The Night the Water Glowed

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The Night the Water Glowed
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Camila had visited the bay near her grandmother’s house in Puerto Rico many times, but always during the day. Tonight was different. Her cousin Diego had promised her a surprise, and they were going out in a kayak after dark.

There was no moon. The water looked black and still. Camila held her paddle tightly. “What exactly are we looking for?” she whispered.

1

“Dip your paddle in the water,” said Diego, grinning.

Camila pushed the paddle into the bay. Suddenly the water around it flashed with blue-green light, as if someone had scattered thousands of tiny stars. She gasped and lifted the paddle out. Glowing drops fell from it like sparkling rain.

“Is it magic?” she asked.

“It’s even better,” said Diego. “It’s science. The water is full of tiny living things called plankton, much too small to see. When the water moves, they give off light. This is called bioluminescence.”

2

Camila trailed her fingers in the water, and five glowing lines followed them. A fish darted beneath the kayak, leaving a shining path behind it.

“Why do they glow?” she asked.

“Scientists think the flash might scare away animals that want to eat them,” said Diego. “Like a sudden alarm.”

On the way back to the shore, Camila was quiet. She kept thinking about how something so tiny could make such a beautiful light.

3

At breakfast the next morning, she drew a picture of the glowing paddle. Underneath, she wrote: “Small things can shine too.”

4
The End

Questions about the story

Name:

Colour in the circle next to the right answer.

  1. 1When did Camila and Diego go out in the kayak?
    A Early in the morningB At lunchtimeC At night
  2. 2What makes the water glow?
    A Lamps under the waterB The moonC Tiny living things called plankton
  3. 3Why might the plankton glow, according to Diego?
    A To scare away animals that want to eat themB To find foodC To keep warm
  4. 4Camila wrote “Small things can shine too.” What do you think she meant?
    A She wants a brighter lampB Plankton are dangerousC Even tiny things can do something wonderful
  5. 5What does the word “bioluminescence” mean?
    A Light made by living thingsB A kind of boatC A very dark night
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