The Twits · Garden Heights Academy

Part 5

for The Twits · Part 5 · Chapters 14–17

a story by Roald Dahl

30 min5 Parts

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.

What Happens in Part 5

Mr. Twit comes up with a horrible new plan. He buys a tin of Hugtight sticky glue and smears it all over the branches of the Big Dead Tree, so that any bird who lands there will be stuck fast — ready to be baked into Mrs. Twit’s bird pie. But the plan goes wrong: one day four boys climb the tree and get stuck by the seats of their trousers! After a long struggle, the clever boys wriggle right out of their clothes and escape, leaving four empty pairs of trousers stuck to the branches. Then a magnificent visitor arrives — the Roly-Poly Bird, who can speak many languages. He warns all the birds to stay away from the dangerous sticky tree, and so he rescues them from Mr. Twit’s trap.

What We Will Learn

Literary Element	What It Means
Conflict	The struggle between characters that drives the story forward
Humor	The funny moments a writer creates to make the reader laugh
Minor Character	A smaller character who still helps move the story along

Chapter Summary

Chapter	Title & Key Events
Ch.14	Hugtight Sticky Glue — Mr. Twit smears sticky glue on the branches of the dead tree to catch birds for bird pie
Ch.15	Four Sticky Little Boys — four boys climb the tree and get stuck, but escape by wriggling out of their trousers
Ch.16	The Roly-Poly Bird to the Rescue — a clever bird who speaks many languages warns the birds away from the sticky tree

💭 Before You Read · Warm-Up (not scored)

There are no wrong answers here — just think, guess, and talk:

The Twits eat Bird Pie every Wednesday. How do you think they catch the birds — and who might put a stop to it?
If you had to warn someone of danger but didn’t share a language, how would you do it?
Predict: four boys climb the Twits’ tree to play. What could possibly go wrong?

Copyright Notice

Independent study guide by Garden Heights Academy. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Roald Dahl or the Roald Dahl Story Company. No text from the novel is reproduced. 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 11–13, then answer each question.

🧠Knowledge Bank · How Birds Find the Way

Science · Bird MigrationThe Roly-Poly Bird flies all the way from Africa, and real birds make journeys just as amazing. Every year, millions of birds travel thousands of miles to find warmth and food. This long trip is called migration. How do they find the way without a map? Birds sense direction using the sun, the stars at night, and even the pull of the Earth itself, like a hidden compass inside them. This special sense is another kind of perception. It helps a small bird cross oceans and deserts and still arrive at exactly the right place.

A loose flock of white snow geese with black wingtips descends against a pale blue sky, wings spread as they come in to land — Photograph taken in November 2010 by Emma Kerr for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of snow geese coming in to land at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, part of their journey south for the winter. The *Knowledge Bank* explains that millions of birds travel thousands of miles every year to find warmth and food, a trip called migration, and that they find the way using the sun, the stars, and the pull of the Earth itself. These geese have just done that, arriving at exactly the right marsh after flying from the far north. They are geese, not the Roly-Poly Bird, and they came from the Arctic rather than Africa. Notice that no goose is leading with a map — every bird carries its own compass.
Snow geese landing at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia, November 2010; photograph by Emma Kerr, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Source: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

ⓘ Vocabulary words are selected to help you understand and complete this workbook. Some may not appear verbatim in the novel.

stickyadj.Ch.14

Able to cling and hold things fast

“The branches were covered in a sticky glue that held tight.”

smearv.Ch.14

To spread something soft or messy over a surface

“Mr. Twit began to smear the glue along every branch.”

pien.Ch.14

A baked dish with a pastry crust

“He wanted to catch birds for Mrs. Twit’s horrible bird pie.”

perchv.Ch.15

To sit or rest on a branch or edge

“Any bird foolish enough to perch on the tree would be trapped.”

strugglev.Ch.15

To try hard against something difficult

“The four boys had to struggle hard to pull themselves free.”

flutterv.Ch.15

To flap the wings quickly and lightly

“The frightened birds began to flutter above the tree.”

warnv.Ch.16

To tell someone that danger is near

“The Roly-Poly Bird flew up to warn the birds about the glue.”

rescuev.Ch.16

To save someone from danger

“He had come just in time to rescue the birds from the trap.”

marvelousadj.Ch.16

Wonderful and amazing

“The marvelous Roly-Poly Bird could speak many languages.”

squawkv.Ch.16

To make a loud, harsh bird cry

“He gave a great squawk to call all the birds together.”

🧠Knowledge Bank question

1According to the Knowledge Bank, birds find their way on migration using ___.Ch.14

2True or False: To “smear” something means to spread it over a surface.Ch.14

3When a bird sits and rests on a branch, we say it —Ch.15

4Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.14

Word choices:smearpierescuewarn- some words will not be used

Mr. Twit began to sticky glue along every branch.

