The Rising Tide of Mont Saint-Michel
Leo leaned against the cold granite of the northern rampart, his eyes scanning the vast, wet desert of the bay. Below him, the sands of Mont Saint-Michel stretched out in shimmering shades of silver and bronze under a slate-gray Normandy sky. Beside him, his mother was busy sketching, her charcoal scratching a rhythmic lullaby against the textured paper. To Leo, the bay looked peaceful, almost sleepy, but the local guides had warned them that this tranquility was an illusion. Today was the spring tide, the grande marée, when the ocean would reclaim the bay with terrifying speed.
"Do you think the legend is true, Mom?" Leo asked, adjusting his binoculars. "About the water coming in as fast as a galloping horse?"
His mother paused, looking out over the flats where a few distant figures were still walking. "Perhaps not literally a horse at full gallop, Leo, but it moves much faster than a human can run. The bay is incredibly flat, so when the tide turns, there are no barriers to slow it down. It fills the deep channels first, cutting off anyone who isn't paying attention."
- Rampart:
- A protective wall of a castle or walled city, often having a broad top used as a walkway.
- Spring tide:
- A tide of increased range (higher high water and lower low water) that occurs twice a month.
- Sinuous:
- Having many curves, bends, or turns; winding or snaking.
- Silting:
- The process by which earthy matter, sand, or mud suspended in water is deposited, blocking a waterway.
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- 1What was Leo's mother doing as they stood on the northern rampart?
- 2What is the French term used in the story to describe the spring tide?
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About this short story passage for Middle School
“The Rising Tide of Mont Saint-Michel” is a short story reading passage about The dramatic tides of Mont Saint-Michel, France, written for Middle School. It takes about 4 minutes to read (616 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.