The mouse and the motorcycle by beverly cleary
Week 2: Chapters 3–4 — The First Ride and the Wastebasket
Read Chapters 3–4 of The Mouse and the Motorcycle.
Previewing Week 2 of The mouse and the motorcycle
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 8-week guide when you’re ready.
Ralph finally gets his hands — or rather, his paws — on the motorcycle, and the results are both thrilling and disastrous. Think about what it costs to reach for something you've always wanted.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Walk through the sequence of events that leads to Ralph's first attempt to ride the motorcycle. What risks does he take just to get to the end table where it sits?
2.Ralph discovers that he can make the motorcycle move by going 'Pb-pb-b-b-b' with his mouth — the sound of a motor. What does this detail tell us about how Beverly Cleary imagines the relationship between imagination and reality in this story?
3.The ringing telephone startles Ralph and sends him and the motorcycle tumbling into the metal wastebasket. Have you ever reached for something exciting and ended up in a mess because of it? What did you learn from that experience?