Frontier Magic Questions Worksheet
Reading Check • Multiple Choice Patricia C. Wrede • Frontier Magic Series
Thirteenth Child
Chapter Comprehension Quiz • Chapters 1–3
Name:
Date:
Period:
Directions: Read each question and choose the best answer based on Chapters 1–3. Circle or fill in the letter of your choice.
Part I
Chapters 1 & 2: Family & Superstitions
- In the world of the novel, what superstition do people believe about twins Lan and Eff?
A. Seventh sons cause bad luck, while thirteenth children bring good fortune.
B. A seventh son of a seventh son has great magic, but a thirteenth child is cursed and evil.
C. Twins can never do magic because they cancel out each other's powers.
D. Thirteenth children become teachers, while seventh sons must guard the frontier.
- How do neighbors and people in Mill City react when they learn about the twins' birth?
A. They celebrate Lan as a blessed child of luck, but whisper and worry that Eff will bring evil.
B. They give Eff protective charms to prevent her from doing accidental magic.
C. They ignore both babies because large families are very common in Mill City.
D. They demand that the town council send Eff away to an eastern boarding school.
- Why does young Eff constantly try to control her temper and feelings?
A. She wants to get the highest grades for good behavior in her class.
B. Her father strictly punishes any child who gets angry at home.
C. She worries that normal feelings like anger mean she is turning evil.
D. She is afraid her anger will accidentally cause a fire in the house.
Part II
Chapters 2 & 3: Learning Magic & School in Mill City
- How does Eff's father (Professor Rothmer) view magic compared to common folk superstitions?
A. He hates magic and forbids anyone from casting spells in the house.
B. He trusts old superstitions and uses lucky charms to make decisions.
C. He believes only seventh sons are smart enough to learn defensive spells.
D. He sees magic as a subject to study with logic and hard work, not an omen.
- What is hard about going to school in Mill City for Lan and Eff?
A. Lan is pressured to be a magical genius, while Eff is left out and distrusted.
B. The school bans children from large families from taking math and science.
C. Lan refuses to speak in class, so Eff has to answer every question for him.
D. Older students constantly challenge Lan to dangerous magic fights.
Thirteenth Child Comprehension Assessment • Chapters 1–3 Page 1 of 2
Moving West & Frontier Life
Chapters 4 & 5: Traveling to North Shields
Student: ___________________
Part III
Chapter 4: Moving Away from Mill City
- Why does Professor Rothmer decide to move the family west to North Shields?
A. Uncle Arthur bought land out west and ordered the family to farm it.
B. He got a job at the new college and wanted his kids away from town gossip.
C. He was fired from his old school after an accidental magical explosion.
D. The government ordered all magical children to move to the frontier border.
- Why does Eff have mixed feelings about moving out west?
A. She gets sick on trains and does not want to leave her older married sisters.
B. She does not want to leave her secret job working at the town library.
C. She is glad to leave Mill City's whispers, but fears the wild frontier will make her evil.
D. She wants to stay in Mill City so she can keep going to school with her cousins.
Part IV
Chapter 5: North Shields & Frontier Life
- What makes the frontier town of North Shields different from Mill City?
A. It is an underground town that blocks all magic completely.
B. It is near the Great Barrier, where wild magic, mammoths, and beasts roam.
C. It is a huge, quiet city surrounded by brick walls with no magic at all.
D. It is an empty ghost town where no other families live.
- How do the people in North Shields treat the twins compared to people back in Mill City?
A. They lock Eff up right away because they fear thirteenth children even more.
B. They expect Lan to cast giant magic shields around the town on his first day.
C. They care more about whether kids are helpful than what number they were born.
D. They ignore the Rothmers because they dislike people from eastern cities.
Part V
Big Ideas: Superstition vs. Your Own Choices
- What is Eff's main inner struggle throughout Chapters 1–5?
