A Day at the Pool

I’m used to people walking all over me.

Here comes Heather. She’s standing over me now. One bounce and she’s into the pool. It was a simple dive, but that’s her specialty.

Uh-oh. It’s Rick’s turn. He doesn’t just walk all over me—he runs. The lifeguard blows the whistle. “Careful over there!” The lifeguard is always telling Rick to be careful.

Rick bounces on me once. He bounces on me twice. Then he shouts “Cannonball!” A few seconds he hits the water. The water splashes like lava spewing from a volcano.

Then comes Brian. He always treats me with the most respect. He walks along gently, stepping in a controlled rhythm. When he gets to my end, he calls out his next trick. “Back flip with a twist!” he says today.

Brian turns around to prepare for his back flip. I feel his heels take their mark. One strong bounce and he’s off. The back flip is perfect. The twist is perfect. He’s a flying acrobat. The water barely makes a splash.

It’s moments like this that make me proud to do what I do.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1) Who is the narrator of the above passage?

a. Heather

b. a swimming pool

c. a diving board

d. Brian

2) The phrase, “The water splashes like lava spewing from a volcano,” is an example of which of the following?

a. irony

b. metaphor

c. simile

d. oxymoron

3) Based on the context, the above passage most likely takes place at which time?

a. night

b. winter

c. summer

d. fall

4) The phrase, “He’s a flying acrobat,” is an example of which of the following?

a. irony

b. metaphor

c. simile

d. oxymoron

5) In the above passage, which of the following best describes the mood of the characters?

a. bored

b. cheerful

c. nervous

d. indifferent

6) Based on the context, the character Rick is probably most often described as which of these?

a. “…a troublemaker”

b. “…a ‘teacher’s pet’ “

c. “…very shy”

d. “…a scaredy cat”

Answer Key

1) Who is the narrator of the above passage?

a. Heather

b. a swimming pool

c. a diving board

d. Brian

2) The phrase, “The water splashes like lava spewing from a volcano,” is an example of which of the following?

a. irony

b. metaphor

c. simile

d. oxymoron

3) Based on the context, the above passage most likely takes place at which time?

a. night

b. winter

c. summer

d. fall

4) The phrase, “He’s a flying acrobat,” is an example of which of the following?

a. irony

b. metaphor

c. simile

d. oxymoron

5) In the above passage, which of the following best describes the mood of the characters?

a. bored

b. cheerful

c. nervous

d. indifferent

6) Based on the context, the character Rick is probably most often described as which of these?

a. “…a troublemaker”

b. “…a ‘teacher’s pet’ “

c. “…very shy”

d. “…a scaredy cat”