We Never Close Quiz | Kid Lit General

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff puff."

Answer: The Little Engine That Could

"The Little Engine That Could" is a children's book, first published in 1930. In the book a train needs to be pulled over a mountain. Unfortunately no engine wants to take on the job. Finally a small engine comes along, who thinks he is able to get the train across. Naturally he succeeds. Through this story children learn that if you persevere you can reach the goals you set out for yourself.

2. "'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,' grumbled Jo, lying on the rug."

Answer: Little Women

"Little Women" was written by author Louisa May Alcott. The first part was published in 1868, the second part followed in 1869. It is about four sisters growing up at the time of the American Civil War. The family is not very rich. The girls face hardships, while growing up from girls to becoming young women (the "little women" referred to in the title).

3. "These two very old people are the father and mother of Mr. Bucket."

Answer: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was written by Roald Dahl and first published in 1964. The main character is Charlie Bucket. His family is very poor. They live in a small house with his grandparents. In the village is the chocolate factory of Willy Wonka. Mr. Wonka holds a competition that allows five children who find a golden ticket access to his factory. Charlie eventually receives the fifth ticket and visits the factory with his grandfather Joe.

This is the start of a fantastic adventure in the special world within the factory.

4. "The Fossil sisters lived in the Cromwell Road."

Answer: Ballet Shoes

"Ballet Shoes" was written by Noel Streatfeild in 1936. Its subtitle is "a story of three children on the stage". The Fossil family has three adopted daughters. They were all discovered by great-uncle Matthew (otherwise known as "Gum") and brought to the family.

As Gum goes on a trip, the poor family has to take boarders in to help make ends meet. One of the daughters Posy has a talent for ballet. Eventually she makes it to the stage, but loses sight of what is important and is replaced by an understudy. Gum eventually helps all three sisters to achieve their dream.

5. "Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were-Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter."

Answer: The Tale of Peter Rabbit

"The Tale of Peter Rabbit" was written by Beatrix Potter and first published in 1902. The story is about a family of rabbits. The mother tells her children not to go into the vegetable garden of Mr. McGregor, as their father lost his life there. The son, Peter, is somewhat rebellious and does go into the garden. Throughout the story he tries to escape from Mr McGregor chasing him, eventually finding his way back home.

6. "Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children"."

Answer: Hansel and Gretel

"Hansel and Gretel" is a fairy tale, published in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm. Hansel and Gretel are the children of a woodcutter. The family is poor, so their stepmother sees no alternative than to leave the children in the woods. Once they find their way back home through pebbles.

A second time the children get lost, as the trail of breadcrumbs they had left is no longer there, as the birds have eaten the crumbs. They find a house made of gingerbread, where a witch lives. The witch captures them. Eventually they break free and return to their family, living happy again using the jewels of the witch.

7. "Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."

Answer: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was written by J.K. Rowling. It was first published in 1997. In the US the title is "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". The book is about a 11-year old boy, who discovers that he has magic talents. He goes to the magical school Hogwarts and discovers there is a world beyond the non-magical family he has lived with for most of his life.

His parents were both wizards and died at the hand of evil sorcerer Voldemort. It is Harry's destiny to fight Voldemort, who might be coming back after being defeated.

8. "Once there was a little girl called Sophie. She was having tea with her mummy in the kitchen."

Answer: The Tiger Who Came to Tea

"The Tiger Who Came to Tea" is a short story written by Judith Kerr and first published in 1968. The story is about young girl Sophie, who has tea with her mother. A tiger shows up and eats everything in the house. The family prepares to buy more food, as the tiger may return. The tiger does not come back however. Kerr made the story after a trip to the zoo with her daughter.

9. "It was Mrs. May who first told me about them."

Answer: The Borrowers

"The Borrowers" was written by Mary Norton and first published in 1952. The story is part of a series of five stories, also collectively known as "The Borrowers". The book deals with a family of small people living under the floorboards of a house. They interact with the "normal" people living around them.

The first book deals with the adventures of the Clock family, especially teenage daughter Arietty.

10. "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."

Answer: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" was written by C.S. Lewis and first published in 1952. It is the third book of his "Chronicles of Narnia" series. In this book Edmund and Lucy once again travel to Narnia, with their awful cousin Eustace. They enter the world through the picture of a ship, the Dawn Treader and are soon captured by slave traders.

This starts a fantastic journey, ultimately changing Eustace into a much better person.

Source: Author James25

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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We Never Close Trivia Quiz

We may never close, but at least we having an opening line. Can you identify the children's books in this quiz by the first line?

Questions		Choices
1. "Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff puff."		Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2. "'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,' grumbled Jo, lying on the rug."		The Borrowers
3. "These two very old people are the father and mother of Mr. Bucket."		Hansel and Gretel
4. "The Fossil sisters lived in the Cromwell Road."		Ballet Shoes
5. "Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were-Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter."		Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
6. "Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children"."		The Tale of Peter Rabbit
7. "Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."		The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
8. "Once there was a little girl called Sophie. She was having tea with her mummy in the kitchen."		The Tiger Who Came to Tea
9. "It was Mrs. May who first told me about them."		The Little Engine That Could
10. "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."		Little Women