Tom's Midnight Garden - Chapters 7 and 8 - Reading Comprehension answers

In Chapters 7 and 8 of "Tom's Midnight Garden," Tom's curiosity about the garden leads to a series of questions that both Uncle Alan and Aunt Gwen find either silly or tension-inducing. Tom's frustration grows when they dismiss his inquiries, prompting him to keep his garden experiences a secret. Concerned about Tom's shivering, Aunt Gwen suspects measles, but Tom's real desire is to continue exploring the garden and learning more about the children he has seen there. Despite feeling that Hatty is a bother to the boys in the garden, Tom's loneliness pushes him to attempt communication, particularly with James, though his efforts are in vain. The word 'vexed' aptly describes Tom's feelings of annoyance and irritation during these events.

A brief summary of these chapters would be: Tom is frustrated by his uncle and aunt's response to his questions about the garden. He's eager to stay and explore more, especially to connect with the children he's seen playing there. Despite finding Hatty bothersome, he tries to interact with James, feeling increasingly vexed by his isolation.