Summer at the Lake: Sure to Be a HitClark Benson1Director Emily Hughes's new film, Summer at the Lake, begins with a stunning shot of the sun shining off a clear, blue lake. It’s the first day of summer in the small town of Lakeside, and a gentle breeze blows through the tall grass around the lake. A few birds chirp somewhere in the distance. Suddenly, the calm, peaceful scene is broken by the loud blare of a bell. The sound signals the end of the school year at Lakeside Elementary. The scene then cuts to the school, where dozens of kids pour out of the building and into the summer air. This mixture of calm and chaos is one of Hughes's trademarks, which she employs throughout Summer at the Lake.2The film's story centers on a group of a dozen children from the town. This close-knit group, which becomes known as the Lakeside Twelve, gathers daily by the lake. Every day, the children play and swim in the lake. Soon, it seems that days are blending together. In fact, it seems like nighttime never comes, and the sun always shines.3As they spend more time at the lake, the Lakeside Twelve experience many adventures and a few close calls. The lake seems to have special and sometimes frightening powers. The children soon realize that endless summer and sunshine may not be all they want from life. But will they ever find their way back home?4The cast of Summer at the Lake is made up of a few experienced actors, but many of the film's stars are fresh faces. Stacey, who becomes the leader of the Lakeside Twelve, is played by talented newcomer Justine Roth. Roth, whose character is a brave and kind leader, seems headed for fame. Costar and world-famous actress Jennifer Hawthorne said, "Justine has a presence on film that is tough to match. I'm sure she has a bright future ahead of her."5Summer at the Lake is sure to be a box office smash, but unlike many of this summer's hit movies, this film is not flashy or action packed. It is Hughes's clear vision and the actors' believable performances that make Summer at the Lake a great film. The special effects and dialogue add to the movie's appeal. This family-friendly movie is sure to draw crowds, so get your tickets before they sell out. This is one film you don’t want to miss.6At the close of the film, the camera again focuses on the quiet, beautiful lake. The sunlight dances across the water's blue surface. Then, birds begin to sing and the picture slowly fades to black. This final scene helps cement the lake and the movie in the minds of moviegoers.QuestionBased on the chart, which movie was the MOST popular at the box office?ResponsesA The SmithsThe SmithsB The ToymakerThe ToymakerC After the RainAfter the RainD Summer at the Lake

Choose the correct answer by clicking the options below.Cody wanted to capture the perfect photo of the sunset, but some trees were blocking the view.Where should Cody go to get the best view of the sunset?(1) He can go to the bus stop by the side of the lake.(2) He can go to the entrance of the school.(3) He can go into the forest by the lake.(4) He can go to the open field.

Read the selection and answer each question.Summer Campby Allison Kerbel(1)A giggling bunch of girls, aged eight and nine, scurries as a group down the dusty, rutted path to the lake. We have messily braided hair, scabby knees, and dirty sandals and feet. We head down the hill, covered in bark chips that get in everyone’s shoes, pass through the Senior Boys’ Unit, cross a small field, and reach the edge of the lake.(2)Earlier today, between noon and three o’clock, we arrived at camp. Fathers lifted our trunks, carried them into our cabins, and set them down at the foot of our bunks. Siblings gave us wisdom gained from previous years (“Don’t eat the gruel.” “Shower at least twice a week.”) along with secret candy to hide in said trunks, and mothers kissed us good-bye.(3)Once all ten of us girls made it into our cabin, we met our counselors and C.I.T. (counselor in training) and played a name game. Then we changed into our swimsuits and trooped down to the lake to take the ever-important swim test.(4)Now that we’re here, we hang our towels on the semifinished log fence. With the dirt and grass tickling our toes, we proceed down onto the dock and pair off. One partner swims while the other counts laps. You have to swim nine laps, or eighteen lengths, to be able to go into the deeper water. (This area is desired by all because it contains the floating raft, which is fun to load with more than the ten-camper limit and try to tip over.) Most of the girls in my cabin won’t be able to do it. They probably won’t even swim five laps, the number required for the shallower area between the docks. Most of the girls are first-year campers, and they’ll end up confined to “Beginners’ Bay,” which doesn’t get any deeper than three feet or so. Not me. At age nine this is my second year of camp. I’ll make all eighteen lengths or die trying.(5)My partner, a small eight-year-old with wispy, dark brown hair and thick glasses, whispers to me that I can go first. Not a problem. My confidence is sky high and absolutely unshakable. I jump right in with a splash that wets my partner and the other girls on the dock who want to count first. Then I start to swim: one lap of breaststroke, one lap of backstroke, one lap of freestyle, and six more any way I choose, including the dog paddle or any other method of staying afloat that propels me through the water. By the time my partner whispers, “Eight,” there’s a slight burning pull in my chest. I’m glad when I swim to the other dock and back for the last time, diving underwater to cover the last yard or so.(6)I surface, tasting water in my mouth and on my lips. From my shoulders up, the sun is almost unbearably hot. The water is warm near the surface and icy farther down. I feel suspended in space, but I can feel the space, silky and barely there. The counselor nods at me, confirming my achievement.(7)The tips of my toes barely reach the gravelly bottom as I tread water. Moving into shallower depths is always a choice, but I prefer proving my endurance to the onlookers I’m sure are watching. Looking up, really looking for the first time since last year, I can see the dock, a light pine color with blue painted edges. I see the rocky shore, the land beyond it covered in pine needles and shade from the immense trees standing guard above me. Behind them I see the mountains, all around me, in fact, purply blue and majestic. The lake stretches out for miles, edged by the mountains, and the sun reflects off the water so brightly that I have to look away.(8)The birds sing their tuneless songs from the pines. The lake gurgles and splashes in endlessly breaking waves that never reach the shore, products of the motorboats I can hear in the distance, out of sight but nevertheless present. The girls on the dock call out numbers in tireless rhythm but not in order; I hear, within a few seconds, “Seven!” “Four!” “Two!”(9)I smell the pines and the water, and the sensations are home, comfort. This is where I belong.QuestionWhy did the author most likely include paragraph 2 in the autobiography?Select TWO correct answers.Responsesto explain some of the rules at the campto explain some of the rules at the campto show that the girls are away from hometo show that the girls are away from hometo explain where the summer camp is locatedto explain where the summer camp is locatedto show that the girls do not want to leave their parentsto show that the girls do not want to leave their parentsto show that the girls had similar experiences arriving at campto show that the girls had similar experiences arriving at campSkip to navigationHighlightResponse MaskingBackNext

Is there a sentence fragment?Spring and fall—the best times to enjoy the lake and avoid the crowds of summer. No fees or permits are required then.

Which season is described in this passage?Jake and Daniel went to the beach to play volleyball. They passed several people lying on towels soaking up the sunshine. As they arrived at the beach volleyball court, they saw some of their friends drinking water and putting on sunscreen.summerwinterspringautumn

Which words or phrases suggest a sense of relief from the heat of summer in stanza 1?