Instructions
- Read each question carefully.
- Circle the letter of the best answer.
- Use details from Chapter 2, The Open Road, of The Wind in the Willows.
- For the challenge questions, explain your thinking in one or two sentences.
Helpful reminder: Chapter 2 follows Mole and Rat as they spend time on the river, share a picnic, and learn more about one another.
Multiple-Choice Review
Part A: Remembering Details
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What does Rat invite Mole to do at the beginning of the chapter?
A. Go hunting in the Wild Wood
B. Take a trip in his boat
C. Visit Badger’s house
D. Build a new home underground -
How does Mole feel when he first gets into Rat’s boat?
A. Nervous and frightened
B. Angry and impatient
C. Delighted and excited
D. Tired and bored -
What does Rat say is one of the best things to do?
A. Simply messing about in boats
B. Exploring large cities
C. Collecting expensive objects
D. Winning competitions -
What do Mole and Rat do during their outing?
A. Have a picnic
B. Go swimming across the river
C. Search for lost treasure
D. Repair a bridge -
Where does Rat live?
A. In a cave deep in the Wild Wood
B. In a comfortable home near the riverbank
C. In a tree above the river
D. In a house at the top of a hill -
What does Rat do when he notices that Mole is enjoying the river?
A. He tells Mole to leave immediately.
B. He invites Mole to stay with him.
C. He challenges Mole to a race.
D. He gives Mole a map of the Wild Wood.
Part B: Understanding Characters and Events
-
What does Rat’s love of the river reveal about his character?
A. He is adventurous and easygoing.
B. He dislikes meeting new people.
C. He is competitive and selfish.
D. He is afraid of nature. -
Why is Mole especially interested in Rat’s way of life?
A. Mole has never experienced the river before.
B. Mole wants to become a boat builder.
C. Mole is planning to move to the city.
D. Mole has always disliked his underground home. -
Which statement best describes the relationship developing between Mole and Rat?
A. They become suspicious enemies.
B. They begin to form a close friendship.
C. They compete to control the river.
D. They avoid speaking to one another. -
Why does Rat bring food for the outing?
A. He expects to be away from home for a while.
B. He is preparing food for Badger.
C. He wants to sell food to travelers.
D. He is celebrating a holiday. -
What does the river represent for Rat?
A. A dangerous place that should be avoided
B. A place of freedom, relaxation, and enjoyment
C. A place where he must work constantly
D. A boundary that separates him from his friends -
How does Mole’s behavior change during the chapter?
A. He becomes more comfortable and open to adventure.
B. He becomes more frightened of Rat.
C. He becomes determined to return underground.
D. He becomes angry about the picnic.
Part C: Thinking More Deeply
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Why is the picnic important to the story?
A. It gives Mole and Rat time to build trust and friendship.
B. It proves that Mole is a better cook than Rat.
C. It introduces a conflict between Mole and Badger.
D. It shows that the river is unsafe. -
Which theme is best supported by this chapter?
A. New experiences can lead to friendship and personal growth.
B. People should never leave their homes.
C. Nature is always dangerous.
D. Competition is more important than cooperation. -
What is the most likely reason Rat encourages Mole to stay with him?
A. Rat wants companionship and enjoys Mole’s company.
B. Rat needs help repairing his boat.
C. Rat wants Mole to guard his house.
D. Rat plans to send Mole into the Wild Wood. -
If Mole had refused Rat’s invitation, what would most likely have been lost?
A. The beginning of Mole and Rat’s friendship
B. Rat’s ability to swim
C. The picnic food
D. The riverbank itself -
Which description best matches the mood of most of the chapter?
A. Peaceful and joyful
B. Frightening and violent
C. Mysterious and sorrowful
D. Angry and argumentative -
Rat’s statement about “messing about in boats” most strongly suggests that he values—
A. enjoying simple activities without rushing
B. earning money through travel
C. proving that he is stronger than others
D. avoiding all responsibility
Optional Challenge
-
Which detail from Chapter 2 best shows that Mole is beginning to change?
A. He becomes willing to try boating and spend time away from home.
B. He refuses to speak to Rat.
C. He returns to digging immediately.
D. He decides never to leave the riverbank. -
In two or three sentences, explain how the river helps bring Mole and Rat together.
Answer Key
- B — Rat invites Mole to take a trip in his boat.
- C — Mole is delighted and excited by the experience.
- A — Rat says there is “nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
- A — Mole and Rat have a picnic during their outing.
- B — Rat lives in a comfortable home near the riverbank.
- B — Rat invites Mole to stay with him.
- A — Rat is adventurous and easygoing.
- A — Mole has never experienced the river before.
- B — They begin to form a close friendship.
- A — Rat expects to spend time away from home and brings food for the picnic.
- B — The river represents freedom, relaxation, and enjoyment for Rat.
- A — Mole becomes more comfortable and open to adventure.
- A — The picnic gives them time to build trust and friendship.
- A — The chapter supports the idea that new experiences can lead to friendship and personal growth.
- A — Rat wants companionship and enjoys Mole’s company.
- A — Mole might have missed the beginning of his friendship with Rat.
- A — The chapter’s mood is mostly peaceful and joyful.
- A — Rat values enjoying simple activities without rushing.
- A — Mole becomes willing to try boating and spend time away from home.
- Sample answer: The river gives Mole and Rat a shared place to relax, explore, and enjoy a meal together. Their time on the river helps Mole feel welcome and allows their friendship to grow.