Answer keys
LEVEL 2
PENGUIN READERS
Teacher Support Programme
The Railway Children
Book key
1
2
a thief b blood c prison d signal
e danger f engine g line h lucky
a No
b Their father leaves home; they move away from
London.
c No
3 a No b Yes c No d No e No f No
4 –5 Open answers
6 b, d, e and h are right
7– 8 Open answers
9 a don’t get
b Roberta, Mother
c old man on the train
d The old man
e is
f ground
g take off
h understands
10 a fell b were c live d saw e thought
f took g knew h ran i waved j saw
k stopped l said
11 Open answers
12 a river b fish c children d husband
e boat f fire g boat h father
13 a likes b likes c doesn’t like d likes
14 Possible answers:
a Because they are fishing near his boat.
b It is only for a short time. She wants to find her
husband.
c Because she is very happy.
d He wants to work for his money – he doesn’t want
gifts.
15 Open answers
16 a never > sometimes
b doesn’t cry > cries
c is > isn’t
d Perks > Roberta
e thinks > doesn’t think
f boat > train
g seven > five
h two boys > a boy
i foot > leg
j Nobody > Roberta
c Pearson Education Limited 2008
17 a The children’s father is in prison.
b The police found some letters and papers in his
desk.
c Now the police think he is a spy.
d The children try to help a boy in the tunnel.
e They are in the tunnel when a train comes through.
18 Open answers
19 a Phyllis
b the signalman
c the signalman’s son
d the doctor
e the old man on the train
f Jim
g Mother
h everybody on the train
i the Station Master
j Roberta’s father
20 Possible answers:
a They help the people on the train, Perks and his
family, Mother, the baby on the boat and Jim.
b Peter takes coal from the station. They ask the old
man for money. Roberta and Peter fight with the
garden knife.
21–28 Open answers
Discussion activities key
1 Students can see three children (two girls and a boy)
looking at a train. They should guess that the story
takes place near a railway station in the country, and
that it involves three children (two girls and a boy) and
the interest they take in a local train.
2– 4 Open answers
5 Possible answers:
They were lucky children.
They had everything – pretty dresses, warm fires, good
food.
Their mother played with them and told them stories and
they often laughed.
Their father was never angry with them and he was always
ready to help them.
They were lucky and they were happy, and then …
The Railway Children - Answer keys
of 2
Answer keys
PENGUIN READERS
Teacher Support Programme
LEVEL 2
The Railway Children
6 Possible answer:
Dear Children,
I am sorry that your mother is ill and that you don’t
have any money to buy food. Yes, I can help you. I will
give you some money to buy food for your mother.
Sincerely,
Mr Smith
7–20 Open answers
Activity worksheet key
1
2
3
4
Open answers
a Peter b Phyllis c Peter d Roberta
e Roberta f Phyllis g Peter h Roberta
Open answers
a Because she can hear her mother crying.
b Peter.
c Because the children’s mother doesn’t like talking
about their father.
d The railway line, a dark tunnel, a big bridge.
e The station.
f Because the coal is too expensive.
g Coal.
h The Station Master.
5 a 1 b 6 c 4 d 2 e 7 f 3 g 5 h 8
6 a because b so c so d because
e because f so
7 a 4 b 7 c 6 d 1 e 8 f 5 g 2 h 3
8 Open answers
9 a 2 b 1 c 4 d 3
10 a 7 b 3 c 7 d 3 e 7
f 3 g 7 h 3 i 7 j 7
c Pearson Education Limited 2008
11 Open answers
12 a Roberta b Roberta c Perks d Mother
e Peter f Phyllis g Phyllis h The boy ( Jim)
i Roberta j The boy ( Jim)
13 a 3 b 2 c 4 d 1 e 6 f 5
14 Possible answer:
Mother
Father
Jim, Bill and the people on the train
The man, woman and baby on the boat
Perks
Jim
15–16 Open answers
Progress test key
1 a anything b something c everybody
d somebody e nothing f everything
g nobody h somewhere
2 a to b to c to d for e for f for
g to h to
3 a Perks
b Roberta, Peter and Phyllis
c The man
d The man and his wife
e The baby
f Mrs Perks
g Perks
h The people in the village
4 a sad b good c blood d wrong e the spy
f better g wet h closed
5 a 2 b 1 c 2 d 3
The Railway Children - Answer keys of 2