The Creek
1
I grew up near Tulle Creek. My parents were homebodies, but we did all go off to the creek sometimes to walk, picnic, explore, and there was a little fishing. I hated the bugs, snakes, and slimy mud everywhere at first. But we always made it home in one piece, and that creek just sort of grew on me over the years. I bring my friends and little cousins over there now, and I like to think I’m a bit of a nature guide. I’ve become such an expert on all things to do at Tulle Creek.
2
There’s a certain spot, for example, where the rocks are flat and the water rushes over them in white rapids. The rocks make a pathway right across the creek, and there’s no better, more refreshing place to stand on a hot summer day.
3
We learned to catch crawdads at Tulle Creek. A man came walking upstream one day while we were hopping on the rocks. He was wearing waders and carrying a net. We watched his movements curiously: every few steps, he would stoop over, put both arms into the water, and then come up with a crawdad! They were ugly and had big pinchers, but Dad wanted to give it a try.
4
“There’s pretty much one crawdad under every big rock,” the man explained. “You have to slowly lift the rock with one hand, and get your other behind him. One quick move and the little guy will shoot right into your waiting hand.” He looked up with a knowing smile. “You see, they always escape backwards.”
5
It took awhile, but I eventually started catching them myself, and even my little sister can catch crawdads today.
6
We’ve caught all sorts of things in that creek. I caught my first fish there, shrieking as if I’d caught a 20-pound marlin, and carried it home proudly for my mom to cook. She dressed it up as nicely as one can dress an 8-ounce perch. My sister and I used to catch tadpoles stranded in evaporating pools and transfer them to the main channel. We’d watch them wriggle away gratefully, knowing we’d saved them from certain death in the dry mud.
7
My buddies and I recently discovered a way to make a little money at the creek. Over by the golf course, we wade up the shallow channel and collect wayward golf balls. We take them home and scrub them, and golfers will pay us a quarter apiece, fifty cents if they’re good brands and we get them sparkling clean.
8
Every few years, the city talks about putting a road up along the creek’s channel. My parents and the neighbors attend a city council meeting or two, my dad makes a speech, and my mom makes a few calls to the Audubon Society, and the road idea gets tabled again. I suppose I might like to bring my own kids down to that old creek someday, so I guess it’s worth fighting for. It’s just a quiet little creek, but it is full of memories, just waiting to be caught.
Question 3
Which sentence BEST states a theme of the text?
A
Spending time with family is important.
B
People have a responsibility to preserve nature.
C
Connecting with nature allows for exploration and discovery.
D
Adults should pass on childhood memories to their children.
Question 4
Which statement BEST shows how the author develops the theme of "The Creek?"
A
by quoting experts from the city council
B
by describing how the narrator earns money at Tulle Creek
C
by sharing specific examples of how the narrator became an outdoor expert
D
by explaining to the reader how to successfully catch crawdads
