A to Z The Panda Puzzle

* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[ Chapter 1 ] Vocabulary 1. camcorder (n): a small video camera for personal use ✎ My mom used the camcorder to record my sister’s Christmas concert.

2. petting zoo (n): a collection of animals that children can touch and feed ✎ There are special nuts they sell at the petting zoo so you can feed the giraffe.

3. rails (n): a bar that goes from one post or support to another and that is used to form a barrier ✎ There is a rail around the balcony for safety reasons.

4. enclosure (n): an area that is surrounded by a wall, fence, etc. ✎ During the evening the cows are kept in an enclosure, and in the day they roam freely in the green pasture.

5. recognize (v): to know and remember (someone or something) because of previous knowledge or experience ✎ He recognized the odor at once and asked if I had farted.

6. officer (n): a member of a police force : police officer — often used as a title ✎ Officer Ruiz responded to the call reporting a robbery.

7. cave (n): a large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground ✎ The bears sleep in the cave during winter and come back out in spring.

8. issue (n): the version of a newspaper, magazine, etc., that is published at a particular time ✎ The June issue of the magazine give ideas for places to go for vacation.

9. editor (n): a person whose job is to edit something ✎ The editor of the city paper comes up with story ideas for reporters to write.

10. chomp (v): to chew or bite on something ✎ The dog chomped down on its bone.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

11. leash (n): a long, thin piece of rope, chain, etc., that is used for holding a dog or other animal ✎ Dogs must be kept on a leash while in the park.

12. complain (v): to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something ✎ If you're unhappy with the service, you should complain to the manager.

13. flop (v): to fall, lie, or sit down in a sudden, awkward, or relaxed way ✎ After basketball practice, he flopped down onto the sofa.

14. sigh (n): a long, deep, audible exhalation expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or a similar feeling. ✎ When the car ran out of gas, he let out a long sigh of despair.

15. stitch (v): to make (something, such as a design) out of needlework ✎ My mom stitched my name on my backpack when I started kindergarten.

16. aim (v): to point (a device) at something ✎ She aimed the telescope at a point in the eastern sky.

17. pleased (adj): happy or satisfied ✎ I'm pleased with the grade I got in the class.

18. cause (n): something (such as an organization, belief, idea, or goal) that a group or people support or fight for ✎ I donated money for a good cause that helps homeless children.

19. staff (n): a group of people who work for an organization or business ✎ The entire staff is at the Christmas party.

20. grin (v): to smile widely ✎ The swimmer grinned as she was awarded her gold medal.

21. appear (v): to become visible : to begin to be seen ✎ The sun began to appear from behind the clouds.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

22. swivel (v): to turn around ✎ The owl swiveled its head around to see what the noise was behind her.

23. leap (v): to jump from a surface ✎ Fish were leaping out of the water and the bear tried to grab them.

24. stare (v): to look at someone or something for a long time often with your eyes wide open ✎ She stared out the window looking at the bird building a nest.

25. hand (v): to give (something) to someone using your hands ✎ The mailman handed her a letter.

26. ransom (n): money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped ✎ The ransom note explained the kidnappers wanted a ransom of one million dollars.

27. kidnap (v): to take away (someone) by force usually in order to keep the person as a prisoner and demand money for returning the person ✎ The puppy had been kidnapped from her home while the owners were sleeping.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[COMPREHENSION ] 1. What was the big event at Green Lawn? a. A new park opened. b. They got a mother and baby panda. c. Children get in free on this day. d. They were having a special petting day 2. NOTE DETAILS Who always dressed in one color? a. Ruth Rose b. Nate c. Dink d. Josh 3. Officer Fallon is Jimmy’s __________________. a. grandson b. son c. father d. grandfather 4. MAKE JUDGMENT Who is Pal? a. A friend b. A dog c. A panda d. I don’t know 5. CHARACTER MOTIVES Why did the children climb on a bench? a. They were playing around. b. There was no space on the ground. c. They couldn’t see over the crowd. d. People were stepping on their toes.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

6. NOTE DETAILS Who were the two men and women the children were talking about? a. ____ Tom Steele

A. His grandmother is very rich

b. ____ Irene Napper

B. Editor of The Panda Paper

c. ____ Flip Frances

C. Petting zoo worker

7. Who donated money to build Panda Park? a. Winnie b. Green Lawn c. Winifred Frances d. Flip Frances 8. [ TRUEâˆŁFALSE ] The mothers panda was in a happy mood.

9. What did the note say? a. Congratulations on the new Panda Park b. The baby panda has been taken away and will be returned for money c. Use the alarm clock to wake up early d. Pandas are dangerous animals so they should be kidnapped

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[ Chapter 2 ] Vocabulary 1. gasp (v): to say (something) with quick, difficult breaths because of surprise, shock, or pain ✎ “Ouch!” he gasped when the bee stung him.

2. insist (v): to demand that something happen or that someone do something ✎ I didn't want to eat my salad, but my dad insisted.

3. wander (v): to go away from a path, course, etc. ✎ He wandered away from the trail and got lost.

4. lousy (adj): bad; not right or proper ✎ Making fun of a someone is a lousy thing to do.

5. glance (v): to look at someone or something very quickly ✎ Glancing down, she noticed her shoe was untied.

