Matilda · Garden Heights Academy
Part 7
for Matilda · Part 7 · Chapters 18–19
a novel by Roald Dahl
This workbook is built on a solid pedagogical foundation, effectively integrating content and language learning based on the CLIL framework (Content and Language Integrated Learning), elevated by our unique 5th C — Connection — and an integrated Standardized Test section that weaves every SAT & TOEFL question type right into the novel, so learners build real test skills easily, naturally, and with fun.
💭 Before You Read · Just for Fun
No right or wrong answers — just think or chat about it: What skill have you practiced until it became automatic — and can you remember when it was still hard? Have you ever prepared something in secret to surprise someone? And is it braver to act at once, or to wait and prepare when waiting is the harder thing?
What Happens in Part 6
The Third Miracle is coming — but first, there must be preparation. In Chapter 18, the Trunchbull returns to take Matilda’s class, and her cruelty is as sharp as ever. She terrorises, threatens, and punishes without reason. But Matilda watches her now with very different eyes. She has heard Miss Honey’s story. She knows what the Trunchbull has done — and she has a plan. In Chapter 19, Matilda practices alone. She works on her power in secret: guiding the chalk, building her precision, testing how long she can hold her concentration before it breaks. She knows exactly what she will write. She is getting ready. The reader, like Matilda, is counting down.
What We Will Study
| Chapter | Title & Key Events |
|---|---|
| Ch.18 | The Names — The Trunchbull returns to Matilda’s classroom and terrorises the children; Matilda watches carefully, fully aware of what the Trunchbull has done to Miss Honey |
| Ch.19 | The Practice — Matilda practices using her telekinetic power to write with the chalk; she prepares the exact message she plans to deliver; the moment is nearly here |
Copyright Notice
This is an independent study guide created by Garden Heights Academy. It contains original analysis questions and does not reproduce any text from the novel. Matilda is a work by Roald Dahl. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Roald Dahl or the Roald Dahl Story Company. Students should read the original book. Reference text: This workbook follows Roald Dahl’s classic text (the standard Puffin edition sold worldwide). Revised 2023 UK editions change some wording and may not match the vocabulary studied here.
Part 1
Vocabulary
Study 10 key words from Chapters 18–19, then answer each question.
Knowledge Bank · Planning & Self-Control
Neuroscience · Executive FunctionTo defeat the Trunchbull, Matilda does not act on impulse; she plans, practices, and waits for exactly the right moment. Scientists group these abilities under executive function — the mind’s command center for setting goals, making plans, and resisting the urge to rush. Much of this work happens in the prefrontal cortex, the region behind the forehead that keeps developing well into adulthood, which is partly why patience is so hard for the young. Executive function includes self-control: the strength to hold back a tempting action until a better one arrives. Matilda shows this in full, rehearsing her chalk trick in secret and keeping her nerve when the moment comes. Real success, in school or in life, often depends less on raw brilliance than on this quiet power to plan ahead and wait. Dahl gives his heroine not only a gifted mind but a rare and hard-won patience.
ⓘ The vocabulary words in this list are selected to help you understand and complete this workbook. Some may not appear verbatim in the original novel.
menacingadj.Ch.18
Suggesting the possibility of danger or harm; threatening in manner or appearance
“The Trunchbull stood at the front of the class, menacing and still, watching each child with eyes that promised pain.”
intimidatev.Ch.18
To frighten or threaten someone in order to make them do what you want or to prevent them from acting
“The Trunchbull used her size and her voice to intimidate every child in the room into silence.”
rehearsev.Ch.19
To practice something repeatedly in preparation for a real performance or event
“Matilda would rehearse the letters again and again, each time trying to make them sharper and more precise.”
precisionn.Ch.19
The quality of being exact, accurate, and careful; doing something with no room for error
“Each letter had to be drawn with precision — a smudged or crooked word would ruin everything.”
strategyn.Ch.19
A careful plan designed to achieve a particular goal, usually requiring thought in advance
“Matilda’s strategy was simple but bold: write words that only the Trunchbull would understand and fear.”
tormentv./n.Ch.18
To cause someone great physical or mental suffering, often deliberately and repeatedly
“The Trunchbull continued to torment the class, picking on child after child, enjoying the fear she created.”
