The Lost Snowboarder
The Lost Snowboarder
The biting wind whipped at Bo’s face as he scanned the crowd. The Winter Olympic Games were a whirlwind of noise and color, a dazzling spectacle he usually loved. But today, panic clawed at his throat. He’d been holding his dad’s hand just a moment ago, mesmerized by the aerial skiers launching themselves into the sky. Now…nothing. His dad was gone.
Bo, all of twelve years old, stumbled through the throngs of people, each face a blur. He called out, “Dad! Dad!” but his voice was swallowed by the roar of the crowd and the blare of the loudspeakers. They had come to see his dad compete in the snowboarding event, something Bo had looked forward to for months. His dad, a former professional, was attempting a comeback, a last shot at Olympic glory.
Tears welled in Bo’s eyes. He imagined all sorts of terrible scenarios. Had his dad gotten lost? Injured? What if he missed his event? The snowboarding competition was about to start, and the weight of his dad's dream felt heavy on his young shoulders.
Suddenly, a familiar voice boomed over the loudspeaker. “Next up, representing the United States, please welcome…Mark Johnson!” Bo froze. Mark Johnson? That was his dad! But…where was he? Why hadn’t he seen him?
- Spectacle:
- A visually impressive show or display.
- Halfpipe:
- A U-shaped ramp used in snowboarding.
- Aerial:
- Existing, happening, or operating in the air.
- mesmerized:
- so fascinated or captivated by something that one gives it their complete attention
- throngs:
- large, densely packed crowds of people
- scenarios:
- imagined sequences of possible future events or situations
- executing:
- carrying out or performing a planned movement or action with skill
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Main Idea
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Context Clues
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Summarize
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Point of View
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Purpose
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Structure
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Language & Tone
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How old is Bo?
- 2What event is Bo's dad competing in?
Where this passage belongs
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About this fiction passage for Middle School
“The Lost Snowboarder” is a fiction reading passage about Winter Games, written for Middle School. It takes about 2 minutes to read (367 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.