A.

• Scan the story quickly.
• Read the story carefully.
• Visualize the details
• Write down important details

One warm Indian summer day, I wakened my young son, Jacob, early. I asked him if he would like to come on a morning deer hunt with me. His sleepy eyes quickly filled with excitement. It was not often that he was permitted to hunt with his father.

Things did not work out as we hoped. We did not see deer, but we did share the morning together, and my small curious son learned many things about the woods. That morning I taught my son that beautiful colours are not just for the pleasure they give; to many animals colour is necessary. It is a master weapon in the fight to stay alive.

In the woods, I found many living examples to prove this basic law of nature to my son. I told him that an animal that matches its background is safer from its enemies —like the spotted fawn in spring. The young helpless deer blends perfectly with the forest floor.

By this time we had come to a small pond. The morning light was warm and bright as we stood by the edge.

"Jacob," I said, "I can see two different animals near your feet. Can you find them and tell me what they are?"

He looked down. For several seconds he was silent.

"No father" he said, "I can not see anything but water and mud."