steadfastadj.Ch.19
Resolutely firm and committed; refusing to change one’s mind or give up despite difficulty or fear
“Matilda remained steadfast. Every time a doubt crept in, she pushed it away and returned to her practice.”
audaciousadj.Ch.18–19
Showing willingness to take surprisingly bold risks; daring in a way that is impressive or shocking
“What Matilda was planning was audacious — a tiny child proposing to use an invisible power against the most feared adult in the school.”
resolven.Ch.19
Firm determination to do something; the inner strength to pursue a difficult goal without giving up
“Her resolve never weakened. Even when she imagined what might go wrong, she kept practicing.”
formidableadj.Ch.18
Inspiring fear or respect through being very powerful, large, or difficult to deal with
“The Trunchbull was a formidable opponent — large, experienced, and entirely without mercy.”
1The Trunchbull stood at the front of the class in total silence, making every child feel unsafe. Which word means threatening in manner; suggesting possible danger or harm?Ch.18
2True or False: To “intimidate” someone means to encourage them and make them feel confident and safe.Ch.18
3Matilda practiced the same letters again and again, perfecting each one until it felt natural. Which word means to practice something repeatedly in preparation?Ch.19
4True or False: “Precision” means careless, rough work done quickly without checking for errors.Ch.19
5Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.18–19
Word choices:strategyresolverehearsemenacingprecision— some words will not be used
Matilda had a clear : write a message that only the Trunchbull would understand — one that would fill her with terror.
Her never faltered. No matter how tired she got, she kept going back to practice the letters again.
6True or False: A “formidable” challenge is one that is very easy to overcome, requiring little skill or effort.Ch.18
7Matilda had made her decision and nothing — not fear, not doubt — could change it. She kept practicing no matter what. Which word means firmly determined; refusing to give up or change course?Ch.19
8True or False: An “audacious” plan is one that is bold, daring, and carries real risk — the kind that surprises people because of how brave it is.Ch.18–19
9Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.18
Word choices:tormentformidableaudacioussteadfastintimidate— some words will not be used
The Trunchbull continued to the children, picking on each one in turn and enjoying their fear.
Despite how the Trunchbull was, Matilda did not flinch. She was already planning what she would do.
10Each letter Matilda practiced had to be perfect — exactly right, with no slips or smudges. Which word names this quality of being exact and accurate?Ch.19
Part 2
Comprehension
How well do you understand Chapters 18–19?
Knowledge Bank · Predicting from the Clues
Reading Skill · PredictionAs tension climbs toward the finish, good readers lean forward and make predictions — smart guesses about what will happen next, built from clues already given. Dahl fills Chapters 18–19 with such clues: Matilda’s secret practice, the piece of chalk, the story of Miss Honey’s dead father named Magnus. Gather these hints and ask what they are preparing you for. A prediction is not a wild guess; it is a conclusion drawn from evidence the author has carefully planted. As events unfold, keep checking your guess against each new fact, adjusting it as the picture sharpens. This active reading makes a climax thrilling, because part of you is racing to see whether you guessed right. Notice how Dahl doles out just enough information to let you sense the plan without quite revealing it, keeping you gripped by suspense.
1Why is Matilda secretly practicing her telekinetic power in Chapter 19?Ch.19
2True or False: In Chapter 18, the Trunchbull treats Matilda’s class kindly and with patience.Ch.18
3What specifically does Matilda practice using her power to do in Chapter 19?Ch.19
4True or False: During Chapter 18’s lesson, the Trunchbull suspects that Matilda is planning something against her.Ch.18
5Write the numbers 1–4 to show the correct order of events across Chapters 18–19. Number 1 = first.Ch.18–19
- Matilda practices at home, guiding the chalk to write specific words with increasing accuracy.
- Matilda is ready: she knows exactly what she will write, and she is waiting for the moment.
- Matilda watches the Trunchbull carefully, thinking of what she has done to Miss Honey and forming her plan.
- The Trunchbull enters Matilda’s classroom and begins to terrorise the children.
6True or False: By the end of Chapter 19, Matilda’s practice sessions are successful — she can direct the chalk with growing accuracy and control.Ch.19
7What makes Matilda’s plan particularly audacious?Ch.18–19
8Why does Dahl show the Trunchbull at her cruelest in Chapter 18, just before Matilda acts?Ch.18
9True or False: Matilda practices lifting and controlling a piece of chalk with her mind.Ch.19
10Why does Matilda keep her practice a secret?Ch.19
Part 3
Literary Elements
Understanding HOW and WHY Dahl creates certain effects across Chapters 18–19.