He hoped to catch enough birds to make a bird .

5True or False: To “warn” someone means to tell them that danger is near.Ch.16

6The boys try hard against the sticky glue to pull themselves free. This trying-hard is called —Ch.15

7The Roly-Poly Bird is wonderful and amazing. Which word means this?Ch.16

8True or False: To “rescue” someone means to put them in danger.Ch.16

9Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.14–17

Word choices:flutterwarnstickyperch- some words will not be used

The frightened birds began to above the dangerous tree.

The Roly-Poly Bird flew up to them about the glue.

10The Roly-Poly Bird makes a loud, harsh cry to gather the other birds. This sound is called a —Ch.16

Part 2

Comprehension

How well do you understand Chapters 11–13?

🧠Knowledge Bank · When a Plan Goes Wrong

Reading Skill · PredictingGood readers try to guess what will happen next. This is called predicting. You look at the clues so far and make a smart guess about what is coming. The animals and birds are tired of the Twits and start planning to fight back. From that clue, you can predict a plan is forming — and that plans in this book often go wildly wrong for the Twits. A prediction does not have to be perfect; you fix it as you read on. Guessing ahead keeps your mind busy and makes each surprise more fun.

Visual AidGuess, read on, fix the guess

Diagram for the Knowledge Bank on predicting. The three cards follow the Knowledge Bank’s steps, the clues so far, a smart guess, and reading on to keep or fix the guess, and the dashed arrow is the loop back to a better guess. The example clue is the one the Knowledge Bank itself gives. Notice that the loop returns to the middle card, not the first — a prediction is repaired, not thrown away.

Clues, guess, and the loop of fixing a prediction as described in the Knowledge Bank. Drawn for Garden Heights Academy.

🧠Knowledge Bank question

1The Knowledge Bank says a prediction does not have to be perfect because ___.Ch.14

2True or False: Instead of birds, four boys get stuck on the sticky tree.Ch.15

3How do the four boys finally escape from the sticky tree?Ch.15

4True or False: The Roly-Poly Bird can speak many languages.Ch.16

5Put the events of Part 5 in the correct order. Write 1–4 (1 = first).Ch.14–17

The boys wriggle out of their trousers and escape, leaving them behind.
Four boys climb the tree and get stuck fast in the glue.
The Roly-Poly Bird arrives and warns the birds to keep off the tree.
Mr. Twit smears sticky Hugtight glue on the branches to catch birds.

6True or False: Mr. Twit’s glue trap works perfectly and he catches lots of birds.Ch.14–17

7What does the Roly-Poly Bird do that saves the other birds?Ch.16

8What were the four boys most likely doing when they got stuck on the tree?Ch.15

9True or False: Catching wild birds on sticky branches is a real, old method that is now seen as cruel.Ch.14

10Why is the arrival of the Roly-Poly Bird such good news in the story?Ch.16

Part 3

Literary Elements

Understanding HOW and WHY Dahl writes Chapters 11–13 the way he does.

🧠Knowledge Bank · When Animals Talk

Literary Craft · PersonificationIn these chapters the animals talk, plan, and joke like people. When a writer gives human speech and feelings to animals or things, it is called personification. The Roly-Poly Bird and the monkeys become clever helpers with words and ideas of their own. This makes them feel like real friends and lets Dahl build a team against the cruel Twits. Personification is common in fables, old stories where wise animals teach a lesson. Watch how these talking creatures turn from victims into heroes. Their voices give the story warmth, courage, and plenty of laughter.

📚 Literary Devices in This Part · definitions & examples

Conflict is a struggle between characters that drives a story forward. In Part 5 the conflict widens: it is no longer just Twit against Twit, but the cruel Twits against the birds, the boys, and a clever new bird.

Humor means the funny moments a writer puts in to make us laugh. Four boys escaping by wriggling right out of their trousers, and leaving them stuck on the tree, is a wonderfully silly, funny picture.

Minor characters are smaller characters who are not the main focus but still help move the story along. The Roly-Poly Bird is a minor character whose clever warning changes what happens next.

The questions below are mixed — not grouped by device. Decide which device each one is about.

🧠Knowledge Bank question

1According to the Knowledge Bank, giving human speech and feelings to animals is called ___.Ch.14–17

2True or False: Humor is the way a writer makes a story sad and serious.Ch.15

3Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.16

Word choices:minorwarningsettingrhyme- some words will not be used

A smaller character who still helps the story is a character. The Roly-Poly Bird’s saves the other birds.

