Shark - a silent terror

Shark - a silent terror

Auto-markingPencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about adding words to a text so that it makes sense.
 
shark
Image: (c) J.Fisher (2005) | PhotoKete

 

The following piece of writing has some spaces where words are missing.
 
First, read the whole piece of writing through to get an idea of what it is about. Then fill each space with ONE word so that the whole piece of writing makes sense. You are able to change answers as you go.

When you have filled in all the spaces, re-read the text to check that the whole piece of writing makes sense.

Question 1Change answer

Shark - a silent terror
 
Our boat sat motionless on the glassy surface of the atoll's lagoon. The lines we held dipped into the water and then fell 1 steeply towards the sandy bottom. 2 below I glimpsed patches of 3 colour as tropical fish flashed 4 the watery stage. Completely fascinated 5 the ever-changing display of marine 6, I'd almost forgotten the reason 7 our being there floating above 8 peaceful scene. Suddenly the stage 9 was empty. The silent actors 10 from sight. A silent grey ghost 11 appeared as if from nowhere. "12 him", I whispered as the 13 took on substance. My companion 14 to his feet in awe. 15 was what we had been 16 for. Below, now in full 17, was the terror of the 18 – a monstrous tiger shark. The 19 creature knifed toward our baited 20. I shuddered at the sight 21 the shark's cruel mouth as 22 circled our lines. Then, as 23 taking up our challenge, it pounced on the unfortunate fish I'd  24 as bait. There was a 25 of blue in the water; 26 line snapped taut. He was 27. The fight was on.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online (without auto-marking).
Copyright: 
Every effort has been made to locate the copyright holder of this text.
 
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
English, Making meaning, Reading
Key Competencies: 
Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
cloze, comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, text features
Description of task: 
An account of a fishing adventure in a lagoon provides the content for this cloze exercise. Students use their vocabulary and knowledge of grammar to create well-formed sentences.
Curriculum Links: 
Links to the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading:
This resource helps to identify students’ ability to:
  • use comprehension strategies
  • monitor their reading for accuracy and sense
as described in the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading at: http://www.literacyprogressions.tki.org.nz/The-Structure-of-the-Progressions.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Making sense of text: processing system, sets 6-7
Making sense of text: vocabulary knowledge, sets 7-9
within the Reading Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
1.     away/down/very/quite
2.     Far/Away/Way/Down/Right/Looking
3.     bright/brilliant/beautiful/fantastic/indescribable/shimmering/vibrant/florescent
4.     across/through/upon/onto/around/by/past/over
5.     by/with/at
6.     life/wildlife/animals/creatures
7.     for
8.     this/the/that
9.     below
10.   disappeared/vanished/fled/sped/rushed
11.   had/suddenly/quickly/just/horrifyingly/magically
12.   It's/That's/Watch
13.   ghost/shark/shape/shadow/creature
14.   sprang/leapt/jumped/rose
15.   This/That/It
16.   waiting/looking/hoping/searching
17.   view/sight
18.   lagoon/sea(s)/deep/reef/atoll/ocean
19.   giant/great/majestic/huge/gigantic/powerful/dangerous/terrifying
20.   hook(s)/line(s)
21.   of
22.   it/he
23.   though/if
24.   used/set/hooked
25.   flash/blur/flicker/surge/streakglimmer
26.   my/our/the
27.   hooked/caught/off

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