The Explorer - Session 21 - Reading Comprehension

In "The Explorer" reading comprehension session titled "Fishing in the Dark", students are presented with a series of questions designed to delve into the motivations and characteristics of the characters within the story. The first question asks students to consider what drives the explorer to teach the children the skill of fishing. This encourages students to think about the underlying reasons for the explorer's actions and what this might reveal about his personality. The second question prompts an analysis of Lila's perspective, specifically why she believes it's important not to provoke further anger in a certain character, hinting at the dynamics and tensions within the group.

The narrative also explores the compassionate side of the explorer, as seen when he assists Lila with bathing Bacca, prompting readers to infer what this action suggests about his character. Students are asked to interpret visual details, such as identifying the mysterious pairs of red lights in the lake, and to deduce how a hole in the canopy came to be. Additionally, they explore the practical aspects of survival by examining why the explorer is repairing the canopy. Emotional responses are also a focus, with questions about Fred's feelings towards the explorer's stories of his own family and why Fred might long for a paternal connection with the explorer. The phrase 'ferocious attention' is dissected for its meaning, and finally, students are challenged to concisely summarize the essence of "Fishing in the Dark" in no more than 50 words, demonstrating their understanding of the text's key points.