Knowledge Bank · Rising Action, Suspense & Motif
Literary Craft · SuspenseThese chapters live in the rising action — the stretch of a story where tension builds steadily toward the climax. Every scene tightens the spring: Matilda’s practice, the gathering class, the looming confrontation with the Trunchbull. Dahl’s chief tool now is suspense, the delicious anxiety that keeps you turning pages, created by delay, by hints, and by a danger we can feel approaching. Watch, too, for the returning motif of Miss Honey’s father, whose memory and name become the very weapon of the plan. Dahl slows his pace and raises the stakes so that when the peak finally arrives it will feel enormous. When you notice a story coiling tighter, withholding the payoff, and repeating a meaningful detail, you are watching a master build toward a climax he has been carefully preparing since the very first chapter.
📚 Literary Devices in This Part · definitions & examples
Rising action is the series of events that build tension and lead toward the most dramatic moment of a story. Chapters 18 and 19 tighten the tension as Matilda secretly trains her power and prepares to confront the Trunchbull.Suspense is the anxious, eager feeling that makes a reader desperate to know what happens next. By showing Matilda secretly practicing her plan — without telling us whether it will work — Dahl keeps us on the edge of our seats.Motif is a repeated, meaningful element. The chalk first appears as the object Matilda moves in her early miracle; now it returns as the very tool of her great plan. Its reappearance ties her growing power to the coming confrontation.
The questions below are mixed — not grouped by device. Decide which device each one is about.
1Chapters 18 and 19, in which Matilda prepares to act, are best described as which part of the story?Ch.18–19
2True or False: Suspense is the anxious, eager feeling that makes a reader want to know what happens next.Ch.18–19
3Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.18–19
Word choices:motifchalkrhymesuspensefoil- some words will not be used
A repeated, meaningful object in a story is called a . The piece of returns as the centerpiece of Matilda’s plan.
4How does Dahl mainly create suspense in Chapter 19?Ch.19
5True or False: The chalk is a motif — a repeated object that gathers meaning across the story.Ch.18–19
6Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.18–19
Word choices:rising actiontensionrhymeclimax- some words will not be used
The build-up of events before the climax is called the . As Matilda trains in secret, the steadily rises.
7The chalk first appeared in Matilda’s early practice and now returns as the key tool of her plan. A meaningful repeated object like this is a —Ch.18–19
8True or False: Rising action is the series of events that build tension and lead toward the most dramatic moment of a story.Ch.18–19
9Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.19
Word choices:suspensepracticingrhymemotif- some words will not be used
The anxious feeling that makes us desperate to read on is called . Dahl builds it by showing Matilda secretly her power.
10Chapter 18 shows the Trunchbull at her most menacing; Chapter 19 shows Matilda quietly practicing. How do the two chapters work together as RISING ACTION?Ch.18–19
Part 4
Think Deeper
Four deeper challenges — no single-word recall. Read, weigh the evidence, and reason it through.
Knowledge Bank · Disciplined Courage
Ethical Inquiry · Disciplined CourageMatilda’s bravery in these chapters is a special kind: disciplined courage. She does not scream, lash out, or flee; she stays calm, thinks clearly, and carries out a careful plan against a terrifying adult. This is harder than reckless daring, because it means mastering your own fear while doing something frightening. Dahl shows that real courage is not the absence of fear but the control of it — nerve guided by a cool, patient mind. Notice how much Matilda risks, and how steady she remains. Notice too that she acts not for herself but to right a wrong done to Miss Honey, which makes her courage generous as well as brave. The bravest people, Dahl suggests, are often the quietest: those who prepare, keep their heads, and act for someone else’s sake when it would be far easier to stay silent.
1Claim: “Matilda prepares carefully before acting against the Trunchbull.” — choose the two details that best prove it.Claim & Evidence
2Part of Matilda’s plan, or just background? Tap each item to send it left or right.Sort into two
◄ Part of the planJust background ►
3Match each cause to its result. For each cause, pick its result.Cause & Effect
Matilda practices every single night→
Matilda learns Magnus’s pet names→
Matilda pictures the Trunchbull’s guilt→
Matilda grows stronger and surer→
4Fill both blanks to complete the reasoning.Build the Argument
Matilda practices in secret first because , which shows that .
