A.

• Scan the story quickly.
• Read the story carefully.
• Visualize the details.
• Underline the “most important” facts or details.

It was a warm sunny day. The lake was calm and smooth. The sky was bright blue, and small white clouds drifted lazily across it. A canoe rocked gently close to shore, and two men were casting out their fishing lines from the canoe.

A few hours later the men were sitting in the bottom of the canoe. It was raining heavily. One man was bailing out the bottom with an old can. The lake and sky were grey. Huge waves slapped against the side of the canoe. The wind howled and the canoe rocked violently.

An hour later the two men were standing on the shore. Their clothes were soaking wet. They stood and looked sadly out at the lake.

Adapted from, Intermediate English Skills Development Series Book 3, 4B Making Inferences