6. situation (n): an important or sudden problem ✎ I have a situation with my dog, so I can’t go to my friend’s birthday party.

7. buck (n): money ✎ That sports car costs big bucks.

8. blurt (v): to say (something) suddenly and without thinking about how people will react ✎ She blurted out the ending of the movie by accident.

9. inspect (v): to look at (something) carefully in order to learn more about it, to find problems, etc. ✎ After the storm, the family went outside to inspect the damage to their house.

10. hollow (adj): having nothing inside : not solid ✎ The raccoon hides all his nuts and food inside the hollow log.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

11. midnight (n): the middle of the night : 12 o'clock at night ✎ At midnight, our family is always asleep.

12. recall (v): to remember (something) from the past ✎ I didn't recall what time Tom said he would be here, so I called him to check.

13. tamper with (something) (verb phrase): to change or touch (something) especially in a way that causes damage or harm ✎ Someone tampered with the lock to break into the car.

14. trace (v): to follow (something) back to its cause, beginning, or origin : to find out where something came from ✎ The police traced the call to a hotel.

15. blade (n): the flat sharp part of a weapon or tool that is used for cutting ✎ The lumberjack used the blade of an ax to cut down the tree.

16. handle (n): a part of something that is designed to be held by your hand ✎ The handles on the bag were torn because the bag was too heavy.

17. float (v): to rest on top of a liquid ✎ Ice was floating in the river from the glacier to the ocean.

18. evidence (n): material that is presented to a court of law to help find the truth about something ✎ Police found fingerprint evidence at the crime scene to find the killer.

19. handkerchief (n): a small cloth used for wiping your face, nose, or eyes ✎ I spilled juice on my phone, so I cleaned it with a handkerchief.

20. struggling (v): to try to move yourself, an object, etc., by making a lot of effort ✎ She struggled to lift the package by herself, but it was too heavy.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. [ TRUEâˆŁFALSE ] Many of the people who came to the zoo stayed to help look for clues.

2. What do the kidnappers demand for the safe return of Winnie?

The kidnappers demanded ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 3. MAKE INFERENCES What is true about the kidnappers? a. They know that the city loves pandas and would pay a lot of money to get it back. b. They know that Green Lawn has a lot of money. c. They know the amount of money leftover from Winifred Frances’ donation. d. They love pandas, so they kidnap them.

4. CONFLICT/RESOLUTION What do the kidnappers demand? (Check all that are true) a. Officers should not be at the island. b. The bills must be tampered with. c. The money should be in a hollow tree. d. The money should not be traceable.

5. NOTE DETAILS Who found the knife? a. Officer Fallon b. Jimmy c. Pal d. Ruth Rose 6. CAUSE & EFFECT What makes the knife a special fishing knife? a. It can be used to cut fish. b. It floats in the water. c. It has a thin blade. d. It has a fat handle.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

7. DRAW CONCLUSIONS How do you know that Winnie won’t be hungry? a. She is 6 months old, so she can eat bamboo. b. She can eat human food too. c. The kidnapper took bamboo from the Panda Park when he took Winnie. d. The kidnapper took her to an island with many plants.

8. SEQUENCE Put the events in order to explain how the kidnapper (he) most likely took Winnie. a. ______ The alarm went off. b. ______ He grabbed Winnie. c. ______ He threw an alarm clock into Ping’s cave. d. ______ The pandas ran out.

9. NOTE DETAILS What time is it now? a. 12:00 in the afternoon b. 12:00 at night

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[ Chapter 3 ] Vocabulary 1. separated (v): to stop being together, joined, or connected : to become separate ✎ They walked together to school, but then they separated and went to their classes.

2. head (v): to go in a specified direction or toward a specified place ✎ After lunch, we headed to the park to play with our dog.

3. snooze (v): to sleep lightly especially for a short period of time ✎ After I ate the whole pizza, I laid down on the sofa and snoozed for an hour.

4. narrow (adj): long and not wide : small from one side to the other side ✎ The large family sat on the long, narrow table for dinner.

5. glumly (adv): done in a way that is sad or depressed ✎ “It's no use of studying. I’m going to fail,” he said glumly.

6. roar (v): to make the loud sound of a wild animal (such as a lion) ✎ The gazelle heard a lion roar in the distance, and quickly ran away.

7. enormous (adj): very great in size or amount ✎ The king lives in an enormous castle.

8. eject (v): to push (something) out ✎ I wanted to hear another musician, so I pushed a button to eject the CD. 9. emerge (v): to rise or appear into view from a hidden or unknown place or condition ✎ The cat emerged from its hiding place behind the couch.

10. attack (v): to act violently against (someone or something) : to try to hurt, injure, or destroy (something or someone) ✎ The soldiers attacked the castle early at dawn.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[COMPREHENSION ] 1. CAUSE & EFFECT Why did the children go to Ruth Rose’s house? a. They were tired. b. To have lunch. c. They wanted to watch Ruth Rose’s video. d. Nate wanted to watch a dinosaur video.

