Question
Read this passage and answer the question that follows.
The Pool Visitor
by Marilyn Naito
In this passage, an American girl named Martine has traveled to Australia to visit her cousin, Stephen. In Australia, it is summertime in December. “All done!” Stephen placed a bowl by the sink. “Let’s swim.” Martine watched the dishwater swirl down the drain. “Swimming! I just can’t get used to it in December.” All Stephen had heard since his American cousin, Martine, arrived were stories about snow and fireplaces. Stephen had only seen snow in pictures. SPLASH! The sound came from the backyard.
“Mr. Baker’s spaniel, Max, must be taking a dip again.” Stephen rolled his eyes upward. Martine tagged behind Stephen as he went to the pool and stopped, dumbfounded. In the water was a round, furry ball that looked like a soggy Teddy bear. “A koala bear!” Martine sounded happy as the animal splashed water over his ears. “He isn’t a bear,” Stephen told her. “He’s a marsupial, like a kangaroo.” Martine and Stephen sat on the edge of the pool and watched. The koala swam, then floated on his back until he headed for the opposite side of the pool across from Stephen and Martine. The koala tried to pull himself out, but the tiles were too slippery.
“He can’t get out,” Martine said. “We’ve got to help him.” Stephen kicked off his thong sandals and stepped quietly into the pool. By the time Stephen reached the frightened animal, the koala was paddling to the metal ladder. Stephen put his arms under the koala and gave him a boost up. Martine lifted the animal onto solid ground. The koala gave one shake, spraying Martine with water, before waddling across the lawn and up the nearest tree.
“We’ve never had a koala in the pool before,” Stephen said, “but koalas love to swim. My teacher said that backyard pools are a big cause of accidents to koalas in Australia.” “What if he falls in when no one’s home?” Martine asked. “All the koala needs is something rough to hang onto,” Stephen replied, “and he can haul himself right out.” After hearing what happened, Stephen’s mom said, “There is some leftover carpeting in the basement. You can use that.” Stephen and Martine found the carpet rolled up in a corner and carried it to the pool. Then they found some sturdy rope in the garage and stitched the rope to one side of the carpet. They tied the rope to two poolside grab rails. They cut the carpet section so that it extended into the pool. After it was hosed down, the carpet lay against the inside pool wall. “I hope it works,” said Stephen. They waited and waited, but the koala didn’t appear, and the koala ramp was almost forgotten.
SPLASH! Stephen and Martine looked at each other with the same thought. It could be Mr. Baker’s spaniel or— Martine dashed outside with Stephen at her heels. The water glistened on the koala’s furry head. He paddled around, then swam toward the carpet ramp. Gripping it with his claws, he slowly pulled his chubby body up and out of the water. With four paws planted firmly on the pool deck, he shook himself and scampered off. Martine giggled. “I’ll always remember my trip to Australia and the swimming koala!”
What is the setting for most of the events in the passage?
Near a lake
A backyard
A fitness center
A community pool
The Pool Visitor
by Marilyn Naito
In this passage, an American girl named Martine has traveled to Australia to visit her cousin, Stephen. In Australia, it is summertime in December. “All done!” Stephen placed a bowl by the sink. “Let’s swim.” Martine watched the dishwater swirl down the drain. “Swimming! I just can’t get used to it in December.” All Stephen had heard since his American cousin, Martine, arrived were stories about snow and fireplaces. Stephen had only seen snow in pictures. SPLASH! The sound came from the backyard.
“Mr. Baker’s spaniel, Max, must be taking a dip again.” Stephen rolled his eyes upward. Martine tagged behind Stephen as he went to the pool and stopped, dumbfounded. In the water was a round, furry ball that looked like a soggy Teddy bear. “A koala bear!” Martine sounded happy as the animal splashed water over his ears. “He isn’t a bear,” Stephen told her. “He’s a marsupial, like a kangaroo.” Martine and Stephen sat on the edge of the pool and watched. The koala swam, then floated on his back until he headed for the opposite side of the pool across from Stephen and Martine. The koala tried to pull himself out, but the tiles were too slippery.
“He can’t get out,” Martine said. “We’ve got to help him.” Stephen kicked off his thong sandals and stepped quietly into the pool. By the time Stephen reached the frightened animal, the koala was paddling to the metal ladder. Stephen put his arms under the koala and gave him a boost up. Martine lifted the animal onto solid ground. The koala gave one shake, spraying Martine with water, before waddling across the lawn and up the nearest tree.
“We’ve never had a koala in the pool before,” Stephen said, “but koalas love to swim. My teacher said that backyard pools are a big cause of accidents to koalas in Australia.” “What if he falls in when no one’s home?” Martine asked. “All the koala needs is something rough to hang onto,” Stephen replied, “and he can haul himself right out.” After hearing what happened, Stephen’s mom said, “There is some leftover carpeting in the basement. You can use that.” Stephen and Martine found the carpet rolled up in a corner and carried it to the pool. Then they found some sturdy rope in the garage and stitched the rope to one side of the carpet. They tied the rope to two poolside grab rails. They cut the carpet section so that it extended into the pool. After it was hosed down, the carpet lay against the inside pool wall. “I hope it works,” said Stephen. They waited and waited, but the koala didn’t appear, and the koala ramp was almost forgotten.
SPLASH! Stephen and Martine looked at each other with the same thought. It could be Mr. Baker’s spaniel or— Martine dashed outside with Stephen at her heels. The water glistened on the koala’s furry head. He paddled around, then swam toward the carpet ramp. Gripping it with his claws, he slowly pulled his chubby body up and out of the water. With four paws planted firmly on the pool deck, he shook himself and scampered off. Martine giggled. “I’ll always remember my trip to Australia and the swimming koala!”
What is the setting for most of the events in the passage?
Near a lake
A backyard
A fitness center
A community pool
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The setting for most of the events in the passage is **a backyard**.