reading comprehension time

[proud2BlibKansan]

This is a story and questions my kids did this morning.

Andy and I were pretty excited. It had been a long time since we had had a chance to go out on the water.

"Don't forget to bring the life jackets, Chris," said Andy. He looked closely at the tide chart.

"I won't forget. What time do you want to leave?" I asked.

"We'd better go about 1:00 if we don't want the centerboard to get stuck like it did the last time."

Questions:
1. What were Andy and Chris going to do?
a. swim
b. sail
c. waterski
d. fish

2. Why did they want to leave at 1:00?
a. so they could eat lunch first
b. the tide would be high then
c. at that time, the tide would be low
d. you can't tell from the story

3. What part of the year was it?
a. spring
b. late summer
c. winter
d. fall


Now for the real reason I posted this. My kids live in the middle of the country, over 1000 miles from an ocean. None have been to the ocean. I have been to the ocean and I have been on a sailboat but I didn't know what a centerboard was until I looked it up. Not one kid in my room had ever heard of a tide chart.

Now do you see why national standards are kinda hard to enforce? And this is a great example of cultural bias also.

Just had to unload this. Thanks.

[kick-ass-bob]

1. I live 100 miles from the ocean

but still couldn't tell you what a centerboard is.

What time of year is it???

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I think they are supposed to know the time of year

based on the statement that they haven't been sailing for awhile. So it's spring?

[Lucky Luciano]

2. Yea....that is weird

I still cannot figure out what time of year this stupid story is supposed to take palce!

[democrat in Tallahassee]

4. If they hadn't been out in a long time, maybe it was spring?

[skypilot]

6. It could be summer for the same reason.

Maybe spring was too rainy.

On edit: And if they are school aged kids they would still be in school during the spring, at 1:00, so they could be doing this during the summer.

[kick-ass-bob]

7. maybe winter if there were too many hurricanes

in the fall.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Good point

I hadn't thought of that.

[skypilot]

17. This little snippet is ridiculous.

If I were a child with less self-confidence I might just think I was dumb for not being able to answer these questions.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. BINGO

If I had a prize, you would get it.

[shoelace414]

5. is it spring?

because it's too cold in winter.. but I'm speaking from a midwestern POV

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. See post above eom

[Lucky Luciano]

20. I know - it is ridiculous

They might not have had a chance to go sailing because they were too damn busy! I know all about that predicament!

[skypilot]

3. Whew!!!!

I was starting to feel kinda dumb after reading the story excerpt and then the questions. I thought that I was supposed to know the answers somehow. Glad to see that I'm not the only one who didn't know what to make of this. I live in Philadelphia, nowhere near the ocean.

[crispini]

8. Well, I got everything right,

but the only reason I know what a centerboard is, is because I sailed small boats at Girl Scout camp. Otherwise, I'm not sure I'd know either.

I don't see quite how it's an example of cultural bias, though? :shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Because sailing isn't part of our culture

here in the midwest.

[mcscajun]

9. I live 35 miles from the ocean, and there's still only one question I can

answer by taking an educated guess about tidal action...and even then I could be wrong!

I don't know what aquatic activity involves a centerboard, nor can I tell by the time and tides (which I guess is where the clue is) what season it is. I'd be willing to wager than all the fishermen's kids from Gloucester, Massachusetts know.

[EC]

10. Isn't time of year

relative to which ocean they were going into? On the SouthWest Coast it could have been anytime of year....

[bertha katzenengel]

11. Bogus.

What a bunch of bullshit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Tell me about it

It's really not bogus. I copied this directly from their book.

[bertha katzenengel]

19. I wonder how old the damned thing is.

What's the copyright date (do you still have it handy?)?

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. 1996 eom