2. NOTE DETAILS What will Officer Fallon do? a. Eat sandwiches b. Take the children to Ruth Rose’s house c. Check for fingerprints on the alarm clock and knife d. Look for a glove 3. Where did the children get more clues from? a. The knife b. The gloves c. The TV Show d. The camcorder 4. DRAW CONCLUSIONS Who do the children think did the crime? a. A fisherman or fisherwoman b. Someone who came to look at the pandas c. One of the people being interviewed d. They don’t know 5. MAKE INFERENCES Who knows who has committed the crime? a. Ping b. Officer Fallon c. Ruth Rose d. Pal

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[ Chapter 4 ] Vocabulary 1. charge (v): to rush toward (a person, place, etc.) ✎ Fans charged the stage but were stopped by the security guards.

2. growl (v): to make a deep threatening sound ✎ I could hear a dog growling behind me as I walked with my dog.

3. suspect (v): to think that (someone) is possibly guilty of a crime or of doing something wrong ✎ The police suspect him of murder after they found his fingerprints.

4. clam up (verb phrase): to stop talking ✎ I clammed up when my mom asked me if I ate the whole box of cookies.

5. detective (n): a police officer whose job is to find information about crimes that have occurred and to catch criminals ✎ She hired a detective to find her missing dog.

6. shortcut (n): a shorter, quicker, or easier way to get to a place ✎ We took a shortcut through the woods to get home faster.

7. trail (v): to walk or move slowly as you follow behind (someone or something) ✎ My dog trailed us as we walked up the mountain.

8. cygnets (n): a young swan ✎ The swan taught her cygnets how to find food.

9. dart (v): to run or move quickly or suddenly in a particular direction or to a particular place ✎ We saw a deer dart across the road.

10. surround (v): to be on every side of (someone or something) ✎ The students surrounded the teacher who had a bag of candy.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

11. make it (verb phrase): to survive; to not fail, die, etc. ✎ He's very sick. The doctor doesn't think he's going to make it.

12. nudge (v): to push (someone) gently with your elbow in order to get that person's attention ✎ He nudged me and pointed to the bee.

13. scattered (v): placed or found far apart ✎ The toys were scattered all over the house.

14. shady (adj): sheltered from the sun's light : having shade ✎ Their backyard is shady because of the large oak tree that blocks the sun.

15. shoot (v): used to tell someone to begin to speak ✎ “You wanted to tell me something? Okay, shoot,” I told my friend.

16. stroke (v): to move your hand over (someone or something) gently and in one direction ✎ She was stroking the cat's fur while watching TV. 17. blank (adj): unable to remember or think of something ✎ My mind went blank when I heard the question.

18. snatch (v): to take (something or someone) suddenly from a person or place often by using force ✎ A man snatched the old woman's purse.

19. suspicious (adj): causing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly : causing suspicion ✎ The dog is suspicious of strangers, so he growls at them.

20. senior (adj): an old person who is at least a certain age (such as 55 and up) ✎ Senior customers qualify for a discount at the movie theater.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. NOTE DETAILS How do the kids think Ping recognized the kidnapper? a. She saw him/her. b. She heard him/her. c. She smelled him/her. d. She knows him/her.

2. What does Ruth think will help them solve the case? a. Going back to the zoo and looking for more clues. b. Talking to Ping. c. Smelling the three suspects. d. Interviewing the three suspects.

3. CHARACTER MOTIVES How will the kids do this? a. Say they are writing a story for The Panda Paper. b. Say they are working for Officer Fallon. c. Say they are detectives. d. They will tell those people they are suspected to be the kidnapper.

4. What was Irene Napper doing when the children found her? a. Kidnapping another animal. b. Taking care of ducks c. Crying with Ping d. She was stretching her long legs 5. Who was supposed to interview Irene Napper? a. Ruth Rose b. Dink c. Josh d. Nate

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

6. NOTE DETAILS What did Dink notice about Irene’s hands? a. They were pretty. b. They were big and strong. c. They were small and weak. d. They looked tired.

7. How many people have the keys to the gate of the Panda Park? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 8. The baby panda was kidnapped between ___________ and _____________ o’clock.

9. What surprised Irene Napper about the children? a. That they didn’t know who Tom Steele is b. That they didn’t know where Tom Steele lives c. That they didn’t know where Tom Steele works d. That they didn’t know when Tom Steele works 10. BONUS What is interesting about Irene Napper’s name in relation to her being a suspect in this case? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[ Chapter 5 ] Vocabulary 1. publish (v): to print (an article, letter, photograph, etc.) in a magazine or newspaper ✎ The magazine published a long story about the new park being built in the city.

2. trot (v): to run at a slow, steady pace ✎ The little boy trotted along after his mother.

3. greeted (v): welcome; to meet (someone who has just arrived) with usually friendly and polite words and actions ✎ She greeted her son with open arms when he returned home from camp.

4. hum (v): to sing the notes of a song while keeping your lips closed ✎ We hummed along to the music because we didn’t know the words.

5. tune (n): a series of musical notes that produce a pleasing sound when played or sung ✎ During December, many Christmas tunes are playing in shops around town.

6. crooks (n): a criminal, someone who has broken the law ✎ The police went after the crooks who stole the diamond from the museum.

7. lean (v): to rest on or against something or someone for support ✎ The ladder was leaning against the house.

8. litter (v): to cover (a surface) with many things in an untidy way ✎ During October and November, leaves are littered the forest floor.

9. squint (v): to look at something with your eyes partly closed ✎ They were squinting at the bright sun.

