Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Alex stared through the cabin window at the darkness. Soon his dad would call him. And he didn't want to go. He wished he hadn't come to the lake for the weekend. "We're ready," Dad said as he came in from the porch. " Grab your rod." Alex turned away from the window and slowly picked up his fishing rod. "Have fun!" Mom said. "Sure," said Alex, trying to make his voice bright. "We should have done this before." Dad said. "Let's catch a big one!" Dad picked up his tackle box, rod, and bait can from the porch. He clicked on the flashlight.

They walked down the hill toward the lake in the narrow beam of light. The only thing Alex could see was the circle of weeds and rocks at their feet, lit by the flashlight. Insect voices filled his ears---clicks, hums, buzzes, whines. Hundreds of bugs waited in the darkness to attack. "Ow!" he blurted as he felt a sting on his arm. "Mosquitoes," Dad said. "I have brought some spray to keep them off."

When they reached the boat, Alex stumbled as he climbed over the side. "I don't like this much," he said. "It's so dark." Dad squeezed his shoulder. "Don't worry. It's not as dark as you think. After a while your eyes will get used to the night." Suddenly something rushed past Alex's head. He gasped. "What was that?" "Probably a bat," Dad said. How could Dad act as if it were nothing! "Will bats be flying around our heads the whole time?" "This is their time to be out catching insects," Dad explained. "They won't hurt you. They're too busy grabbing dinner." He pushed the boat off the gravel and jumped in. Alex gazed back at the cabin. A square of light from the window glowed in the darkness.

Dad rowed to the middle of the lake and stopped. "We'll just let the boat drift. Keep the flashlight in the bottom of the boat. The fish won't bite if they see light flashing around. When we've done baiting our hooks , we'll turn the light off." Leaning down to get closer to the light, Alex tried to thread a worm on his hook, but he couldn't seem to work his fingers right. So what if the worm was only partly on the hook? He didn't want to fish anyway. He didn't even want to be there.

1. Why is Alex reluctant to go fishing?
2. Where was his dad's fishing gear?
3. What type of flying object frightened Alex?
4. According to his dad, did he have a reason to be frightened by it?
5. Why not?
6. What do they eat for dinner?
7. Was it light out when they left to go fishing?
8. What does the dad bring along to help with that?
9. Does he have anything to help fight off mosquitoes?
10. What is it?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. unknown
2. the porch
3. a bat
4. no
5. They're going to get dinner
6. Insects
7. no
8. no
9. yes
10. spray

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER IX

Mrs Dale's Little Party

The next day was the day of the party. Not a word more was said on that evening between Bell and her cousin, at least, not a word more of any peculiar note; and when Crosbie suggested to his friend on the following morning that they should both step down and see how the preparations were getting on at the Small House, Bernard declined.

"You forget, my dear fellow, that I'm not in love as you are," said he.

"But I thought you were," said Crosbie.

"No; not at all as you are. You are an accepted lover, and will be allowed to do anything,--whip the creams, and tune the piano, if you know how. I'm only a half sort of lover, meditating a _mariage de convenance_ to oblige an uncle, and by no means required by the terms of my agreement to undergo a very rigid amount of drill. Your position is just the reverse." In saying all which Captain Dale was no doubt very false; but if falseness can be forgiven to a man in any position, it may be forgiven in that which he then filled. So Crosbie went down to the Small House alone.

"Dale wouldn't come," said he, speaking to the three ladies together, "I suppose he's keeping himself up for the dance on the lawn."

"I hope he will be here in the evening," said Mrs Dale. But Bell said never a word. She had determined, that under the existing circumstances, it would be only fair to her cousin that his offer and her answer to it should be kept secret. She knew why Bernard did not come across from the Great House with his friend, but she said nothing of her knowledge. Lily looked at her, but looked without speaking; and as for Mrs Dale, she took no notice of the circumstance. Thus they passed the afternoon together without further mention of Bernard Dale; and it may be said, at any rate of Lily and Crosbie, that his presence was not missed.

1. What was happening the next day?
2. Who did not speak on that evening?
3. Who didn't want to check on the Small House?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. a party
2. Bell and her cousin
3. Bernard