ELA 8 Water Babies

How does the author create suspense in the beginning of the passage?

• by allowing the reader to know Tom’s thoughts and actions

• by allowing the reader to observe the salmon’s civility toward Tom

• by allowing the reader to observe Tom’s interactions with the salmon

• by allowing the reader to know some of the salmon’s feelings about Tom

Which quotation from paragraph 7 is figurative language showing Tom’s respect for the salmon?

• “Such a fish!”

• “ . . . shining silver from head to tail. . . .”

• “ . . . with a grand hooked nose and grand curling lip, and a grand bright eye. . . .”

• “Surely he must be the salmon, the king of all fish.”

Read the sentence from paragraph 9. The salmon looked at him full in the face, and then went on without minding him, with a swish or two of his tail which made the stream boil again. What is the meaning of the word boil as it is used in the context of the sentence?

• being vibrant

• being turbulent

• causing intense heat

• causing small bubbles

Which two quotations from paragraph 25 show how the author creates suspense?

• “ . . . they are relations of ours. . . .”

• “ . . . they were just like us. . . .”

• “ . . . they were so lazy, and cowardly, and greedy. . . .”

• “ . . . they are very properly punished for it. . . .”

• “ . . . they will eat our children. . . .”

Which quotation supports the idea that Tom should not be afraid of the salmon?

• “‘ . . . I shall surely lose my way, or some strange thing will bite me. I will stop here and look out for the otter, or the eels, or some one to tell me where I shall go.’” (paragraph 3)

• “ . . . silver from head to tail, and here and there a crimson dot; with a grand hooked nose and grand curling lip, and a grand bright eye, looking around him as proudly as a king. . . .” (paragraph 7)

• “ . . . for salmon are all true gentlemen, and, like true gentlemen, they look noble and proud enough, and yet, like true gentlemen, they never harm or quarrel with any one. . . .” (paragraph 8)

• “‘ . . . I see what you are, my little dear. I have met one or two creatures like you before, and found them very agreeable and well-behaved.’” (paragraph 15)

Which quotation from the passage reveals the salmon’s attitude toward trout?

• “‘Ah?’ said the salmon, very stately but very civilly. ‘I really beg your pardon; I see what you are, my little dear.’” (paragraph 15)

• “‘Indeed, it was only last night that one at the river’s mouth came and warned me and my wife of some new stake-nets which had got into the stream. . . .’” (paragraph 18)

• “‘Were there no babies up this stream?’ asked the lady salmon.” (paragraph 20)

• “‘My dear, we do not even mention them, if we can help it. . . .’” (paragraph 25)

How does the phrase “what low company!” in paragraph 22 affect the reader’s view of the trout?

• The phrase indicates that trout are plain and ordinary.

• The phrase characterizes the trout as an unacceptable associate.

• The phrase highlights the connection between the trout and the salmon.

• The phrase illustrates the trout as dull in contrast to the grandeur of the salmon.

Which paragraphs do the pictures help the reader better understand?

• paragraphs 6 and 14

• paragraphs 7 and 25

• paragraphs 8 and 9

• paragraphs 16 and 17

How do the pictures contribute to the story?

• They show how the trout got its name.

• They show how the salmon helped the trout.

• They show why Tom becomes a water baby.

• They show the difference between the trout and the salmon.

Read the incomplete summary of The Water-Babies . Tom, a little boy who becomes a “water baby,” swims down the river to the sea. Tom meets some salmon, and they tell him they have met others like him in the sea. They also tell Tom that the trout are poorly mannered relatives of the salmon. Which sentence should be added to make a complete and accurate summary?

• Tom becomes frightened when he reaches the sea and decides to wait and ask someone what he should do.

• Tom sees a proud salmon with a curling lip and a bright eye that acts as if he is a king and tries to speak with him.

• Tom finds a crack in a rock and waits for someone to tell him his way but eventually falls asleep.

• Tom meets the largest salmon, whose companion is too tired to continue swimming upstream.