10. spare (v): to give (something, such as time, money, etc.) to someone ✎ I can't spare the time to see my friend today, so we will meet tomorrow.

11. upset (adj): angry or unhappy ✎ I got upset at my dog after his barking woke me up.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

12. hesitated (v): to stop briefly before you do something especially because you are nervous or unsure about what to do ✎ She hesitated before she ordered her food because she was unsure if she should get the hamburger or the cheeseburger.

13. fitness center (n): a health club that has exercise equipment ✎ I joined the fitness center to get stronger for the basketball team.

14. excuse (someone) (verb phrase): to say politely that you have to leave ✎ I had to excuse myself from the party because I was tired and wanted to go home.

15. clippings (n): something (such as an article or a picture) that has been cut out of a newspaper or magazine ✎ I collected newspaper and magazine clippings of my favorite basketball player.

16. cops (n): police ✎ He called the cops on his loud neighbors who were having a party late at night.

17. smirked (v): to smile in an unpleasant way because you are pleased with yourself, glad about someone else's trouble, etc. ✎ She tried not to smirk when they announced that she was the winner.

18. juggler (n): a person who is skilled in keeping several objects in motion in the air at the same time by alternately tossing and catching them ✎ The juggler amazed the children when he juggled ten balls in the air.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. CHARACTER MOTIVES Why did Josh think Irene Napper was the kidnapper? a. She had big hands. b. She kidnapped a crocodile. c. She is the only one with the key. d. She likes animals.

2. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE What does “soft guitar music greeted them at an open door” mean? a. A guitar said, “Hello” and welcomed them. b. Music said, “Hello” and welcomed them. c. They heard guitar music at the door and it was nice. d. Tom Steele invited them into his office while playing the guitar.

3. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] Dink wants to be a detective when he grows up.

4. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] Tom’s office is very messy 5. What was Tom Steele doing when the children came? a. Cutting letters out of a magazine b. He was eating pizza c. He was writing a story about the kidnapping d. He was playing his guitar.

6. What is true about Tom Steele? (Check all that are true) a. ______ He likes pandas b. ______ He likes money. c. ______ He is an editor. d. ______ He is tall. e. ______ He likes rock music. f. ______ He is busy.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

7. CHARACTER MOTIVES How do these clues lead the kids to suspect Tom Steele? a. He had a fishing pole on the corner of the room _________________________________________________________________ The fishing pole is suspicious because _________________________________________________________________ b. He had a Band-Aid on his hand _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ c. He had scissors, glue, and newspaper clippings on his desk _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 8. Who doesn’t suspect Tom Steele? Why? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 9. BONUS What is interesting about Tome Steele’s name in relation to him being a suspect in this case? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[ Chapter 6 ] Vocabulary 1. bare (adj): not covered by clothing, shoes, a hat, etc. ✎ He had a glove on his left hand, but his right hand was bare.

2. lifeguard (n): a person whose job is to protect swimmers from drowning ✎ The lifeguard jumped in the pool to rescue a child who fell into the deep end.

3. lap (n): an act of going completely around a track or over a course when you are running, swimming, etc. ✎ He was swimming laps in the pool to get ready for the contest.

4. combination (n): an act of mixing two or more things ✎ The combination of red and blue make purple.

5. chlorine (n): a chemical added to water (such as the water in a swimming pool) to keep it clean. ✎ After the janitor filled the pool with water, he added chlorine.

6. awning (n): a piece of material (such as cloth) on a frame that sticks out over a door or window and provides shelter from sun, rain, snow, etc. ✎ We ran underneath the awning when it suddenly started to rain.

7. blaring (v): to make a loud and usually unpleasant sound ✎ Loudspeakers blared rock music through the store.

8. seaweed (n): a type of plant that grows in the sea ✎ Sushi is made by wrapping rice and fish with dried seaweed.

9. tofu (n): a soft, white food made from soybeans ✎ The vegetarian eats a hamburger with a tofu patty instead of a meat patty.

10. it’s on me (idiom): the person speaking will pay for something for you ✎ Since I bought Frank ice cream yesterday, he said today’s ice cream was going to be on him.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

11. hoist (v): raising; putting something or someone higher ✎ My dad hoisted my brother up on his shoulders, so he could see over the crowd.

12. expertly (adv): done in a way that shows special skill or knowledge because of what you have been taught or what you have experienced ✎ The coach expertly guided his players during the championship game.

13. concoction (n): something (such as a food or drink) that is made by mixing together different things ✎ I could tell that the concoction in the cup had banana and pineapples in it.

14. heart-broken (noun phrase): feeling great sorrow or sadness ✎ I was heart-broken when I saw pictures of starving children in Cambodia.

15. donate (v): to give money or things to help a person or organization that needs it ✎ We donated our old clothes to charity.

16. animal shelter (n): a place that provides food and protection for animals that need assistance ✎ Some owners throw away their sick pets, so the animal shelter takes them in.

17. ceiling (n): the inside surface at the top of a room ✎ The child let go of the balloon, and it floated up to the ceiling.

18. approach (v): to move or become near or nearer to something or someone ✎ The curious cat approached the baby carefully.

19. vaulted (v): to jump over (something) by using your hands to push yourself upward ✎ The lion vaulted the fence easily to eat a chicken.

