Chap – 4

Difficult Words and Meanings from Chapter 4

Difficult Word	Easy Meaning
Gave up	Stopped hoping or stopped trying.
Face-mask and fins	Swimming goggles (mask) and large flippers (fins) for swimming underwater.
Shrouds	Thick ropes or metal cables that hold up the mast (the tall pole) of a boat.
Spiraled	Moved in a curving, circular, or twisty path, like a spring.
Pounding	Beating very hard and quickly (describes the heart).
Cling	Stick closely to something (like wet clothes sticking to the skin).
Stile	Steps or bars that help a person climb over a fence or wall without having to open a gate.
Marine reserve	A special area in the ocean or sea where animals and plants are protected and fishing is often banned.
Headland	A high piece of land that sticks out into the sea or a lake.
Scramble	To climb or move quickly using both hands and feet.
Gorse	A thick, spiky, wild bush that has yellow flowers.
Crumbly	Easily broken into small pieces (like soft soil or dry cake).
Jut out	Stick out further than the main part.
Basking	Lying in the sun to enjoy the warmth.
Beacons	Bright lights or fires used as signals or warnings.
Plunges	Jumps or falls quickly and deeply into water.
Pod	A large group of sea mammals, especially dolphins or whales.
Streamlined	Shaped to move smoothly and quickly through water or air.
Dorsal fins	The main fin on the back of a dolphin or shark.
Silhouettes	Dark shapes or outlines seen against a lighter background, like the sky at dusk.
Indigo	A dark blue or purplish-blue color.
Dusk	The time right after the sun sets, when the sky is getting dark.

The Sign from the Sea

The chapter starts right after Dad tells his daughter, Kara, that her Mum is never coming back. Kara gets very upset. She tells her Dad, “You’ve given up,” meaning she thinks he has stopped hoping Mum will return. She refuses to sit down when he asks.

A Swim Away
Angry and sad, Kara quickly puts on her face-mask and fins. She stands on the side of the boat, Moana, and then dives into the crystal-clear water. She swims away from the boat as fast as she can, leaving a trail of silver bubbles. Her heart is pounding, and her lungs hurt, but she keeps going until her feet touch the soft sand of the shore.

Climbing the Cliff
Kara takes off her wet gear and walks up to the clifftop path. She doesn’t look back at the boat. She then sees Dad sailing Moana away from the cove towards the marine reserve. Kara doesn’t want to go home to Aunt Bev’s or see Dad.

The Secret Spot
Kara leaves the main path and goes to a secret, smaller cove. She climbs down the cliff, carefully using the handholds and footholds she knows well. She remembers her Mum saying the layers of rock were like explorers going back in time. She settles on a smooth, curved rock where she and Mum used to sit and watch for dolphins.

Waiting for a Sign
Kara feels sad, remembering how Mum always knew the dolphins would come. She has been waiting all day for a sign from Mum, but the sun is almost setting. She starts to think maybe Dad is right, and there are no signs.

The Magic Moment
Just as the last light of the sun flares across the sky, Kara sees it! A flash of pure white leaps from the water . A white dolphin! This is the sign she had been waiting for. The dolphin is small and pale, probably a calf (baby dolphin), swimming close beside a much larger, grey dolphin (its mother). Kara sees a huge group, or pod, of at least fifty dolphins! Watching the dolphins makes Kara feel warm, and she feels like Mum is right there beside her, smiling. The amazing moment makes Kara feel that everything is about to change.

Quick Quiz

1. What did Kara do right after Dad told her Mum was never coming back?
   A. She cried and asked for a hug.
   B. She yelled and put on her life jacket.
   C. She put on her face-mask and fins and dove into the water.
   D. She asked him more questions about the boat.
2. Where did Kara watch Dad sail the boat, Moana, towards?
   A. The dock to sell it.
   B. A busy fishing spot.
   C. The marine reserve.
   D. The lighthouse.
3. What did Kara remember her Mum calling the layers of folded cliff rock?
   A. A secret map
   B. Explorers going back in time
   C. A giant staircase
   D. Sleeping dragons
4. What was the “sign” that Kara had been waiting for all day?
   A. A feather from a dove.
   B. A small, shiny seashell.
   C. A pure white dolphin leaping from the sea.
   D. A rainbow in the sky.
5. How many dolphins were in the large group (pod) that Kara saw?
   A. About ten.
   B. Less than five.
   C. At least fifty.
   D. Exactly three.

Answers: 1. C, 2. C, 3. B, 4. C, 5. C