2. What does the player who is “It” have to do during the game?

1. Stand on the deck and watch the others
2. Open their eyes and chase everyone silently
3. Keep their eyes closed, call “Marco,” and swim toward the sounds
4. Sit at the edge and count points

3. Why do the other players say “Polo” when they hear “Marco”?

1. To show where they are so the player who is It can try to find them
2. To tell the game to stop
3. To ask for a break
4. To signal that someone has won

4. Which statement about the history of Marco Polo is supported by the passage?

1. We know exactly which person invented the game.
2. The real explorer definitely went blind in Asia.
3. The game was first played in ancient Rome.
4. The story about a blind explorer is a myth, but it matches how the game feels.

5. Which rule is MOST about safety rather than winning?

1. The player who is It must always shout “Marco.”
2. No running, diving in shallow water, or pushing other swimmers
3. The same person is It for the whole day
4. Players must only answer “Polo” once per game

6. According to the passage, what is one skill players can practice by playing Marco Polo?

1. Building campfires
2. Climbing tall trees
3. Listening carefully and moving through the water
4. Riding bicycles quickly

7. Which event happens FIRST in a typical round of Marco Polo?

1. The player who is It tags someone.
2. The player who is It closes their eyes and calls “Marco.”
3. The lifeguard ends the game.
4. The group talks about the myth of the explorer.

2. Why did the name “Marco Polo” likely stick to this game?

1. The explorer wrote instructions for the game in his journal.
2. The myth of a traveler searching without sight matches how the seeker moves through the pool.
3. The game was first played on Marco Polo’s ships.
4. Historians proved that the explorer invented it for children in China.

3. What does the passage suggest about the story that Marco Polo went blind?

1. It is fully proven by historical records.
2. It explains why people stopped playing the game.
3. It is the only reason community pools became popular.
4. It is a myth with no real evidence, but it fits the feel of searching with closed eyes.

4. Which detail best supports the idea that Marco Polo grew along with modern pool culture?

1. The game likely developed in the mid-1900s as more families gained access to community and backyard pools.
2. The explorer lived in the 1200s.
3. People sometimes play a land version in gym class.
4. Pools existed in ancient Rome.

5. What is the effect of adding the “fish out of water” rule to the game?

1. It allows the seeker to keep their eyes open the whole time.
2. It requires all players to leave the pool at once.
3. It discourages players from escaping onto the deck and rewards the seeker for noticing who has left the water.
4. It makes it impossible to change who is It.

6. Which quotation from the passage best shows how the game depends on sound and memory?

1. “Pools in some places close during the winter months.”
2. “The seeker listens for voices, splashes, or waves and swims toward the sound, trying to tag someone.”
3. “A lifeguard or adult should supervise, especially with younger swimmers.”
4. “Other variations add time limits, boundaries, or an agreement to switch roles…”

7. Which statement best summarizes the 1050L passage?

1. Marco Polo is a dangerous game that should never be played.
2. Marco Polo has remained exactly the same since the 1200s.
3. Marco Polo is a modern pool game whose name comes from legend, whose rules adapt in different places, and whose safety depends on clear expectations.
4. Marco Polo is only important to professional swimmers.