Part 5
Standardized Test · Cohesion & Insert Text
Part 7 practices Cohesion & Transitions and a trickier exam speciality, Insert Text (placing a sentence where it best fits), plus Command of Evidence, Inference and Vocabulary in Context, in the styles the SAT and TOEFL use. Read the passage (the highlighted words are tested below), then choose the answer best supported by the text.
Knowledge Bank · Where Does the Sentence Belong?
Test Skills · Part 7An Insert Text question hands you a sentence and four numbered spots. The trick is the link words: however pushes against what came before, this and that point backward, only then follows a step. Find the spot where the new sentence answers the question a reader would be asking at that exact moment — then re-read the paragraph with the sentence in place. If it reads smoothly and nothing repeats, you have found home.
Every skill begins clumsy. The first time you tie a shoelace, write a letter g, or play a scale, your brain works slowly and deliberately, commanding each finger in turn. But something remarkable happens with repetition: the brain physically changes. Pathways between its cells strengthen with every use — scientists like to say that cells which fire together, wire together — until what once demanded total attention becomes automatic, and finally feels almost effortless. Yet not all practice is equal. An hour of mindless repetition teaches less than ten minutes of deliberate practice — practice with a specific goal for each session, honest attention to errors, and a willingness to adjust after every attempt.
Musicians and athletes refine one small piece of a skill at a time, and they treat feedback — the information about what just went wrong — as the most valuable tool in the room. This is also why experts look calm. By performance day, the effort has moved inside: the drilled skill runs by itself, freeing the expert’s attention for strategy, expression, or the unexpected. The audience sees ease and calls it talent. The truth is less magical and more impressive — the calm was manufactured earlier, rep by rep, in a quiet room where nobody was watching.
Original passage written for Garden Heights — not a quotation from the novel.
1As used in the passage, the word “automatic” most nearly means —SAT · Words in Context
2The passage most strongly suggests that a performer’s ‘ease’ on stage actually comes from —SAT · Inference
3According to the passage, what happens in the brain as a skill is repeated?TOEFL · Factual Information
4According to the passage, what makes ten minutes of deliberate practice worth more than an hour of repetition?TOEFL · Factual Information
5In the passage, the word “refine” is closest in meaning to —TOEFL · Vocabulary
6Insert Text. Look at the four spots in the box below. Where would this sentence best fit? Sentence: “This slow, focused repetition is the heart of deliberate practice.”TOEFL · Insert Text
[1] A pianist does not replay the whole piece when one bar goes wrong. [2] She isolates the difficult bar and plays it slowly, again and again. [3] Gradually her fingers find the pattern without being commanded. [4] Only then does she return the bar to its place inside the whole piece.
7Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that expert calm is earned rather than natural?SAT · Command of Evidence
8The passage most strongly suggests that a performer who looks effortless on stage —TOEFL · Inference
9In the passage, the word “feedback” is closest in meaning to —TOEFL · Vocabulary
10Which statement best expresses the central idea of the passage?SAT · Central Ideas
Part 6 · Optional
Creative Writing
A bonus challenge to practice your English. Take your time and have fun with it.
About This Section
This writing task is optional and is not part of your auto-graded score. The feedback below checks only the basics — length, spelling, and grammar — not whether your ideas are right or wrong. It is meant for classroom discussion and creative practice.
Writing Task — Part 6 “The Practice”
Imagine you are Matilda, alone in your room at night, practicing the letters with the chalk. Describe what it feels like to focus your mind and guide the invisible power. What are you thinking about? What keeps you going? Write at least 40 words.
You can start with: “Every night, after the house went quiet, I practiced. I had to get it right…”
0 / 40 words minimum
🗣 Teach It · Just for Fun (optional)
No right or wrong — close the screen and tell someone nearby what happened in this part. Can’t find anyone? Tell yourself out loud. The moment you teach it, you truly understand it.
🏆
Part 7 Complete!
You finished Chapters 18–19 of Matilda.
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Your Writing
Your writing was checked automatically for length, spelling, and grammar. Scroll back to Part 5 anytime to improve your work.