The author of "My Brother's Keeper", includes the line "and Jamie thought to himself, this time it must be bad" in Jamie's phone conversation with Ted in order to

a. explain how Uncle Harry usually takes care of Ted. b. develop Ted as a character who is often in trouble. c. demonstrate Jamie's fatigue at being woken in the middle of the night. d show Jamie as the person who is always willing to help in times of trouble.

b. develop Ted as a character who is often in trouble.

To determine the correct answer, we can analyze the context and purpose of the line "and Jamie thought to himself, this time it must be bad" in Jamie's phone conversation with Ted.

In the given line, Jamie is reacting to something he hears during the phone conversation with Ted. The line suggests that Jamie has heard something that makes him believe the situation is serious or troubling. This implies that there is a recurring pattern or expectation that Jamie has become familiar with.

Let's evaluate each option:
a. This option is out of context because there is no mention of Uncle Harry in the given information. The line doesn't suggest that Uncle Harry usually takes care of Ted, so it's not the intended purpose.
b. This option is possible because the line indicates that Ted often gets into trouble or finds himself in difficult situations. Jamie's reaction suggests that this is a common occurrence, which helps develop Ted's character as someone who frequently finds himself in trouble.
c. This option is not supported by the information given. Although Jamie may be tired from being woken up, the line is specifically about Jamie's reaction to the content of the conversation, not his fatigue.
d. This option is not directly supported by the information. The line doesn't necessarily imply that Jamie is always willing to help in times of trouble, but rather that he perceives the current situation as being potentially worse than usual.

Based on the analysis, option b. "develop Ted as a character who is often in trouble" seems to be the most accurate choice, as it aligns with the information available and the purpose of the line in building character development.

That's your assignment. What don't you understand about it?