The Thing That Glistened

Name Date Class Period

1. Why are the events in paragraph 1 important to the rising action of the story?

• A) They show that the narrator is an experienced diver.
• B) They reveal that a valuable item has gone missing.
• C) They explain how the steamship operates.
• D) They introduce the fish that will be important later.

2. Read this sentence from paragraph 18: “Before I jump overboard, I want to let people know that I killed John Polhemus.” What does the author achieve by using this sentence?

• A) It emphasizes how far the narrator traveled.
• B) It highlights the danger of diving with sharks.
• C) It reveals the unexpected significance of the bottle.
• D) It shows that the shark was chasing the narrator.

3. In what way does Signora Rochita’s confession at the end help develop the story’s plot?

• A) It proves the narrator was wrong about the shark.
• B) It gives the narrator a reason to return to the sea.
• C) It causes the narrator to question his profession.
• D) It shows that the narrator’s real discovery was accidental.

4. Which sentence from the story best conveys a comforting or calming mood?

• A) “I signaled to be lowered, and down I went to the well.”
• B) “With a rush it entered the cavern, and in a moment a great fish was swooping around me.”
• C) “With the bottle in my hand, I sat upon the deck and gazed at it.”
• D) “The shark had swallowed my lamp!”

5. Based on paragraphs 10–14, what can the reader infer about the narrator?

• A) He is fearless and enjoys deep-sea diving.
• B) He gets easily distracted while on a mission.
• C) He is determined and able to think critically under pressure.
• D) He is uninterested in treasure and excitement.

6. Which sentence best supports the idea that the narrator has a change in focus during the story?

• A) “I told my astonished comrades what had happened…”
• B) “Make fast to that shark and get him on board.”
• C) “I am glad you thought you lost it, for I have gained something better than all these.”
• D) “I held out my lamp and looked down.”

7. What is the primary message the author conveys in the story?

• A) Some mysteries are never meant to be solved.
• B) Adventures often lead to unexpected discoveries.
• C) Always question what people tell you.
• D) Ocean diving is filled with constant danger.

8. What is the best summary of the story “A Thing That Glistened”? A) Signora Rochita believes she lost her bracelet during a steamship voyage. A diver is hired to find it. After a strange encounter with a shark, the bracelet is found to have never been lost at all. B) While attempting to recover a lost bracelet at sea, the narrator encounters a shark and discovers a glowing bottle. Inside the bottle is a note that reveals the truth behind a crime, proving that the narrator’s brother is innocent. C) The narrator dives to the ocean floor to find a missing bracelet and ends up being attacked by a shark. After cutting open the shark, he finds a glowing bottle but nothing valuable inside. D) A diver is sent on a mission to find a diamond bracelet lost at sea. Despite a scary underwater journey, he finds no treasure and returns empty-handed after nearly being swallowed by a shark.

• A
• B
• C
• D

1. Based on the ideas presented throughout the article, what can the reader conclude about the “Don’t mess with Texas” campaign?

• A) It was created to promote Texas tourism.
• B) It has become more focused on merchandise than messaging.
• C) It helps people take pride in their environment by addressing littering.
• D) It has struggled to connect with young Texans.