Catching a Wave

What kind of surfing tips will Kerry and Dylan give their cousins?

1 Sophie and Miles sat on the shore and let the waves wash over their toes. They were watching their cousins surf. Dylan and Kerry were a few years older than Sophie and Miles, and they had started surfing almost before they were able to walk.

2 Kerry rode a wave into shore, and then hopped off her board and jogged over to where Sophie and Miles were sitting. Her dark hair, which was as sleek and glossy as an otter’s fur, was plastered against her head. “Are you two ready to give it a try?” she asked, squinting through the sun at her cousins.

3 Miles took a deep breath and nodded. He was worried about looking silly in front of his cousins, but he had a feeling he was going to love surfing. He expected it to feel like flying through the water or riding his bike down a steep hill without using the brakes.

4 “Don’t go out too far!” shouted Mrs. Taylor into the wind, and Sophie cheerfully waved back to her parents. Sophie was usually good at the things she tried. She learned quickly and wasn’t afraid to plunge right in, even if she had never done something before. Miles admired these characteristics in his sister, but knew he just wasn’t as adventurous as she was.

5 “Okay,” Kerry began, “we’re going to start you two out on longboards. They are easier to paddle, and they catch waves more easily, which is good when you are a beginner because it gives you more time to stand up.

6 “There are a few surfing fundamentals that are pretty important. First, never paddle your surfboard out farther than you can swim back in without it. Know the beach you’re surfing, and know what weather conditions to expect. Never surf alone, and always remember your limitations. Don’t forget that as much fun as you have surfing, the ocean isn’t something to take lightly. ” Kerry paused for a moment and looked at the serious expressions on her cousins’ faces.

7 “Now for the fun part,” Kerry said. She waved her arms at Dylan, who waved back and began to paddle into shore. “You need to position yourself in the center of your board, between the nose and the tail. When you’re positioned the right way, the nose should be a couple of inches above the water’s surface. When a wave catches the tail of the board, start paddling. Try to remember the sweet spot on your board, because you’ll want to position yourself the same way each time you go out, no matter what kind of wave you’re trying to catch. ”

8 Sophie grinned at Kerry. “I had no idea that surfing was so technical. I thought you just catch a big wave and try to ride it without falling off. ”

9 Just then, Dylan walked up, shaking himself the same way the Taylors’ dog did after she had had a bath. “Is she still explaining things?” he asked Sophie and Miles, winking at Kerry.

10 Kerry swatted at her brother. “They’re almost ready to get started,” she said, turning back to Sophie and Miles. “We’re just going to practice standing up a few times on the sand where the board will be on a stable surface. Then, you can try to paddle out and catch a wave. ”

11 “Who wants to go first?” she asked.

12 Miles put up one hand. “This is the easy part,” he said. “Sand surfing doesn’t worry me a bit. Besides, I think I’m going to need all the practice I can get!”

Spectrum Reading Grade 6

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1. Why does Kerry think that Sophie and Miles should start out using longboards?

2. What do you think Kerry means when she refers to the “sweet spot” on a surfboard?

3. What is one way in which Miles and Sophie are different?

4. What does Miles think surfing will feel like?

5. What are the surfing terms for the front and back ends of a surfboard?

6. Check the line beside the word or words that best describe what type of selection this is.

_____ poetry _____ fiction _____ science fiction

Mark each sentence below F if it is in first-person point of view and T if it is in third-person point of view.

7. _____ I wish I was as adventurous as my sister.

8. _____ Sophie waved to her parents.

9. _____ I’ve been surfing since I was only five years old.

10. _____ Dylan shook himself off when he got out of the water.

11. Find the simile in paragraph 2, and write it on the line below.

12. What two things were compared to one another in question 11?

13. Choose one of the answers to number 12, and use it to create your own simile on the lines below.

Spectrum Reading Grade 6

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