Adrian Mole’s Teenage Angst: A Study Guide
Adrian Mole: A Study Guide
Questions and Answers
Part 1
1. What are New Year’s resolutions?
New Year’s resolutions are goals that people set for themselves at the beginning of a new year.
2. Why does Adrian think that his spot is growing?
Adrian believes his spot is growing because his mother doesn’t know about vitamins.
3. When the dog has the operation, what does the vet find? Why?
The veterinarian finds a plastic bag inside the dog. This is because the dog ate Adrian’s father’s model ship.
4. Exactly how old is Adrian at the beginning of his diary?
Adrian Mole is thirteen and three-quarters years old.
5. Why did Adrian think Nigel was being polite when he told him that he was going to the doctor?
Adrian thought Nigel was being polite because Nigel said he “couldn’t see it” (referring to Adrian’s spot).
6. Why did Adrian decide to go and see a private doctor?
Adrian is very worried about his spot and wants to see a specialist.
7. Adrian took some comic books to a “poor family”. Why did he think they were poor?
Adrian assumed the family was poor because they had a black and white television.
8. Why did Adrian think he would probably be a teenage criminal out on the streets?
Adrian worries that his mother will stop caring for him if she gets a job, potentially leading him to a life of crime.
9. Why does Adrian have to visit a man called Bert Baxter?
Adrian is part of a school group that helps elderly people, and Bert Baxter is one of the people he’s assigned to visit.
10. Where did Adrian’s mother get a job?
Adrian’s mother gets a job on Saturday, January 24th, at the same place as Mr. Lucas.
11. Why is Adrian angry with Nigel?
Adrian is angry because Nigel is going out with Pandora.
12. Adrian says that his father is cross because Mr. Lucas doesn’t want to see him. What do you think the real reason is?
Adrian’s father might be jealous of Mr. Lucas because his wife pays more attention to Mr. Lucas than to him.
13. Why does Mr. Lucas stay with Adrian’s family?
Mr. Lucas is ill, and Adrian’s mother takes care of him after she finishes work.
14. Why does Adrian wish he knew karate?
Adrian wants to learn karate to defend himself against Barry Kent.
15. What happened when Adrian’s father went fishing? What happened when he arrived home?
Adrian’s father comes home from fishing very hungry. His wife makes him a sandwich, but he gets angry because Mr. Lucas has eaten his favorite cake.
Part 2
16. Where does Pandora live? How does Adrian find this out?
Pandora lives on Elm Tree Avenue. Adrian discovers this while delivering newspapers.
17. How did Adrian find out his parents were separating?
Adrian overhears a conversation between his father and grandmother, revealing that his parents are separating.
18. How did Adrian’s grandmother feel about his parents’ divorce?
Adrian’s grandmother seems quite happy about his parents’ divorce.
19. Why did Adrian hide his father’s shaving razor?
Adrian hides the razor because he fears his father might attempt suicide after the separation.
20. What did Adrian think after his weekend with Nigel?
Adrian feels like he’s lived in poverty for fourteen years after experiencing Nigel’s large house and delicious food.
21. Why did Adrian tell his mother about his father and Doreen Slater?
Adrian tells his mother about his father and Doreen Slater to make her jealous.
22. What was Adrian’s reaction when the postman told him that Adrian’s mother was coming to visit on Saturday?
Adrian gets angry and wants to file a complaint.
23. What did Adrian’s father do with the flowers he had bought for his wife?
After leaving with Doreen Slater, Adrian’s father’s car is seen with the back seat full of flowers.
24. What happened when Adrian’s grandmother found Adrian and his father reading by candlelight?
Adrian’s grandmother takes him to her house and gives his father a check for the electricity bill.
25. Who solved Adrian’s problem with Barry Kent?
Adrian’s grandmother resolves the issue by speaking with Barry Kent.
26. Why does Adrian hope that Bert Baxter doesn’t die?
Adrian doesn’t have anything appropriate to wear to a funeral.
27. Why does Pandora think Adrian’s father is racist?
Pandora believes Adrian’s father is racist because he dislikes Indian families moving onto their street, fearing it’s the “beginning of the end” for the neighborhood.
28. What did Pandora say she had done with the money for Adrian’s present?
Pandora claims she gave the money for Adrian’s present to a poor man because the conditions were terrible.
29. Why did Pandora tell Adrian they shouldn’t see each other for a while?
Pandora believes their relationship is becoming too serious.
30. Why is Adrian so worried about the operation to remove his tonsils?
Adrian’s grandmother and Bert both know people who died during tonsil removal operations, making him anxious.
Part 3
31. Why did Adrian burn the telephone bill at the bonfire party?
Adrian burns the phone bill because they owe money, and it was a way to hide the debt.
32. Why did Adrian’s mother leave Mr. Lucas?
Adrian’s mother leaves Mr. Lucas because he treats her like a sexual object and a cook.
33. Why did they have Christmas lunch four hours late?
Christmas lunch is delayed because Adrian’s father is too drunk from the previous night to eat.
34. Why did Adrian believe Bert and Queenie’s wedding was a waste of time?
Adrian thinks the wedding is pointless because Bert is almost ninety and Queenie is almost eighty years old.
35. Why did Pandora refuse to make love with Adrian?
Pandora doesn’t want to risk becoming a single parent, especially because of “a few spots.”
36. Why didn’t Pandora send Adrian a birthday card?
Pandora discovered that Adrian likes Barbara and decided not to send a card.
37. What happened to Adrian when he sniffed the glue on the model plane?
Adrian’s nose gets stuck to the model airplane after sniffing the glue, and his father takes him to the hospital.
him to the hospital.