Passage comprehension questions
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Questions and Answers

Why did Ahmed's father refuse to take the inner tube back?

  • He believed it would slow him down. (correct)
  • He was too proud to accept help.
  • He was afraid of the water.
  • He wanted Ahmed to have it.

The passengers were silent and showed no emotion as the boat began to move.

False (B)

What activity from Ahmed's past did watching his father lead the swimmers remind him of?

dabke

As the wind picked up, choppy ______ rocked the dinghy.

<p>waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

What caused Ahmed to be jolted from his memories?

<p>The wind and choppy waves rocking the dinghy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The heavy rain improved the sea conditions for the swimmers.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the event with its effect on the swimmers:

<p>Whitecaps breaking over their heads = Slowed their pace Sideways wave = Swept over the swimmers, ripping the buoy off the rope Pulling the dinghy straight into the waves = Made the swimmers' rope taut</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Ahmed feel as he emptied bottles of water from the boat?

<p>Ebbing fear, replaced by pride (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the people on the boat start throwing their bags into the sea?

<p>To lighten the load of the boat and prevent it from sinking. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ahmed's father reassured the crying woman that there was no need to worry, as the boat was in excellent condition.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the smugglers choose a cloudy, moonless July night for the crossing?

<p>They believed it would decrease the likelihood of being spotted by the Greek Coast Guard. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Ahmed's father do with the inner tube, and why?

<p>He put it around Ahmed to protect him, then left the boat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ahmed's father was a skilled swimmer and reassured Ahmed that they would be safe, demonstrating unwavering confidence.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Before leaving the boat, Ahmed's father whispered, 'Forgive me, my ______. For a moment, I must leave you.'

<p>soul</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason Ahmed's father asked if anyone else could swim?

<p>To find someone to help him pull the boat to safety. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What specific detail suggests the life jackets may be unreliable?

<p>Stories of defective life jackets that sink</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ahmed's great-grandfather's watch was an Omega Seamaster, which is ______ considering the circumstances.

<p>ironic</p> Signup and view all the answers

The captain was a seasoned professional with years of experience navigating boats.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the man who could swim do with his jacket and shirt, and what did it imply?

<p>He handed them to the woman beside him to fold, implying that he expected to return.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following phrases to their corresponding meaning or significance in the passage:

<p>&quot;Where was Europe? Where was the rest of the world?&quot; = Expresses Ahmed's feelings of isolation and abandonment. &quot;Ahmed, my soul, don't be afraid.&quot; = His father's attempt to comfort Ahmed amidst the danger. &quot;If the motor doesn't start, we will drown.&quot; = A woman's statement that highlights the gravity of their situation. &quot;The boat's deflating.&quot; = Ahmed's observation about the deteriorating condition of the dinghy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the person with their role or description in the passage

<p>Ahmed = Son who is given an inner tube Ahmed's Father = Left the boat to pull it The Woman = Was crying and holding a baby Engineering Student = Chosen to pilot the boat</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the darkness of the sky and water symbolize for Ahmed?

<p>The absence of hope and a better future. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ahmed's father gave him the watch as a symbol of hope for their arrival in Europe and a new life.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Besides the failing motor, what is another immediate threat facing the people on the dinghy?

<p>the deflating boat</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Dinghy

A small, inflatable boat often used for short distances.

Perilous

The feeling of great danger or recklessness.

Submerge

To sink below the surface of water; drown.

Smuggling

The act of illegally conveying people or goods.

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Panic

A state of extreme fear and inability to act.

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Powerlessness

A feeling of lacking strength or control.

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Ironic

A contrasting of what is expected and what actually occurs.

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Commanding

The quality of being commanding, or giving orders.

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Lighten the load

To reduce the weight of something, often by throwing items overboard.

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"Allahu Akbar"

An Arabic phrase meaning "God is the greatest.", often used in prayer or times of distress.

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Inner tube

A floating ring, often inflatable, used to help someone stay afloat in water.

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Treading water

Moving through water by using arms and legs.

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Medley

A diverse mixture or collection of things or people.

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Ashamed

Feeling or showing a sense of guilt or embarrassment.

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Smuggler

A person who illegally transports people across borders, typically for money.

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Buoy

A floating object used as a marker or to keep something afloat.

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Conferring

To have a conversation, typically in hushed tones.

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Jerked

To move or push forward with sudden force.

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Ebb

To fall or decline.

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Dabke

A traditional line dance often seen in Middle Eastern cultures.

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Whitecaps

Waves with crests that break into foam.

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Taut

Pulled tight or stretched.

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Pitched

To rise and fall suddenly and sharply.

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Bucked

Bucking is a term used to to resist violently.

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Study Notes

  • The story occurs on a cloudy, moonless July night in the Aegean Sea.
  • Smugglers aim to avoid detection by the Greek Coast Guard.
  • The inflatable rubber dinghy is low in the water with eighteen men, three women, and four children.
  • Passengers are huddled together, some with ill-fitting life jackets, and few know how to swim.

Characters' Fears and Concerns

  • One woman fears drowning if the motor doesn't start, a sentiment shared by others.
  • Ahmed Nasser, a fourteen-year-old boy, hugs his too-small life jacket, recalling stories of defective life jackets.
  • Ahmed's father tries to reassure him.
  • Ahmed is aware of the dire reality despite his father's calm demeanor, noting the smell and terrified expressions of those around him.

The Journey

  • The boat is deflating, and people are terrified, but Ahmed's father tells him to be quiet
  • The coast of Turkey is less than ten kilometers from the Greek island of Lesbos.
  • Ahmed looks for signs of land or other boats but sees nothing.
  • He wears his great-grandfather's Omega Seamaster watch, an ironic symbol in their current situation.
  • People throw bags into the sea to lighten the load, and some try to bail water with plastic bottles.
  • A woman with a baby starts crying, prompting Ahmed's father to offer comfort.
  • Ahmed's father reassures that there is enough water in the boat.

Father's Sacrifice

  • Ahmed's father gives Ahmed an inner tube and prepares to leave the boat.
  • Ahmed's father says, "Forgive me, my soul. For a moment, I must leave you."
  • Ahmed's father gets in the water to help pull the boat.

The Swim

  • Most passengers cannot swim, but an Iraqi man and the captain offer to help pull the boat.
  • The captain is an engineering student from Homs, chosen by the smugglers to pilot the boat.
  • Ahmed tries to return the inner tube to his father, who refuses it.
  • The men loop the boat's towrope around a buoy and begin swimming, with Ahmed's father in front.
  • Passengers scoop water out of the boat with bottles.

Changing Conditions

  • Ahmed remembers happy memories with his father, before the war drove them out
  • The wind picks up, and choppy waves rock the dinghy, water spills over the sides, and the swimmers struggle against the current.
  • A hard summer rain drenches them, stirring up the sea.
  • The swimmers manage to keep the dinghy afloat, but a large wave sweeps over them, ripping the buoy off the rope.

Loss

  • After a moment of shock, people shout and shine flashlights, searching for the swimmers.
  • The captain and the Iraqi man resurface, but Ahmed's father is missing.
  • Ahmed thinks he sees his father in the distance, but there is no response, and he only sees whitecap waves.

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A collection of questions about a passage. These questions cover plot points, character motivations, and reading comprehension. Test your understanding with these questions.

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