Understanding Gertrude Ederle

What do paragraphs 10-11 help the reader understand about Ederle?

• Ederle is now one of many women who have accomplished swimming across the English Channel in the 1900s

• Ederle believes that only men were strong enough to swim the English Channel

• Gertrude Ederle wants to encourage others to try to swim the English Channel

• Gertrude Ederle is remembered because of her bold fearlessness.

Why does the author include paragraph 4?

• To emphasize that Ederle was like many other swimmers who tried and failed at first.

• To hint that Ederle would have succeeded if her trainer hadn’t interfered.

• To reveal how quickly Ederle failed at her first attempt.

• Contrast her final attempt with over thirty attempts by William Burgess.

The details in paragraph 8 support the key idea that-

• Ederle’s mother did not think she should try to swim the English Channel.

• Ederle’s family knew that she needed encouragement throughout her swim.

• Ederle’s family did not believe she could finish the swim.

• Ederle’s trainer was focused on the impact of the waves.

Which of the following ideas should be included in this paragraph to create a complete summary?

• Many women had tried and failed before Gertrude Ederle made her first attempt.

• Before Gertrude Ederle, no one could successfully swim the English Channel.

• Sports were not very popular in the early 1900s despite Ederle's triumph.

• Supported by her father, sister, and trainer, she pushed through exhaustion and seasickness, proving wrong those who said it couldn’t be done.

How does the author use paragraph 7 to support the controlling idea?

• By describing how determined Gertrude Ederle was to complete the swim.

• By explaining why most English Channel swims were successful.

• By showing how fast Gertrude Ederle swam the English Channel.

• By comparing Gertrude Ederle’s first attempt to her second.

What does the word "inscribed" mean in paragraph 10?

• Recorded

• Erased

• Painted

• Hidden

Why did the author include the map after paragraph 9?

• To show the geographical differences between England and France

• To compare the fastest swimming route versus the most common swimming route

• To illustrate how swimmers waste time and energy when they swim

• To demonstrate how the ocean currents affected Ederle’s route from Cape Nez-Gris to Kingsdown Beach

Which sentences from the article support the idea that it is challenging to swim the English Channel? Select TWO correct answers.

• The record for completing an English Channel swim belonged to Sebastian Tirabocchi, who made the crossing in 16 hours and 23 minutes in 1923.

• She officially entered the water at Cap Griz-Nez at five minutes after seven o’clock on the morning of August 6.

• The channel crossing was 21 miles as the crow flies, but strong tides and swirling waters forced Gertrude to swim 35 miles.

• The weather that day certainly was not cooperating with Gertrude.

• The England-to-France swim was favored by most because the waters were easier to read.