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The Biggest Swim Comprehension
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The Biggest Swim Comprehension
Read the story, then answer the questions. Use details from the text to support your ideas.
Every winter, the people of Kōwhai Bay held a swim across the sheltered inlet. It was not a race. The aim was to reach the far shore together and raise money to repair the town’s old jetty. This year, a storm had damaged the jetty just weeks before the swim.
Twelve-year-old Maia had never swum farther than the length of the school pool. She wanted to join the team, but the inlet looked enormous from the beach. Her older cousin, Theo, was already signed up. “You don’t have to be the fastest,” he told her. “We’ll stay together.”
For three weeks, Maia practised after school at the pool. She learned to breathe steadily and to keep going when her arms felt tired. On the evening before the event, wind rattled the windows. Maia worried that the organisers might cancel the swim. In the morning, the water was calm, but clouds still covered the hills.
At the starting beach, the organiser explained the safety plan. Kayaks would travel beside the swimmers, and everyone would wear a bright cap. Maia’s stomach fluttered as she stepped into the cold water. Then she heard the crowd cheering from shore and spotted Theo beside her.
Halfway across, Maia’s arms began to ache. She thought about turning back. A kayaker called, “Take a slow breath. You’re doing well.” Theo stayed nearby, matching her pace. Maia counted her strokes and focused on the small flags marking the landing point.
At last, her feet touched the sandy far shore. She had not been first, but she had made it across. When the last swimmer arrived, everyone cheered. The event raised enough money to begin repairing the jetty. Maia looked back across the inlet. It still seemed wide, but it no longer seemed impossible.
Read closely
Answer each question using the story.
1.Who are the two cousins in the story, and what is the community swim raising money to repair?
2.Where does the swim take place?
- Across a sheltered inlet at Kōwhai Bay
- Along the open ocean coast
- Across the school swimming pool
- Around the town’s old jetty
3.Why did Maia feel unsure about joining the swim at first? Give one detail from the story.
4.Number these events from 1 to 4 in the order they happened: Maia practised after school; Maia reached the far shore; the organiser explained the safety plan; Maia’s arms began to ache.
5.True or false: The swim was a race, and the winner would raise money for the jetty.
TrueFalse
6.What can you infer about Theo from the way he behaves during the swim? Use one piece of evidence.
7.The kayaker tells Maia to take a slow breath. How does this advice help her in that moment?
8.In the final sentence, Maia says the inlet no longer seems impossible. What has changed: the inlet, Maia, or both? Explain your answer.
9.Which statement best expresses a message of the story?
- People can achieve difficult goals with preparation and support.
- Only the fastest swimmer can help a community.
- A challenge is easy if you ignore how you feel.
- Community events should always happen in winter.
10.Write a three-sentence summary of the story. Include Maia’s goal, a challenge she faces and what happens in the end.
3 printable pages
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Page 2
Page 3
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