Reading Assessment 1: Character Development, Conflict, Theme

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

How does the setting affect the selection?

• The setting causes Craig to become fearful.

• The setting causes Matt to become fearful.

• The setting causes Matt to learn to swim.

• The setting causes Craig to learn to swim.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.3

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

Which is a summary of the selection?

• A young boy, on a hunt for sand dollars, overcomes his fear of swimming in reaction to an emergency.

• Two boys out exploring for sand dollars get trapped on a sandbar when the tide comes in.

• A houseboat fire strands two boys in the ocean while they are out looking for sand dollars.

• A young boy, looking for sand dollars, panics when the tide comes in, and is too afraid to swim to shore.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

In paragraph 4, what is the meaning of the word romp?

• to dive deeply

• to run slowly

• to splash lazily

• to play excitedly

Tags

CCSS.L.7.4A

CCSS.RL.7.4

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

According to the selection, why does Craig withhold his fears of swimming from his cousin, Matt?

• He wants Matt to think he is an expert swimmer.

• He is worried that Matt will ridicule or tease him.

• He thinks that Matt is afraid of the animals in the ocean.

• He thinks that Matt will want to leave him alone.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.6

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

In paragraph 8, what does the word absorbed tell the reader about Craig?

• He used his shirt to collect sand dollars.

• He was excited to be on the sandbar.

• He used a towel and had dried himself.

• He was focused on what he was doing.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.4A

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.4

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

In the selection, why was Matt frustrated with Craig?

• He knew he would be late if he waited for Craig.

• He did not want to go look for more sand dollars.

• He could not understand why Craig was scared.

• He knew that Craig was the better swimmer.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.W.7.9A

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

In the selection, why does Craig enter the ocean and head for shore?

• He thinks the tide will overpower him if he remains where he is.

• He realizes he must warn people of a nearby danger.

• He fears his father will arrive too late to help him.

• He convinces himself it will be similar to swimming in a pool.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.W.7.9A

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

Which experiences helped Craig develop throughout the story?

• Matt teasing him for being scared to swim

• his father carrying him back from the sandbar

• taking swim lessons, being trapped at the sandbar, seeing the fire and wanting to warn others of the danger

• teaching Matt how to swim and Craig taking swim lessons

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.W.7.9A

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

Which sentence in the passage reveals Craig's true feelings about swimming?

• "The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

  
  

  Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam.

• "You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

• Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

• Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another.....Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.W.7.9A

“The Unexpected Swimming Lesson”

"Boy, we are early," said Craig sleepily. "There's not another person on the beach."

"Let's go out to that bar and look for sand dollars," Matt suggested.

(3)

At low tide, the sandbar was easy to get to and seemed much closer than it really was. Craig followed his cousin as he threaded his way between the shallow tide pools on the exposed sand flats, stopping from time to time to examine strange forms of sea life stranded by the tide. There were sea urchins, jellyfish, and a dozen different kinds of sea snails.

(4)

As the dunes dropped farther behind them, Craig became more uncomfortable, yet he dared not admit it for fear that Matt would think him babyish. He was not at all sure of himself here. Although he had taken swimming lessons last winter, a swimming pool was one thing and the ocean was another. Secretly, he envied Matt, who was a strong swimmer and liked nothing better than to romp in the surf and ride the big waves into the beach. Craig began to wish that he had stayed in bed this morning instead of letting Matt coax him out to the water.

"Here's one . . . two . . . three!" shouted Matt. "Look, lots of them!"

The discovery of the sand dollars went far to dismiss Craig's fears. "Let's pretend they're real dollars and see who can find the most."

"I'll be a millionaire before breakfast time!" Matt laughed.

(8)

Absorbed by the race to "get rich quick," Craig followed Matt still farther out onto the sandbar. "Come and see this starfish," he called. "It has only three arms."

Matt stared at the wiggling starfish. "It's been in a fight. Got a couple of them broken off."

"He can grow new ones though. That's some trick."

With so many fascinating things to see, time passed quickly. After a while, Matt dropped to his knees and said, "Let's count our dollars now and see who won."

"My shirt is almost full. I must have a million of them." Craig dumped out his sand dollars and began to count.

Another half hour or more passed as they counted their "money" and made rows of sand dollars in the wet sand.

Finally Matt sighed. "I'm hungry. Let's go back to the cottage and see if the others are up yet."

"It's getting hot anyway and . . . " Craig stopped abruptly. "Matt, look!" There was nothing but water between them and the shore.

"Sure, the tide's coming in," answered Matt matter-of-factly.

Craig wondered how Matt could be so casual. "What are we going to do?" he cried excitedly.

"Just get to shore before the water gets any deeper, that's all," Matt replied calmly. He gathered up his

sand dollars and waded out from the sandbar toward the shore.

"Wait! Wait a minute. I . . . "

Matt turned and said firmly, "No, don't wait. Come right now while you still can. I'll help you."

Craig was frozen to the spot. "I . . . I can't."

"Yes, you can," Matt reassured him. "Look, it isn't even knee-deep. But the longer you wait, the deeper it will be."

Try as he would, Craig couldn't bring himself to wade out into the water. "Matt, get my dad," he pleaded. "He can carry me across."

"What? By the time he gets here, that sandbar will be underwater too."

"Hurry, Matt!" Craig's voice cracked. "Please. I'm scared."

"All right, I'm going." Matt moved easily toward the shore, stopping only once to call back, "See? It's not even over my waist at the deepest part!"

Craig saw Matt reach the beach and set off on a dead run for the cottage, which nestled behind a low dune to the south. A flock of gulls flew low overhead, their hoarse cries sounding like mocking laughter.

He struggled for the courage to do as Matt had done. It had been so easy and so right. Yet he couldn't. If time seemed to stand still, the tide didn't. Anxiously, Craig watched the sandbar grow narrower. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted desperately for help, but there was no one to hear him.

As he scanned the shore, a thin column of smoke above the cove to the north caught his eye. Rapidly, it thickened and grew dark.

"The boathouse is on fire!" he gasped. "Oh my gosh, there are gasoline storage tanks and lots of boats in there. I've got to get to a phone."

Without hesitating another moment, he waded off the sandbar and made straight for shore. At the deepest stretch, where the water came up to his chest, he kicked off strongly with his feet and swam. His father and Matt, running down the beach, saw him.

"You're swimming!" shouted Matt happily. "That's great. Keep it up!"

Craig came stumbling and sputtering out of the surf. "Call the fire department! The boathouse is on fire!"

One glance in that direction told them there was no time to lose. "Both of you run to the house and telephone for help," cried Craig's father. I'll get over there and see what I can do."

The boys sped up the beach, Craig in the lead. He had always been a good runner, and he ran faster than ever now, for he knew he could do something else. He could swim. Anywhere.

How does Craig change by the end of the selection?

• he overcomes his fear of swimming by standing up to his bully, Matt

• he overcomes his fear of swimming to help others in an emergency

• he overcomes his fear of swimming by listening to his father's encouraging words

• he overcomes his fear of swimming by listening to Matt's encouraging words

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.W.7.9A