4The boys running off in only their underpants is meant to make the reader laugh. The funny side of a story is called —Ch.15

5True or False: A minor character can still do something important that changes the story.Ch.16

6Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.14–17

Word choices:conflictanimalsrhymesetting- some words will not be used

A struggle that drives a story forward is called . In Part 5 it is the Twits against the boys and the .

7The Roly-Poly Bird is not the main character, but he helps the story along by warning the birds. A character like this is called a —Ch.16

8True or False: A story’s conflict is a struggle that pushes the action forward.Ch.14–17

9Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.15

Word choices:humorlaughsettingrhyme- some words will not be used

The funny side of a story is called . Dahl uses it to make the reader at the boys’ escape.

10Dahl describes the four boys running home in only their underpants mainly to —Ch.15

Part 4

Think Deeper

Four deeper challenges — no single-word recall. Read, weigh the evidence, and reason it through.

🧠Knowledge Bank · The Tide Begins to Turn

Ethics · SolidaritySmearing sticky glue on branches to catch small birds is not invented cruelty. People once trapped wild birds exactly this way, and the practice is banned today in many countries. For a long time such cruelty wins here, and then something changes. The monkeys and birds stop hiding and begin to work together. When the weak join hands, they grow strong enough to face a bully. This is the moment hope arrives, and we feel the whole story starting to turn. Dahl reminds us that unfair power does not have to last, and that meanness can be beaten. Standing alone is hard, but standing together gives even the smallest creatures a real chance.

1Claim: “The Roly-Poly Bird saves the other birds from the Twits’ trap.” — choose the two details that best prove it.Claim & Evidence

2The Twits’ cruel trap, or how the birds are saved? Tap each item to sort it — tap again to switch sides. You can keep tapping to change your answer.Sort into two

◄ The Twits’ trapHow the birds are saved ►

3Match each cause to its result. For each cause, pick its result.Cause & Effect

The Twits want bird pie→

Birds land on the sticky tree→

The Roly-Poly Bird sees the danger→

The birds heed the warning→

🧠Knowledge Bank question

4Fill both blanks to complete the reasoning.Build the Argument

The Knowledge Bank says smearing glue on branches to catch birds , and the story turns when the monkeys and birds .

Part 5

Standardized Test

Author’s Purpose & Passage Structure — SAT & TOEFL-style practice

Why Birds Share Alarm Calls

When a hawk glides over a garden, the first bird to spot it does something generous: instead of simply fluttering away, it gives a sharp alarm call. That call is a signal that danger is near, and every small bird understands it. Scientists have discovered that many birds react to the alarms of completely different species; a robin will dive for cover when a blackbird shouts the warning. Some other animals even listen in: squirrels and rabbits respond to bird alarms too, ducking before they have seen the predator themselves. But why should the caller take the risk of shouting, when the sound might point the hunter straight at it? Scientists believe the benefit runs both ways: a bird protected today by a neighbor's sharp eyes may be the one to spot tomorrow's danger first. In a garden full of listening ears, choosing to warn others turns out to be an excellent way to stay alive. It seems the alarm call is one of nature's oldest team sports.

Original passage written for Garden Heights — not a quotation from the novel.

1To warn others is to ___.SAT · Words in Context

2According to the passage, what does a robin do when a blackbird gives an alarm?TOEFL · Factual Information

3A bird that flutters ___.SAT · Words in Context

4Why does the author ask a question in the middle of the passage?TOEFL · Passage Structure

5A “predator” is —SAT · Words in Context

6The passage suggests that giving an alarm call is “generous” because —SAT · Inference

7Besides birds, which animals does the passage say listen to bird alarms?TOEFL · Factual Information

8What does it mean that the benefit “runs both ways”?SAT · Inference

9Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?SAT · Central Ideas

10The author calls the alarm call “one of nature’s oldest team sports” mainly to —TOEFL · Rhetorical Purpose

Part 6 · Optional

Creative Writing

A bonus challenge to practice your English.

About This Section

This writing task is optional and not part of your auto-graded score. Feedback checks length, spelling, and grammar only.

Writing Task — Part 5 “The Warning”

Imagine you are the Roly-Poly Bird. Write the warning you would call out to the other birds about Mr. Twit’s sticky tree. Write at least 40 words.

You can start with: “Listen to me, every bird in the sky! Do not land on that tree, because…”

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 5 Complete!

You finished Chapters 14–17 of The Twits.

Here are your auto-graded results:

-

points out of 100

Teach it to someone

The best last step is to teach it. In your own words, explain what happened — retell a favorite scene, teach a character’s big choice, or sum up the main idea for a parent, friend, or classmate. When you can teach it clearly, you truly own it.

Move on to Part 6 →⌂ Back to Twits Home 🏠 Library