Submariner Stage 4 Comp - Comprehension Pack.pdf

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Science Fiction Text focus: Narrative Submariner Harold Klimp had known about the lost cities since the day he turned six. His father had read him...

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Science Fiction Text focus: Narrative Submariner Harold Klimp had known about the lost cities since the day he turned six. His father had read him stories from the ancient books– books that people had read before the Great Flood. Once the flood had arrived, most books had been wiped out by the new government. “They encouraged adventure and creative thought,” they’d said. Harold’s father had hoarded his own books in a safe in the basement and handed them over when Harold was old enough. Those books had filled Harold’s head with wonder and delight. Whole cities of tall buildings and rusting railway tracks were said to exist underneath the rolling waves. Not like the floating islands that people lived on now–but vast metropolises. He’d heard of some of the greatest: London, New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and had even seen pictures in some of the books. Nevertheless, they seemed like nothing more than a dream to a boy used to living on the water. Looking out of the window, Harold watched the starlight shimmer on the calm surface of the ocean. It was perfect weather for what he had in mind. He’d spent months looking at old maps and watching the stars to work out where he was. Ever since he’d left home on his own raft, he’d had one goal in mind. The old scrap that he collected religiously stood teetering on a ramp. It looked like a rusting fish, with circular windows allowing light into the hollow interior. Harold had no idea if it would hold together under the pressure of the ocean, but he had to try. He had to try for his father, who’d died talking about the lost cities. When he was sure that the army drones were out of sight, Harold scurried from the small, makeshift shed and clambered into the orb. He slammed the metal lid shut and wound the handle that would create an airtight seal–if he’d constructed it correctly. He cursed the shrill echo as metal scraped on metal, but none of the drones returned. The drop in temperature as the orb sank beneath the surface was almost immediate. Harold shivered and pulled his ragged blanket around his shoulders. Despite all his research, he had no idea how deep the water was, or how far down the buildings would be. He didn’t need to wait all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com long. Within minutes, Harold felt a jolt as his vessel bumped into something emerging out of the darkness. He pushed a button, and a lamp flickered into life. It cast a weak beam out over the obstacle. Harold gasped: he recognised the tall, silver structure from a thousand photographs. It was the Empire State Building; he’d found New York. With renewed enthusiasm, Harold pulled a lever, and the ship drifted away from the building. Now, he could see it in all its glory. Beyond the skyscraper, Harold made out other buildings. None was as tall but each one as beautiful and unexpected as the next. He couldn’t imagine a world where people lived on solid ground. Or perhaps he didn’t want to. Perhaps, he didn’t want to imagine what people had given up when they allowed the world to flood. Water was beginning to leak in through the seams in the structure, but still, Harold persevered. He wanted to see it all; he wanted to see what had been left behind. RETRIEVAL FOCUS 1. How old was Harold when his father gave him his books? 2. Where had Harold’s father hidden the books? 3. Which city did Harold discover? 4. What was the orb made out of? 5. Which building did Harold recognise? VIPERS QUESTIONS S Why didn’t many people have books? I What evidence is there that Harold wanted to please his father? V Find and copy a word that tells you that Harold snuck out of the shed. S What did Harold do just before he saw the building? V Find and copy a word that means “carried on going”. all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com