A. Deciding whether to quit school and become a frontier scout.
B. Trying to prove that seventh sons are not actually good at magic.
C. Trying to convince her parents to move back to Mill City before winter.
D. Wondering if she is doomed to be evil, or if she can choose to be a good person.
Thirteenth Child Comprehension Assessment • Chapters 4–5 & Synthesis Page 2 of 2
Frontier Magic Answers Guide
Teacher Guide • Multiple-Choice Key Level: Lower 7th Grade
Thirteenth Child: Teacher Answer Key
Chapters 1–3: Superstition, Sibling Pressure, & Growing Up in Mill City
Quick Key (1–5)
1: B | 2: A | 3: C | 4: D | 5: A
Part I
Chapters 1 & 2: Question Explanations & Evidence
1. Superstitions About Lan and Eff (Chapter 1) Correct: B
Why B is correct: In the novel's world, people believe seventh sons of seventh sons have extraordinary magic, while thirteenth children bring bad luck and are doomed to turn evil. Why others are wrong: Option A reverses the lore; Option C is false because twins retain magic; Option D invents unrelated career rules.
2. Mill City Townspeople & Neighbor Reactions (Chapters 1 & 2) Correct: A
Why A is correct: When the twins are born, neighbors and visitors make a huge fuss over Lan as a lucky prodigy, while shaking their heads, whispering, and worrying about Eff being an unlucky thirteenth child. Why others are wrong: Neighbors do not provide protective charms (B), do not ignore them (C), and no petition is made to town leaders (D).
3. Eff's Fear of Her Own Feelings (Chapter 2) Correct: C
Why C is correct: Because Eff has heard town gossip her whole life, she worries that feeling normal frustration, anger, or jealousy means she is becoming evil. Why others are wrong: She is not motivated by school marks (A), her father is not overly harsh (B), and her fear is of wickedness, not starting accidental fires (D).
Part II
Chapters 2 & 3: Question Explanations & Evidence
4. Professor Rothmer's View of Magic vs. Superstition (Chapters 2 & 3) Correct: D
Why D is correct: Professor Rothmer is an academic scholar who teaches that magic is an intellectual study governed by logic, training, and ethics, rather than mystical curses or birth numbers. Why others are wrong: He does not ban magic (A), does not use fortune-telling omens (B), and treats all students equitably (C).
5. School Difficulties in Mill City (Chapter 3) Correct: A
Why A is correct: Lan is burdened by impossible expectations to produce effortless magic miracles, while Eff is viewed with distrust by classmates and teachers whenever an unexpected accident happens. Why others are wrong: The school has no size-of-family bans (B), Lan participates normally (C), and no duels occur (D).
Tip for 7th Graders: Notice how societal rumors in Mill City affect Eff's inner thoughts. Even without someone actively punishing her, town whispers make Eff feel guilty just for having everyday emotions.
Thirteenth Child Answer Key (Lower 7th Grade) • Chapters 1–3 Guide Page 1 of 2
Teacher Guide • Multiple-Choice Key
Chapters 4 & 5 & Reflection: Answers & Discussion
Quick Key (6–10)
6: B | 7: C | 8: B | 9: C | 10: D
Part III
Chapter 4: Question Explanations & Evidence
6. Reasons for Moving West (Chapter 4) Correct: B
Why B is correct: Professor Rothmer is hired to teach at the newly established frontier college in North Shields. Moving also gives Lan and Eff a clean break from town gossip, school pressures, and Mill City prejudices.
7. Eff's Mixed Feelings About Moving (Chapter 4) Correct: C
Why C is correct: Eff is relieved to leave behind the whispers and cold stares of Mill City, but she is frightened because the frontier is famous for being wild and dangerous—she worries that without civilization, she might lose control and turn evil.
Part IV
Chapter 5: Question Explanations & Evidence
8. What Makes North Shields Different (Chapter 5) Correct: B
Why B is correct: North Shields borders the Great Barrier, an enchanted boundary that defends the settlement against dangerous frontier beasts (mammoths, grubs) and unpredictable wild magic.
9. How Frontier People Treat the Twins (Chapter 5) Correct: C
Why C is correct: Facing real frontier survival challenges, settlers judge people by their practical helpfulness and work ethic rather than superstitious birth-order labels.
Part V
Big Ideas: Superstition vs. Personal Choice
10. Eff's Main Struggle Across Chapters 1–5 Correct: D
Why D is correct: The main conflict is Eff's fear that she is fated to be bad because of old superstitions, versus her father's lesson that her moral choices determine who she is.
7th Grade Discussion Prompts
- Have you ever experienced rumors or stereotypes that affected how people viewed you or someone you know? How is that similar to Eff's situation in Mill City?
- Why does moving to a new community like North Shields help give someone a fresh start?
Thirteenth Child Answer Key (Lower 7th Grade) • Chapters 4–5 & Synthesis Guide Page 2 of 2
