Section A: Reading

Smallmouth on the Fly

“Look at the size of those carp down there!” said Jay, our fishing guide.

My wife, Diane, my 13-year-old nephew, George, and I were walking over the restored railway bridge on the Maitland River, near Goderich. We were all looking over the bridge to the river 30 metres below, where dozens of fish could be seen clearly.

“Those aren’t all carp; the smaller ones are smallmouth bass,” Jay explained. We all visualized huge bass rising to the surface, as we followed Jay down to the river’s edge. We must have been quite the sight, wearing our waders (high rubber boots), standing knee-deep in the river, waving the strange long rods with their brightly coloured lines over our heads.

My wife, nephew and I were new to catching bass on the fly, but that day at least, it turned out to be easier than it looks and all about beginner’s luck! It was the youngest of us who caught the biggest bass! A satisfied grin swam across George’s face as he proudly held up a smallmouth longer than his arm.

We all learned a lot that day—patience and perseverance, as well as facts about the bass. Smallmouth bass are chow-hounds with big appetites. Their bodies are hard, sculpted and muscular. They put up a real fight during a rod-bending, arm-tiring battle.

The mention of bass fishing can conjure up images of colourful, fast, state-of-the-art boats, but fly-fishing for bass on a river doesn’t require any of this. In fact, there is plenty of fishing to be found for anglers who don’t own a boat, since wading along the bank is one of the most efficient and effective ways to catch bass. By the summer, the water is warm enough that you don’t even need waders—shorts and an old pair of running shoes or sandals is enough.

1.The phrase “quite the sight” in paragraph 3 is included to emphasize

athe location.

bthe fishers’ appearance.

cthe length of the fishing rods.

dthe fishers’ lack of experience.

2.Who caught the largest bass?

athe guide

bthe nephew

cthe narrator

dthe narrator’s wife

3.In paragraph 5, what does the word “They” refer to?

athe fish

bthe rods

cthe waves

dthe fishers

4.According to the text, a successful way to catch smallmouth bass is to

ause a fast boat.

bwear rubber waders.

cstand in the middle of a river.

dstay close to the water’s edge.

5.Explain why fly-fishing can be a fun and affordable activity. Use details from the text to support your answer. (3 typed lines)

6.Explain how the author’s choice of words in paragraph 5 creates a sense of excitement about fly-fishing. Use details from the text to support your answer. (3 typed lines)

The Discombobulator

Many an amusement park will boast a coaster greater,

But I have ridden each and every sluggish imitator,

And my experience confirms no solid indicator

That any ride comes even close to the Discombobulator.

It’s normal to be nervous as they start to strap you in.

And if you’re not, you should be, for it binds up to your chin

With safety belts and padded bars before it can begin.

Then with a screeching, jolting jerk it slowly starts to spin.

In swooshing, swelling circles it will swiftly gather speed,

Reaching such amazing heights, your nose may start to bleed,

Twisting through dark tunnels like a thundering stampede,

Then plunging down so sharply that you’ll wish you had been freed.

Down and down a drop that hurls you under the equator,

Your stomach hovers at the top, resigned to join you later.

Your cheeks blow back into your ears; you need a respirator.

But, oh, such pride if you survive the Discombobulator!

7.What does the word “boast” mean as used in line 1?

aclaim

bdisplay

coperate

ddescribe

8.In lines 3 and 4, why does the speaker say “And my experience confirms no solid indicator / That any ride comes even close to the Discombobulator”?

ato show how brave the speaker is

bto describe the speed of the Discombobulator

cto compare the Discombobulator to other rides

dto indicate that the speaker has ridden other roller coasters

9.According to the speaker, how are people likely feeling before the ride begins?

asick

beager

ccurious

danxious

10.In line 9, alliteration is used to

aimitate sounds.

bbuild suspense.

cemphasize movement.

ddevelop a comparison.

11.Explain why safety features are an important part of the design of the Discombobulator. Use specific details from the poem and your own ideas to support your answer. (3 typed lines)

12.Explain whether or not you would enjoy riding the Discombobulator. Use information from the poem and your own ideas to support your answer. (3 typed lines)

Section A: Writing

13. Your class has agreed to do some volunteer work in your school this year. Each student can work in an area of his or her choosing.

Write a detailed paragraph explaining what you choose to do and why.

Write your answer on the next page.

This page will not be scored.

Write your paragraph here. Remember to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. (10 typed lines)

Section B: Reading

Walking Sticks

Move over, you grasshoppers, crickets and cockroaches. You’re all marvellous insects, it’s true, but your lesser-known relatives—the walking sticks, or stick insects—are simply amazing. Especially the way they can “disappear” right before your eyes!

Walking sticks are masters of disguise. Of the more than 2500 species in the world, most resemble twigs or leaves in colour, shape and texture. From spring to fall, some species change colours to keep blending with the trees and bushes they live in and feed on. Walking sticks are so well camouflaged that even their predators have a hard time spotting them.

At night, stick insects are busy munching, but during the day, they often stand as still as stone. Now and then, they might shift slowly from side to side, mimicking the movement of host plants that are blowing in the breeze.

If their disguise fails, some stick insects may try to turn away a predator by squirting it with a chemical spray. In Asia, female Malay giant walking sticks might attempt to beat off an attacker with the sharp “thorns” on their back legs or scare it by his-s-s-s-ing with their wings.

Not all is lost if a young walking stick loses a leg to a predator. The next time the insect moults, it can usually regrow the leg—though the new one might be a smaller size. Stick insects moult five or six times before becoming adults.

Like most other insects, walking sticks do nothing to care for their young. The females just let their eggs fall to the ground, where many are attacked. Help might arrive, however, in the form of ants that can carry the eggs to the safety of nests underground. Of course, the ants are not deliberately trying to be helpful. They just like to nibble on outer parts of the eggs, which doesn’t harm the developing walking sticks. On hatching, the little insects leave the ant nests and head up to the trees to hide and feed.

1.What does the word “mimicking” mean as used in paragraph 3?

ashifting

bcreating

ccopying

dwatching

2.Why is the word “his-s-s-s-ing” in paragraph 4 written differently?

ato imitate the sound

bto provide alliteration

cto show how slowly “hissing” is said

dto show how “hissing” is pronounced

3.Walking sticks are called “masters of disguise” because they

amoult several times.

bresemble other insects.

ccan adapt to their surroundings.

dcan imitate the sounds of other insects.

4.How are the ants helpful to the walking sticks?

aThe ants assist in egg hatching.

bThe ants remove the eggs from danger.

cThe ants care for the young walking sticks.

dThe ants lead the young walking sticks to food.

5.Explain why walking sticks behave differently depending on the time of day. Use information from the text to support your answer. (3 typed lines)

6.Explain why having a variety of survival skills is helpful to the walking stick. Use specific details from the text and your own ideas to support your answer. (3 typed lines)

Permissions and Credits.

Section A: Reading

Smallmouth on the Fly

Adapted from “Smallmouth on the Fly” by Charles Weiss. Reprinted with permission of the author.

The Discombobulator

“The Discombobulator” by Lynne Hockley, published in Rolling in the Aisles and used with the permission of Meadowbrook Press. © 2004 by Lynne Hockley.

Section B: Reading

Walking Sticks

Adapted from “Walking Sticks” by Diane Swanson, from Yes magazine, published by Peter Piper Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission of the author.

2 Carlton Street, Suite 1200, Toronto ON M5B 2M9

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