Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. Housepainter (Chapter 1)

2. A penguin (Chapter 3)

3. The icebox (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. Mr. Popper is interested in the North and South Poles and wishes he could be a scientist exploring the polar regions. Because Mr. Popper is attached to his family, however, he pursues his interests by reading about the polar regions in books and talking about them with his wife. Mr. Popper is particularly interested in penguins. (Chapters 1-2)

2. Mr. Popper’s activities such as reading and studying revolve around his interests in the Arctic regions; Mrs. Popper attends to daily activities such as sewing, housekeeping, and finances, and she also stretches the budget in ways that will see the family through the winter. Mr. Popper is described as a dreamer who has an absent-minded air about him, while Mrs. Popper is more practical and efficient. Their traits lead them to disagree at times; for example, when Mr. Popper favorably describes penguins as pets, Mrs. Popper disagrees, citing the mess they would make. (Chapter 2)

3. At first Mrs. Popper is shocked to see Captain Cook and screams in fear and distrust as the bird pecks at her ankle.