. Tate hand Atticus the rifle?
9. When Atticus shoots the rabid dog, Mr. Tate notes that his shot was, “a little to the right.”
Atticus responds: “Always was.” What does this exchange reveal about the amount of
experience Atticus has with guns? What does Miss Maudie
reveal about Atticus’s old nickname? Why are Jem and Finch surprised by their father’s
shooting ability?
10. According to Miss Maudie, why did Atticus give up shooting? How does this explanation
seem to fit with what you’ve seen of his character up until now?
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11. Contrast Jem’s response to his father with Scout’s response. What does Jem do that lets
readers know that he admires Atticus? Include a ​specific quote​ from the text to support your
answer.