1. George is quick to call Joey and Joan his friends. Why? What does this reveal about him?

2. Should Joan and Joey have known better than to believe George knew of a "hidden river" with plentiful, usable water? Why?

3. To what extent does George react or think like an animal and to what extent does he react or speak like a person?

What are some of his human attributes?

4. Joey's ideas for finding ways to have George earn money are not quite feasible. Can you come up with some more practical plans?

5. Was Joey right to ride into Silo to report the missing money so quickly?

Why or why not? How could he have acted differently?

6. George is right when he sneers at the fossil he uncovers for belonging to a small mammal. Why might the author have made the discovered fossil be that of...