92 pages 3 hours read

Susan Cooper

The Dark Is Rising

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1973

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Answer Key

Part 1, Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. A tramp (Chapter 1)

2. Put it on his belt (Chapter 1)

3. The black Rider appears (Chapter 2)

4. His mother (a dog would also be an acceptable answer) (Chapter 3)

5. Lights a fire (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. The animals all act like they’re afraid of him, and the radio plays loud static whenever he goes near it. (Chapter 1)

2. Snow is the birthday present that Will wants more than anything; in addition, his father says that 11 is a special birthday and should have a special ceremony. (Chapter 1)

3. Will feels it instinctively without knowing why. He doesn’t even know it is true until he says it. (Chapter 2)

4. Will believes that he, Merriman, and the Lady have defeated the Dark, so he thinks it is safe to open the doors. (Chapter 3)

5. First, he was standing on one of the Old Ways that the Old Ones used, and second, Merriman knew the girl’s true name. (Chapter 4)