PENGUIN READERS

Answer keys LEVEL 2 Teacher Support Programme

The Railway Children

Book key 17 a The children’s father is in prison.
b The police found some letters and papers in his
1 a  thief  b  blood  c  prison  d  signal desk.
e  danger  f  engine  g  line  h  lucky c Now the police think he is a spy.
2 a No d The children try to help a boy in the tunnel.
b Their father leaves home; they move away from e They are in the tunnel when a train comes through.
London. 18 Open answers
c No 19 a Phyllis
3 a No  b  Yes  c  No  d  No  e  No  f  No b the signalman
4 –5 Open answers c the signalman’s son
6 b, d, e and h are right d the doctor
7– 8 Open answers e the old man on the train
9 a don’t get f Jim
b Roberta, Mother g Mother
c old man on the train h everybody on the train
d The old man i the Station Master
e is j Roberta’s father
f ground 20 Possible answers:
g take off a They help the people on the train, Perks and his
h understands family, Mother, the baby on the boat and Jim.
10 a  fell  b  were  c  live  d  saw  e  thought b Peter takes coal from the station. They ask the old
f  took  g  knew  h  ran  i  waved  j  saw man for money. Roberta and Peter fight with the
k  stopped  l  said garden knife.
11 Open answers 21–28  Open answers
12 a  river  b  fish  c  children  d  husband
e  boat  f  fire  g  boat  h  father Discussion activities key
13 a  likes  b  likes  c  doesn’t like  d  likes 1 Students can see three children (two girls and a boy)
14 Possible answers: looking at a train. They should guess that the story
a Because they are fishing near his boat. takes place near a railway station in the country, and
b It is only for a short time. She wants to find her that it involves three children (two girls and a boy) and
husband. the interest they take in a local train.
c Because she is very happy. 2– 4  Open answers
d He wants to work for his money – he doesn’t want 5 Possible answers:
gifts. They were lucky children.
15 Open answers They had everything – pretty dresses, warm fires, good
16 a never > sometimes food.
b doesn’t cry > cries Their mother played with them and told them stories and
c is > isn’t they often laughed.
d Perks > Roberta Their father was never angry with them and he was always
e thinks > doesn’t think ready to help them.
f boat > train They were lucky and they were happy, and then …
g seven > five
h two boys > a boy
i foot > leg
j Nobody > Roberta

c Pearson Education Limited 2008 The Railway Children - Answer keys  of 2

 PENGUIN READERS
Answer keys LEVEL 2 Teacher Support Programme

The Railway Children

6 Possible answer: 11 Open answers
Dear Children, 12 a  Roberta  b  Roberta  c  Perks  d  Mother
I am sorry that your mother is ill and that you don’t e  Peter  f  Phyllis  g  Phyllis  h  The boy ( Jim)
have any money to buy food. Yes, I can help you. I will i  Roberta  j  The boy ( Jim)
give you some money to buy food for your mother. 13 a  3  b  2  c  4  d  1  e  6  f  5
Sincerely, 14 Possible answer:
Mr Smith Mother
7–20  Open answers Father
Jim, Bill and the people on the train
Activity worksheet key The man, woman and baby on the boat
1 Open answers Perks
2 a  Peter  b  Phyllis  c  Peter  d  Roberta Jim
e  Roberta  f  Phyllis  g  Peter  h  Roberta 15–16  Open answers
3 Open answers
4 a Because she can hear her mother crying. Progress test key
b Peter. 1 a  anything  b  something  c  everybody
c Because the children’s mother doesn’t like talking d  somebody  e  nothing  f  everything
about their father. g  nobody  h  somewhere
d The railway line, a dark tunnel, a big bridge. 2 a  to  b  to  c  to  d  for  e  for  f  for
e The station. g  to  h  to
f Because the coal is too expensive. 3 a Perks
g Coal. b Roberta, Peter and Phyllis
h The Station Master. c The man
5 a  1  b  6  c  4  d  2  e  7  f  3  g  5  h  8 d The man and his wife
6 a  because  b  so  c  so  d  because e The baby
e  because  f  so f Mrs Perks
7 a  4  b  7  c  6  d  1  e  8  f  5  g  2  h  3 g Perks
8 Open answers h The people in the village
9 a  2  b  1  c  4  d  3 4 a  sad  b  good  c  blood  d  wrong  e  the spy
10 a  7  b  3  c  7  d  3  e  7 f  better  g  wet  h  closed
f  3  g  7  h  3  i  7  j  7 5 a  2  b  1  c  2  d  3

c Pearson Education Limited 2008 The Railway Children - Answer keys  of 2