20. canoe (n): a long narrow boat that is pointed at both ends and that is moved by a paddle with one blade ✎ Rowing the canoe downstream was easy but going upstream was hard.

21. blush (v): to become red in your face because you are embarrassed, confused, etc. ✎ He blushed when a student told him that he was handsome.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. CAUSE AND EFFECT Why did Pal have to stay outside? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 2. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE What does the underlined part mean “The clang of metal hitting metal fought with the rock music blaring from hidden speakers” mean? a. Metal was fighting with metal. b. Metal clanging was as loud as the rock music playing. c. Metal got in to a fight with music. d. Metal was annoyed with the loud rock music, so it started a fight.

3. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE What does “hidden speakers” from #2 mean? a. The speakers were playing hide-and-go-seek. b. The speakers were hiding. c. The speakers could not be seen. d. The speakers were invisible.

4. Where did the kids find Flip? a. Working at the snack counter b. Swimming in the swimming pool c. Working out in the exercise room d. Riding his canoe 5. NOTE DETAILS How much did the kids pay for their shake? a. Full price b. A discounted “kids” price c. Nothing d. The story doesn’t say.

6. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] Every person that the kids interviewed knew who had the key.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

7. How did Flip leave for his lunch break? a. He walked around the counter and left. b. He jumped over the counter. c. He flipped over the counter. d. He crawled under the counter.

8. CHARACTER TRAITS Who thought everyone they interviewed was the kidnapper? a. Pal b. Ruth Rose c. Josh d. Dink 9. CHARACTER TRAITS Who was not sure who the kidnapper was? a. Pal b. Ruth Rose c. Josh d. Dink 10. MAKE INFERENCES What day is it? How do you know? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 11. Why can’t Flip go fishing? a. He works all day. b. He only has a canoe. c. He lost his fishing knife. d. He is scared of the water

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[ Chapter 7 ] Vocabulary 1. pony (n): a small horse ✎ The young children rode ponies while the adults rode horses.

2. tug (v): to pull something with a quick, forceful movement ✎ The baby tugged at the curtains, and they fell off.

3. bellow (v): to shout in a deep voice ✎ The coach bellowed orders to his players, telling them to run faster.

4. yanked (v): to suddenly pull (something) in a quick, forceful way ✎ I yanked at my dog’s leash when he tried to run into the street.

5. permission (n): the right or ability to do something ✎ The teacher gave me her permission to go home early because I was sick.

6. bolt (v): to move or go very suddenly and quickly from or to a particular place ✎ She bolted up from the bed when the alarm sounded.

7. in a flash (idiom): quickly; immediately, suddenly ✎ The theft happened in a flash, and before I knew it, my wallet was gone.

8. lurched (v): to make a sudden sideways or forward motion ✎ The jeep lurched to a stop when the deer ran across the road.

9. jam (v): to press or push (an object) into a tight place ✎ He jammed the book back into his full backpack.

10. housebroken (adj): a pet that is trained to use the bathroom outside the home or in an acceptable place indoors ✎ Cats are easy to be housebroken because they knowingly use the litterbox.

11. cores (n): the central part of a fruit (such as an apple) that contains the seeds ✎ I cut the apple into pieces and cut out the core.

12. snoop (n): to look for private information about someone or something ✎ The famous singer doesn't want reporters snooping into her personal life.

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* A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. CAUSE AND EFFECT Why did Josh have to be home? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 2. What did the twins end up doing? a. Catch turtles in the river b. Ride the pony c. Put together a puzzle d. Help Josh with the kidnapping mystery 3. What did Ruth Rose suggest they change in their investigation? a. Look for the kidnapper b. Look for Winnie c. Look for food d. Interview their suspects again 4. What did the kids realize about having a kidnapped panda? Check all that are true. a. ______ You can’t hide one in your house because it is not housebroken. b. ______ It would cry a lot because it misses its mommy. c. ______ It would want to eat apples, so you need to be near a market. d. ______ You would have to hid it in a noisy place.

5. Where did they decide to go check? a. The zoo b. The fitness center c. Tom Steele’s office 6. Why would it not be strange for the kids to go back there again? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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[ Chapter 8 ] Vocabulary 1. prowl (v): to move through a place and look carefully to notice something ✎ I prowled through the store looking for sales.

2. grown-up (n): adult; a person who is fully grown ✎ Harry Potter books appeal to both children and grown-ups.

3. diving (v): a sport or activity in which people dive into water from a diving board or a platform ✎ He won a gold medal in diving because of his perfect form.

4. changing room (n): a room you can change into or try on clothes ✎ While I was shopping, I took three shirts into the changing room to try them on.

5. storage (n): space where you put things when they are not being used ✎ The family cleaned out their storage and donated many things to charity.

6. peek (v): to look at something briefly ✎ I peeked into the library to see if my friend was inside.

7. stash (v): to put (something) away ✎ He stashed the soccer equipment inside his closet because the season was over.

8. shallow (adj): having a small distance to the bottom from the surface or highest point ✎ The shallow end of the pool is three feet deep, so kids are allowed to swim there.

9. stampede (n): a situation in which a lot of people try to move at the same time ✎ The children made a stampede to the cafeteria for the Halloween party.

