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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSMilo is a bored boy who finds nothing worth caring about, including school, until a mysterious tollbooth appears in his room one afternoon. He drives through it on a whim and finds himself in the Lands Beyond, a strange world where words and numbers hold real power, and where two princes of a divided kingdom once banished their sisters, the Princesses of Rhyme and Reason, to a floating castle guarded by demons. What started as a cure for boredom may be the only chance Milo has to set the whole realm right.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Phantom Tollbooth
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Phantom Tollbooth. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a boy meet a dog with the body of a loudly ticking alarm clock?
✓ Answer
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
As the watchdog comes racing into the Doldrums, Milo sees a dog with a normal head, four feet, a tail, and the body of an alarm clock. This is Tock, who becomes Milo's loyal companion for the rest of the journey.
- First half
In what book do guests at a royal banquet have to eat their own words?
✓ Answer
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
At King Azaz's banquet, each guest gives a short speech and the waiters bring out plates of exactly those words to eat. The others name foods, but Milo does not, so he learns to make a tastier speech next time.
- First half
In what book is there a city called Reality that has slowly become invisible because no one looks at it?
✓ Answer
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Alec leads Milo through a bustling but invisible city called Reality. Its buildings faded away because people rushed everywhere staring at their shoes, and now they live in a city they can no longer see.
- Second half
In what book is a cannon loaded with the single word but to crack open a fortress wall?
✓ Answer
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Milo drops the tiny smuggled sound into the cannon's mouth. When it strikes the wall, every stone topples and every captured sound bursts free at once.
- Second half
In what book does a many-sided creature have one face for smiling, one for frowning, and ten more besides?
✓ Answer
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Dodecahedron, a twelve-sided shape, wears a different expression on each surface. He thinks it is wasteful to use one face for everything like Milo does.
- Near the end
In what book does a well-dressed man with no face ask travelers to help with three tasks?
✓ Answer
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Terrible Trivium hides his evil behind perfect grooming and a blank face. He keeps people busy on useless jobs so they never finish anything important.
