Chapter: 06. Tom Has A Toothache
A. Answer these questions briefly.
Tom always felt miserable on Monday mornings because it marked the beginning of another week of “slow suffering in school.” Tom’s second attempt at feigning illness was a loose upper front tooth. He abandoned it initially because he realized Aunt Polly would pull it out, which would hurt. Tom exaggerated his pain by claiming he had been suffering for “Hours,” that Sid would “kill him” by moving, and by dramatically forgiving everyone as if he were dying. Upon reaching Tom’s bedside, Aunt Polly’s face grew white, and her lips trembled. Tom’s final and true reason for wanting to avoid school was to go fishing. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“Here was a vague possibility. He canvassed his system. No ailment was found, and he investigated again.”
a. What was the “vague possibility” Tom was considering?
* The “vague possibility” Tom was considering was that he might be sick and could stay home from school.
b. What does “canvassed his system” mean in this sentence?
* In this sentence, “canvassed his system” means Tom thoroughly examined his body or thought about himself to find any signs or symptoms of illness.
c. What does this phrase reveal about Tom’s approach to faking sickness?
* It reveals that Tom was methodical and deliberate in his attempt to find a believable reason to skip school, actively searching for an ailment rather than just wishing for one. “Tom was suffering in reality, now, so handsomely was his imagination working, and so his groans had gathered quite a genuine tone.”
a. What caused Tom to start “suffering in reality”?
* Tom started “suffering in reality” because his imagination was working so powerfully that he became truly convinced of his own feigned pain and distress.
b. What does the phrase “handsomely was his imagination working” imply?
* It implies that Tom’s imagination was working very effectively and skillfully, making his act highly convincing, even to himself.
c. How did the “genuine tone” of his groans affect the situation?
* The “genuine tone” of his groans made his performance more believable, particularly to Sid, leading Sid to become genuinely frightened and rush for Aunt Polly. C. Think and answer.
Critical Thinking: Tom’s elaborate plan required a lot of thought and effort. If he had put that much effort into his schoolwork, how might his Monday mornings be different? If Tom put that much effort into his schoolwork, his Monday mornings might be less dreadful because he would likely understand the lessons better, complete his assignments easily, and perhaps even enjoy the challenge of learning. He might feel more confident and less inclined to avoid school if he were excelling there. Literary Analysis: The story uses humor to portray a common childhood experience. Identify one humorous moment or line in the extract and explain why you find it funny. (Example Answer) One humorous moment is when Tom proclaims, “My sore toe’s mortified!” It’s funny because “mortified” is an extreme medical term for a minor toe ache, showing the dramatic exaggeration of a child trying to convince adults of their suffering. Aunt Polly’s reaction of laughing, then crying, then doing both, also adds to the humor, highlighting the absurdity of Tom’s claim and her exasperated affection. Personal Connection: Have you ever felt “Monday Blues” like Tom? Describe a time when you really didn’t want to do something you were supposed to do, and what you did about it. (Answers will vary based on personal experience. Look for a clear description of not wanting to do something and the action taken.) D. Vocabulary in Context.
“it made the going into captivity and fetters again so much more odious.”
b. disgusting “Tom was aggravated. He said, ‘Sid, Sid!’ and shook him.”
c. annoyed “My sore toe’s mortified!”
b. dead and decayed E. Language Application: Prefixes and Suffixes
Add a prefix to the word ‘patient’ to make it mean the opposite. Add a suffix to the word ‘wonder’ to make it an adjective. Which prefix would you add to ‘possible’ to mean ‘not possible’? F. Language Application: Pronouns
The girl who wrote the story received an award. Did you see anything unusual happening last night? (or something) Which is your favorite subject in school? The book that I read yesterday was very exciting. (or which) If anyone knows the answer, please raise your hand. (or somebody) 
Answer key