Chapter: 06. Tom Has A Toothache
A. Answer these questions.
Tom’s internal thought process involved first wishing he was sick, then canvassing his system for ailments. He considered “colicky symptoms” but found they “soon grew feeble.” Next, he found a loose tooth but discarded it as his primary excuse because of the pain of it being pulled. Finally, he remembered a doctor’s story about a “sore toe” and decided to chance that, even without knowing the symptoms. When Tom realized Aunt Polly might actually pull out his loose tooth, he cried out immediately, saying, “Oh, please, auntie, don’t pull it out. It doesn’t hurt any more.” He even added, “I don’t want to stay home from school,” indicating his fear of the tooth extraction was greater than his desire to skip school. The initial atmosphere in Tom’s room on Monday morning was quiet, with only Tom lying miserable and Sid sleeping on, unconscious of Tom’s internal struggles. To make his “dying” act more believable, Tom told Sid, “I forgive you for everything, Sid… Everything you’ve ever done to me. When I’m gone-” and then proceeded to give away his possessions like his “window-sash” and his “cat with one eye” to the new girl in town. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“But now he did not know the necessary symptoms. However, it seemed well worthwhile to chance it, so he fell to groaning with considerable spirit.”
a. What “it” is being referred to in the first sentence?
* “It” refers to the ailment that could make him lose a finger, which Tom was attempting to fake with his sore toe.
b. What does “chance it” mean in this context?
* “Chance it” means to take a risk or to try something even without full knowledge or certainty of success. Tom was going to pretend to have the symptoms even though he didn’t know what they were.
c. What does “groaning with considerable spirit” suggest about Tom’s approach to his act?
* It suggests that Tom was putting a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and dramatic flair into his fake groans, showing his determination and commitment to his performance. “Oh, Tom, you ain’t dying, are you?”
a. Who is the speaker of this line, and what emotion are they expressing?
* Sid is the speaker of this line, and he is expressing extreme fear and worry.
b. What did Tom say or do just before this line to provoke such a response?
* Just before this line, Tom dramatically stated, “I forgive you for everything, Sid… When I’m gone-”
c. How does this line show the effectiveness of Tom’s performance on the speaker?
* This line shows that Tom’s performance was highly effective on Sid, as Sid genuinely believed Tom was dying and was terrified by the thought. C. Think and answer.
Critical Thinking: Tom is very clever and uses his imagination to avoid school. Can imagination also be used in positive and productive ways in real life? Give examples. Yes, imagination can absolutely be used in many positive and productive ways in real life: Problem Solving: Inventors and scientists use imagination to envision new solutions to complex problems, from creating new technologies to finding cures for diseases. Art and Creativity: Artists, writers, musicians, and designers use imagination to create beautiful works that inspire, entertain, and provoke thought. Innovation: Entrepreneurs and business leaders use imagination to develop new products, services, and strategies that meet people’s needs and improve society. Empathy and Understanding: Imagination allows us to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, understand different perspectives, and foster empathy, which is crucial for building stronger relationships and communities. Planning and Goal Setting: Imagining a desired future helps people set goals, plan steps to achieve them, and visualize success. Learning: Students use imagination to grasp complex concepts, visualize historical events, or create mental models of scientific processes, making learning more engaging and effective. Communication: Imagine you are Aunt Polly. How would you explain to Tom the importance of honesty and why lying, even for playful reasons, isn’t a good idea? Write a short speech you might give him. (Aunt Polly, sighing, sitting beside Tom’s bed)
“Tom, dear, look at me. You gave me quite a fright this morning, didn’t you? My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when Sid came running down, screaming you were dying. You know I love you, boy, more than words can say. But when you make up stories like that, even just to get out of school, it causes real worry. Think about Sid, how scared he was. And think about me. If you truly were sick one day, and you’ve cried wolf so many times, how would I know to believe you? Honesty, Tom, is like a strong bridge between people. It builds trust. When you tell the truth, even about something you don’t want to do, people know they can rely on your words. And that, my boy, is much more important than a day of fishing. Now, no more outrageousness, understand? We’ll always work things out if you’re honest with me.” 
Answer key