10. clambered (v): to climb or crawl in an awkward way ✎ Mary clambered out of the lake after swimming with her dog.

11. confusion (n): a situation in which people are uncertain about what to do or are unable to understand something clearly ✎ There was road construction, so the detour caused much confusion.

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12. shivering (v): to shake slightly because you are cold, afraid, etc. ✎ It was so cold that I was shivering.

13. corridor (n): a long hallway ✎ I got out of the elevator and walked down the corridor to the doctor’s office.

14. ancient (adj): very old : having lived or existed for a very long time ✎ You can see ancient paintings and sculpture in Rome.

15. rusty (adj): covered with a reddish substance that forms on metal usually when it comes in contact with moisture or air ✎ The ancient car hadn’t been used in years and was rusty.

16. chattering (v): to make clicking sounds by knocking together rapidly ✎ My teeth were chattering from the cold.

17. thunder (n): he very loud sound that comes from the sky during a storm : the sound that follows a flash of lightning ✎ Lightning flashed and thunder boomed during the storm.

18. poke (v): to push your finger or something thin or pointed into or at someone or something ✎ He poked a stick at the snake to see if it was alive.

19. trapdoor (n): a door that covers or hides an opening in a floor or ceiling that leads to a room ✎ I opened the trapdoor on the ceiling and pulled down the ladder that led into the attic.

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[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. CHARACTER MOTIVES Why were the children going to swim at the fitness center? a. To not make Flip suspicious of them being back. b. They ate too much and were feeling bad. c. To look for clues in the pool. d. They wanted to use their free passes.

2. CHARACTER MOTIVES What did they really want to do? a. Interview Flip again. b. Look for Winnie. c. Have fun in the water. d. Go Bowling.

3. NOTE DETAILS What does it mean when the lifeguard blows his whistle two times? a. Everyone stop talking. b. Every stop moving. c. Everyone must leave the pool. d. Everyone must swim for 15 minutes.

4. CONFLICT & RESOLUTION What plan did the kids make while they were in the pool? a. Go to the bathroom and take a shower b. Check out the two unmarked doors c. Go find the bowling alley d. Go check in the exercise room 5. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] The unlocked room the kids went into was pitch-black, so they turned on the lights from the top of the stairs.

6. DRAW CONCLUSIONS How old is the building today? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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7. NOTE DETAILS What hurt Josh? a. A panda b. A handle c. A door d. A mat 8. What did the kids find at the end of the chapter? a. A trap b. A dangerous handle c. The entrance of a secret room d. Winnie 9. MAKE JUDGEMENTS What do you think will happen next? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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[ Chapter 9 ] Vocabulary 1. beneath (preposition): below; in or to a lower position than (something or someone) ✎ I can see fish swimming just beneath the surface of the water.

2. lead (v): to lie or go in a specified direction ✎ The path that leads to the village was blocked off because of the rock slide.

3. skitter (v): to move quickly and lightly along a surface ✎ Mice skittered across the floor of the dirty restaurant.

4. dust (n): fine powder made up of very small pieces of earth or sand ✎ The dust in the room made us sneeze.

5. stung (v): to have caused a quick, sharp pain ✎ The smoke from the campfire stung my eyes.

6. coal (n): a black or brownish-black hard substance within the earth that is used as a fuel ✎ The furnace burns coal that heats up the entire room.

7. cough (v): to force air through your throat with a short, loud noise because you are sick or have to clear your throat ✎ The dust in the old library made him cough.

8. instantly (adv): immediately, happening at without delay ✎ She was killed instantly when her motorcycle hit a tree.

9. panic (v): a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally ✎ He was in a panic when he realized how late he was to the math competition.

10. disgusting (adj): so unpleasant to see, smell, taste, consider, etc., that you feel slightly sick ✎ The vegetarian doesn’t eat meat and finds the idea of eating it totally disgusting.

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11. figure out (verb phrase): to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking ✎ I figured out what my mom was making for dinner by the smell coming from the kitchen.

12. force (v): to cause (something) to open by using physical effort or violence ✎ The police forced open the door of the house where the thieves were hiding.

13. stumbled (v): to walk in an awkward way ✎ She stumbles out of bed around 7:00 a.m. to get ready for school.

14. basement (n): the part of a building that is entirely or partly below the ground ✎ During a tornado or a hurricane, hiding in the basement is the safest place to be.

15. chute (n): a narrow tube or passage that things and people go down or through ✎ She dropped the bags into the trash chute that leads to the large trash bin.

16. whimper (n): to make a quiet crying sound ✎ I could hear the puppy whimpering because he wanted to go outside.

17. grope (v): to move forward carefully by putting your hands in front of you so that you can feel what is in front of you ✎ The explorers groped along the dark passage into the cave.

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[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. CONFLICT & RESOLUTION What did the children find when they went down the stairs? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 2. NOTE DETAILS What was the room used for long ago? a. A basement b. A coal storage room c. An animal shelter d. A trap 3. CONFLICT & RESOLUTION What trouble happened when they were downstairs? a. Winnie attacked them b. They started chocking on the coal dust c. They were locked in d. It was too dark to see anything 4. MAKE PREDICTIONS Who do you think trapped the children inside? Explain your reason. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 5. SUMMARIZE Josh’s first suggestion for escape was that they __________________ ____________________________________________________________________ because the building is _________________.

