Study Guide

Questions for discussion:

1. Have you ever invented anything? What? If not, what are you waiting for?
2. Do you ever wish that some things hadn't been invented, such as the word "infotainment?" Discuss.
3. If the wheel had never been created, how would people get to the dentist? Would there be fewer teeth in the world today? How would this affect the chewing gum industry?
4. Compare and contrast the following:
   
   
   1. "Hubert Invents the Wheel" and "Moby-Dick" (hint: "Moby-Dick" has more pages, but fewer laughs);
   2. Wheeling, West Virginia and Wheeling, Illinois;
   3. the word "compare" and the word "contrast."
5. What is the largest wheel you can think of? How about the smallest? Are you afraid of wheels? How about whales? (See question 4.a.)
6. What do you think is the significance of the name "Hubert?" Is it significant because it begins with the word "hub," which is part of a wheel? (We just realized this.)
7. Claire has rearranged the letters in her first and last names to spell "Geometrical Myron," "Metronomic Argyle" and "Glycerin Roommate." Do you think she has too much time on her hands?
8. What words can you make by rearranging the letters in your name? (For help, go to http://wordsmith.org/anagram/)