Jackie French Comprehension Questions Answers
1. In 1991, a collection of short stories titled ‘Rain stones’ was published and this was the
beginning of Jackie French being a paid author. Describe the conditions she was living
in and the circumstances which ultimately led to her sending that initial short story to
the publisher Angus & Robertson.
She was living in a tin shed in the bush with no electric lighting and no hot water.
There was a drought, the creek had dried up, and she was earning nothing as a
farmer. French was desperately broke and she needed to earn $106.40 to register
her car! A friend suggested that she should try sending a story off, which is what
she did.
2. Jackie French is a strong advocate for children’s literacy. What does the word ‘advocate’
mean in this context?
An advocate is someone who fights for someone or something. In this context, it
means that she publicly and actively talked about the importance of reading and
writing for children.
3. In what ways has she been advocating for children’s literacy?
Student answers will vary. Answers may include:
• She accepted the role of the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015, and
passionately shared her pro-reading and pro-story telling beliefs
• She is a patron of various literacy programs across Australia
• She has a page on her website titled ‘The Rights of the Child Reader’ and a
discussion regarding what she includes on that
4. Jackie French has a learning difficulty, dyslexia. She explains that it has helped her be
cleverer with the way she uses words than she otherwise may have been. In your own
words, explain what you think she means by this.
Student answers will vary. Any answer that elaborates on and explains this
statement, without merely repeating it, would be acceptable.
5. What evidence in the text can you find that Jackie French is a very successful author?
Student answers will vary. Answers may include:
• Her books have been published in 36 languages, sold millions of copies
worldwide and won over 60 awards in Australia and overseas
• She is one of the few writers to win both literary and children’s choice awards
• A list of some of the personal awards she has won
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Jackie French Comprehension Questions Answers
6. Her advice to aspiring writers includes how important it is to put in the hard work and
practice. Explain the analogy she uses to demonstrate this.
She uses the analogy of brain surgery. No one would ever say, “Oh yes, you have
great potential as a brain surgeon. Here’s a hacksaw. Start chopping.” They would
expect you to work for a good decade before you actually got to do the surgery.
7. This Reading Comprehension includes six pieces of advice she gives to aspiring writers.
Rank them according to which ones you think are most important to least important.
Justify your answers.
Student answers will vary.
8. Jackie French is passionately pro-book and pro-story-telling. She argues that story-telling by
a book or by a story-reader is always infinitely superior to anything that can ever be done
by a TV. What are some possible influences that have led her to believing this? Include
evidence from the text to justify your assumptions.
Student answers will vary. Answers may include:
• Her mother used to read to her, helping her develop a love of stories from a
young age
• Her mother used to read to her, and stories may bring back memories of good
times spent with her mother
• As a child she grew up in an age where technology wasn’t widely available
(as demonstrated by the fact that she used a typewriter) and even TVs were
uncommon, so she had little experience with them
• Writing was an escape for her and within it she found solace and satisfaction-
so she had a deeply personal positive relationship with reading and writing
• As a young adult she struggled financially (as demonstrated by her living
conditions and how desperately she was trying to earn the money to pay for
a car registration) and probably couldn’t afford a TV or other technology, so
never became reliant on it or even accustomed to it
9. Jackie is adamant when she argues that story-telling by a book or by a story-reader is always
infinitely superior to anything that can ever be done by a TV. Consider- do you agree or
disagree with this? Imagine that she has said this to you, and prepare a detailed response
that you would give her. Be sure to back up your response with a strong argument and
evidence, either for or against.
Student answers will vary.
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Jackie French Comprehension Questions Answers
10. Jackie French gives some advice to help aspiring authors. Of the six pieces of advice
included in this Reading Comprehension, rank them according to which ones you think are
most important to least important. Discuss the one you think is most important. Include a
self-reflection- could you personally take on board this piece of advice even if you are not
an aspiring author? How?
Student answers will vary.
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