6. SUMMARIZE Josh’s second suggestion for escape was that they look for a ____________________________ because it would _________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.

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7. Josh had the good ideas for escape, but Dink found a ________________________, and Ruth Rose found the _______________________ which really helped them to escape. a. ladder b. shovel c. door d. chute e. key 8. What did Dink use the shovel for? a. To dig them out of the room b. To break the trapdoor c. To walk better by using it as a cane d. To pound the wall, so someone can hear them 9. MAKE INFERENCES Now that they found what they were looking for, what do you think they will use the shovel for? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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[ Chapter 10 ] Vocabulary 1. smack (v): to set or hit (something) on or against something else so that it makes a loud noise ✎ The dog ran and smacked into the glass window.

2. judge (v): to form an opinion about (something or someone) after careful thought ✎ Judging by its smell, I'd say the milk is spoiled and no longer good to drink.

3. blindfolded (adv): with the eyes covered by a piece of cloth ✎ The student cooks were blindfolded and had to figure out what they were smelling.

4. piñata (n): a decorated container filled with candies, fruits, and gifts that is hung up at parties or celebrations and hit with a stick by children until it is broken and the things inside it fall out ✎ The children rushed to grab the candy that came out of the piñata when it broke.

5. solid (n): firm or hard ✎ When ice melts, it passes from a solid to a liquid form.

6. might (n): power to do something : force or strength ✎ He swung the bat with all his might and made a home run.

7. shattered (v): to break suddenly into many small pieces ✎ The window shattered into a thousand pieces when it was hit by a rock.

8. slimy (adj): covered with a thick, slippery liquid ✎ You must be careful when you walk along the river because the mud is slimy.

9. beam (n): a line of light coming from a source (such as the sun or a headlight) ✎ We saw the beams from their flashlights.

10. slanted (adj): to not be level or straight up and down ✎ The floor slants down slightly so the ball rolled down.

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11. handy-dandy (adj): very simple and easy to use ✎ Smart phones are handy-dandy to have because they have many functions, like a camera, calendar, email, and music storage.

12. pile (n): a group of things that are put one on top of another ✎ She raked the leaves into a pile to put them in the trashcan.

13. steep (adj): almost straight up and down : rising or falling very sharply ✎ The mountain was so steep that we needed hiking sticks to walk up.

14. slippery (adj): difficult to stand on, move on, or hold because of being smooth, wet, icy, etc. ✎ After the rain, the trails were muddy and slippery.

15. boost (v): to push or shove (something or someone) up from below ✎ She boosted the boy onto his dad’s shoulders.

16. faraway (adj): very distant ✎ My grandfather told me stories about faraway lands.

17. comforting (adj): causing (someone) to feel less worried, upset, frightened, etc. ✎ Knowing that I can rely on my family for help is a comforting thought.

18. snuggle (v): to lie or sit close together in a comfortable position ✎ The puppy snuggled up against the sleeping boy.

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[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. What did Josh tell Dink to pretend he was doing as he broke the chute? a. Playing baseball b. Trying to break a piĂąata c. Playing tennis d. Breaking out of jail 2. When Dink finally succeeded, what fell out? a. Candy b. Money c. Cookies d. Leaves 3. [ TRUEâˆŁFALSE ] Ruth thought she should be the one who goes up the shoot.

4. SEQUENCE What was their escape plan? a. ______ Boosted Ruth Rose up to the opening b. ______ Took turns shoveling the coal c. ______ Run to the police station d. ______ Made a pile of coal e. ______ Climb out of the chute 5. Why did they pick Ruth Rose to go get help? a. She was the fastest runner. b. She was afraid of the dark. c. She was the smallest. d. She was the only girl.

6. MAKE INFERENCES What color would Winnie be now? Why? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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7. Who did Winnie think was her mom? a. Dink b. Josh c. Ruth Rose 8. Who came to rescue the boys? a. Flip b. Ruth Rose c. Officer Fallon d. Jimmy Fallon

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[ Chapter 11 ] Vocabulary 1. get away with (idiom): to do something and not get punished for it ✎ She cheated on the test and thought she could get away with it, but she got caught.

2. lawn (n): an area of ground (such as the ground around a house or in a garden or park) that is covered with short grass ✎ On the sunny Saturday, we had a picnic on the lawn of our house.

3. stalk (n): a thick or tall stem of a plant ✎ I dipped the celery stalks into peanut butter.

4. prove (v): to show the existence, truth, or correctness of (something) by using evidence, logic, etc. ✎ We have evidence that will prove that he stole the car.

5. yawn (v): involuntarily open one's mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom ✎ During the boring speech, he began yawning and looking at his watch.

6. entitled (adj): to give a right to (someone) ✎ The school ID entitles students to a discount at the Apple store.

7. confess (v): to admit that you did something wrong or illegal ✎ After being questioned for many hours by police, he confessed that he had stolen the panda.

8. cellar (n): basement; the part of a building that is entirely or partly below the ground ✎ There is a jail in the cellar of the castle.

9. attempt (v): to try to do (something) : to try to accomplish or complete (something) ✎ Many climbers attempted to climb up Mount Everest before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay succeeded on May 29, 1953.

