English 1 SE Reading Guide: The Big Mouth & Ugly Girl

Big Mouth & Ugly Girl
Study Guide

“Why do old people who’ve known you since infancy think they actually know you and can say insulting things?”

Directions: For each question or statement, fill in the blank or write a short answer. The page numbers are listed so you can find the page the information is located on. These notes will be used to study for the quiz at the end of the book.


1. (p. 3) Rocky River High School is in ____________________________ County.
2. (p. 12) List 2 characteristics of Ursula Riggs and 2 characteristics of Ugly Girl
a. Ursula Riggs
i.
ii.
b. Ugly Girl
i.
ii.
3. (p. 12) Ugly Girl’s moods range from________ _________ to _________ _________.
4. (p. 9) How would you describe Ugly Girl as the captain of the basketball team?
(p. 21) Describe Ursula’s relationship with her Dad.

6. (p. 26) Rumors are spread that Matt Donaghy _____________________________ ___________________________________________________________________.
7. (p. 26-28) What was Ugly Girl’s reaction when she heard the rumor about Donaghy?

(p. 42) Describe some characteristics of Matt Donaghy.


9. (p. 43-44) Matt has a talent for_________________________________________.
10. (p. 49-52) In what ways can we tell that Ursula and her mother do not have the best relationship?

11. (p. 56) Ursula e-mailed Matt stating ____________________________________.
12. (p. 57) What did the authorities/school decide to do with Matt? ____________________________________________________________________
13. (p. 59) Did anyone of Matt’s friends e-mail him back? ________
14. (p. 61) Pumpkin is the name of ___________ ___________.
(p. 67-68) What does Ursula’s mother think about Ursula’s decision to talk to authorities?

16. (p. 74) _________________ and _________________ came forward stating that Matt was falsely accused.
17. (p. 82) What happened to the charges against Matt?

18. (p. 85) How did Ursula act when Matt said, “Hi.” in school?

19. (p. 89) What did Matt end up doing with his e-mail to Ursula?

20. (pgs. 93 & 94) Why was Ugly Girl uncomfortable in the lunchroom when she was talking with her friends from the basketball team?



21. (pgs. 95 & 96) What did Matt go talk to Mr. Bernhardt about?



22. (p. 99) Why didn't Mr. Steiner want to print Matt's article in the school newspaper?




23. (p. 105 & 106) Matt's parents were telling him everything would be “O.K.” How did Matt's parents talk about things when they thought Matt couldn't hear them?



24. (p. 113) Why doesn't Ugly Girl like the Brewer twins?



25. (pg 124) Why does Matt's mom want to move away from Rocky River?



26. (pg 149 & 150) What happened when Matt went for a walk in the forest preserve?

27. Matt and Ursula write about many things when they email each other. Name three important things.
● (pg 162) ________________________________________________________
● (pg 168) ________________________________________________________
● (pg 168) ________________________________________________________
28. (pg 179) What are Ursula and her mother fighting about?

(pg. 185-187) The students at Rocky River High are shocked by whose relationship?



(pg. 188) What news does Ursula give Matt that upsets him?



(pg. 204-206) How do Matt and Ursula become friends again?



(pg. 211) Who gets kidnapped?



(pg. 232) Who does Ursula accuse of the kidnapping?



(pg. 240) Does Ursula rejoin the basketball team?



(pg. 246) Everyone think that it is a routine fire drill, what is it actually?



(pg. 249) Why was Matt taken into protective custody?



(pg. 251) Who really called in the bomb threat?



(pg. 251) How did the cops figure it out?



(pg. 252) Did Matt’s parents decide to drop the lawsuit?