A Gift from a Ghost

The author uses a bulleted list in order to highlight: 

• ways to avoid being pinched by a crab
• tips for being successful at capturing crabs
• the various sizes of crabs found on the beach
• the advantages of being an experienced crab chaser

The title of this selection refers both to the money found on the beach and to:

• the battle between the author and the crab
• the author's memorable experience with his daughter
• the lesson the author learns about wild creatures
• the new appreciation the author has for his daughter's crab catching abilities

Which sentence suggests that catching crabs is a popular activity on the beach?

• a seasoned crab chaser, Hallie only holds them in her partially sand-filled bucket overnight
• operating on a pure fight or flight instinct, the crabs don't realize it's all just a game when a kid in on their trail
• it's the seaside version of catching fireflies and putting them in a jar, except that the crabs are bigger than bugs, about the size of a small child's fist
• when ghost crabs spot something threatening or bigger than they are-like a little girl with a flashlight and a green plastic bucket with a yellow handle-their eight legs can propel them up to speeds of 10mph

The author includes the detailed description of ghost crabs most likely to:

• help readers relate to the challenge of capturing the crabs
• demonstrate that he is knowledgeable about sea life
• explain why he values the time he spends at the beach with his family
• motivate readers to learn more about the characteristics of the crabs

What is the best summary of the events leading up to the author and his daughter chasing crabs?

• after a day in the sun, a girl wants to go to the beach and catch ghost crabs.  She has caught ghost crabs before and has grown to be good at it
• after a day of fishing, a father is relaxing and watching people chase ghost crabs.  His daughter asks to go to the beach to catch some crabs, and the father agrees
• a family is staying in a condo on the beach at South Padre Island.  The father frequently takes his daughter out to chase ghost crabs, and she wants to go again
• a father who has been fishing in the Gulf of Mexico returns to his condo, takes and shower, and eats a dinner of fried shrimp.  The waves of the ocean make it difficult for him to hear people on the beach

What is the most likely reason why the author is glad he agreed to Hallie's request?

• he witnesses Hallie capturing the largest crab she has ever chased
• he understands that catching such a large crab can be a challenging task
• he recognizes that finding money on the beach at night is an unusual event
• he realizes Hallie is reaching an age when she will no longer want to chase crabs

What can readers conclude about Hallie based on her father's description of their experience with the crab on the beach?

• she respects the crab's efforts to avoid being captured
• she realizes that she needs her father's help in order to catch the crab
• she is not very experienced at catching crabs
• she thinks that chasing crabs is an activity that families should do together

In paragraph 41, the word ominously means:

• with alarming strength
• in a slow movement
• with an intimidating sound
• in a threatening manner

In which sentence does the author use an analogy to express the significance of the night on the beach with Hallie?

• as I pocketed the gritty change, Hallie reached in the bucket, pulled out the crab and gently released
• despite the experienced knowledge Hallie has gained on our annual trip to South Padre, a crab taught father and daughter a lesson neither of us has forgotten
• not only had the crab led us leprechaun style to a small pot of gold- well, contemporary silver coins-it had turned the tables and captured us in a special father-daughter moment
• the feisty crab had drawn its figurative line in the sand surrounded by coins

The imagery in paragraph 9 shows that the crab chase is:

• discouraging
• embarrassing
• difficult to observe
• fast paced