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10. extort (v): to get (something, such as money) from a person by the use of force or threats ✎ The criminal extorted money from businesses in the neighborhood.

11. community service (n): voluntary work intended to help people in a community ✎ The volunteers do community service once a month, such as going to the park to pick up trash, or teaching senior citizens how to use the computer.

12. benefit of the doubt (n): to decide that you will believe someone, even though you are not sure that what the person is saying is true ✎ He might be lying, but his parents gave him the benefit of the doubt and accepted what he told them.

13. win-win (adj): providing a good result for everyone involved ✎ This is a win-win situation because I will help you clean your room, and you will help me with my school project.

14. treat (v): to pay for someone's food, drink, or entertainment ✎ Since you treated me to lunch last week, our meal today is on me.

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[COMPREHENSION ] Write open-ended questions in complete sentences.

1. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] The children and Winnie have not showered since their rescue.

2. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] The children could prove that Flip was the kidnapper.

3. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] The police would have left a million dollars in the hollow tree if the children had not solved the crime.

4. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] Flip thought he should have gotten more money from his grandmother’s fortune.

5. CAUSE & EFFECT What shocked Flip? (check all that are true) a. When he saw a ghost b. When Rose Ruth walked into the gym c. When the coal cellar door opened d. When Officer Fallon walked in 6. [ TRUE∣FALSE ] Flip will go to jail.

7. SUMMARIZE How would Grandma Win have felt about what Flip had done? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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Find the Panda!

INSTRUCTIONS In this crowd of snowpeople, there is a panda hiding! Can you find it?

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BOOK REPORT: Sum It Up! Title __________________________________________________________________ Author _____________________________________________ # of pages _________ A story plot outlines the most important parts of a story. Look at each part in the diagram below and fill out the book report on the following pages identifying this story’s plot.

GENRE (how we classify or group books) Check one: A. Non-fiction (real): Biography, Autobiography, Informational B. Fiction (made up):Â Fantasy, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, or Traditional Literature (folktale, legend, fable, fairy tale, tall tale, myth) 43

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CHARACTERS - List the main characters and include a little description about them and their personality traits. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ SETTING - Where does the story take place? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ BACKGROUND - How does the book begin? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 44

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CONFLICT - What is the major problem in the story? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ RISING ACTION - When does the story get more exciting? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ CLIMAX - What is the turning point (OR the most exciting point) in the story? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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FALLING ACTION - How is the problem finally solved? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION - How does the story end? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ THEME - What do you think is the lesson this story is trying to teach the reader? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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THUMBS UP What did you like best about this story? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ THUMBS DOWN What did you like least? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ FINAL REVIEW Would you recommend this book to others to read? Why or why not? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DIARY WRITING INSTRUCTIONS If Flip had written a diary entry after he had locked the trap door of the coal cellar, what would he have written? Think about what he had done, why he had done it, and what he is feeling and thinking. Does he have regrets, or does he feel good about what he had done? What might he be worried about? Try to use some of the vocabulary words you’ve learned from this book.

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FINAL REVIEW QUIZ 1. What is the setting of the book? a. on an island or a beach b. on a mountain c. in a town or city d. in the countryside 2. What is the name of the baby panda that is kidnapped? a. Winnie b. Ping c. Rosie d. Ling 3. Whose grandmother donated money to the make the Panda Park? a. Officer Fallon b. Irene Napper c. Tom Steele d. Fink Frances 4. In the beginning of the story, how does the crowd know that something is wrong with the mother panda? a. She starts crying  b. She throws bamboo at the crowd c. She charged the fence and banged at the fence d. She starts to yell at the crowd 5. [ TRUEâˆŁFALSE ] Only one person has the key to the Panda Park.

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6. What two things did they found in the panda’s cave? a. _____ A Christmas card b. _____ A ransom note c. _____ A love letter d. _____ An alarm clock e. _____ A stop watch 7. What did the panda-nappers want in return for the panda? a. A thousand dollars b. A million dollars c. A billion dollars d. A gazillion dollars 8. How did the children interview their suspects? a. They made an appointment with the police. b. They asked their parents to help them. c. They pretended to be writing an article for the newspaper. d. They pretended to be working on a school project.

9. Why did Josh think Irene Napper was the kidnapper? a. She had big hands. b. She had big feet. c. She wasn’t sad when the children interviewed her. d. She has the key to the Panda Park.

10. Who had a messy office? a. Irene Napper b. Tom Steele c. Fink Frances d. Officer Fallon 50

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11. What did Fink give the children? a. A free gym pass b. A free swim pass c. A chocolate milkshake d. A health shake 12. While the children were babysitting the twins, what did they decide to do to better their chances of solving the case? a. They decided to look for the million dollars b. They decided to look for the kidnapper c. They decided to look for Winnie d. They decided to go swimming 13. Put the following steps in order of how the children solve the mystery: a. _____ 4The kids find Winnie. b. _____ 1During “adult swim,� the children sneak into a storage room. c. _____ 3The kids go into a coal room. d. _____ 5They kids are locked in the room, so they look for a way out. e. _____ 2The kids find a trapdoor.

14. Who runs to find help for the locked children? a. Dink b. Ruth Rose c. Josh 15. Who was the panda-napper? a. Irene Napper b. Tom Steele c. Fink Frances d. Officer Fallon 51