Eleven Seconds of Floating
Written by Studio AM.
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Ndidi signed up for swimming lessons at forty-one. Most of the other learners were much younger, and she felt nervous.
In the first lesson, Roos, her teacher, stayed beside her in the shallow water. Roos supported her back while she tried floating. Ndidi's shoulders tightened, her legs dropped, and she stood up again, coughing. Roos helped her try a different position. "You don't have to get it right today," she said. "We'll practise a little at a time."
After five weeks, Ndidi could float without Roos supporting her. One Tuesday evening, she leaned back, spread her arms, and moved her hands gently. Roos watched from beside her. Ndidi floated for eleven seconds before standing again. She counted them.
She still could not swim far. But those eleven seconds mattered to her. When another difficult task made her tense, she remembered the pool. She could ask for help, change her approach, and try a small step rather than solve everything at once.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
What does Ndidi mainly learn in this story?
The answer is D: Small steps and support can help her face a difficult task.
Ndidi makes gradual progress with Roos's help. She later uses that experience to approach other difficult tasks in smaller steps.
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Question 2 of 4
How long did Ndidi practise before floating without support?
The answer is B: Five weeks.
She can float without Roos supporting her after five weeks. Eleven is the number of seconds she floats.
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Question 3 of 4
What does Roos's response suggest about her teaching?
The answer is A: She wants Ndidi to learn gradually with help when needed.
Roos stays beside Ndidi, supports her and suggests a different position. Her words also allow time for gradual progress.
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Question 4 of 4
What does 'shallow' mean when describing the water?
The answer is C: not deep
The water is not deep: Ndidi can stand up in it during the lesson.
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