Grandpa's Biography
Lloyd Clovis
His face is a poem,
Each wrinkle a line,
Each scar is a stanza
Each freckle, a rhyme.
His face shares an epic
Of a journey so bold,
Penned in the creases
Of a man's who's grown old.
His poem captures joy,
Great love, and some strife,
It's like a biography—
A story of life.
What does the poet say about the face of the man he is describing?
A It indicates that the man is generally sad and heartbroken.It indicates that the man is generally sad and heartbroken.
B The story of the man's life can be read upon it.The story of the man's life can be read upon it.
C It is full of joy and mischief.It is full of joy and mischief.
D It is surprisingly unwrinkled for a man his age.
B The story of the man's life can be read upon it.
Closer
A. Gautam
My sister Natalie wanted to grow up in seconds and not in years. I was left behind to catch up in real time. Only two years apart, I also felt decades away from her. Natalie wanted privacy, personal room, and mother’s pretty possessions at ten. I longed for her cuddles, which she only dispensed when she had upset me and was sorry. I loved my big sister with every ounce of my being though she felt weighed down by my displays of affection.
“When I was your age, your aunt Jen and I weren’t close,” our mother confessed. “Now, we can’t get enough of each other. Your grandparents are really old, and we share our worries and responsibilities, you know.”
I wasn’t ready to think about that—my beautiful mother being frail or my towering father using a cane. I suspected Natalie would be ahead in the care arrangements and that I would try to play catch-up. I wondered if I would always be just a shadow in Natalie’s life until the day I caught her sobbing in the hallway.
“You didn’t see anything,” Natalie said between sobs and rushed to her room, which she didn’t seal with a locked door.
Entering her neat room, which was a furniture catalog, was a privilege. The veneer of the green curtains added a layer of beauty to the windows. Except for crumbled tissues in the trashcan, nothing seemed unkempt. What had been bothering my perfect sister?
“What’s wrong?” I asked and sat on the edge of the bed to take up the smallest possible space. Then, I spotted a broken friendship bracelet by the night lamp. How could I have not noticed before? Carly hadn’t come over in months. Natalie wasn’t on the phone every free minute of Saturday and Sunday. I had been buried in books and band practice and failed to see my big sister’s loneliness. “Do you want to watch Zombie Cheer together? We don’t have to talk. We can just be…together.”
Natalie lunged at me to hold me tight and wailed until my hair was damp. I let her. Then, she dried her face with tissues and took me by the hand to the living room. Mother had already set up two big bowls of popcorn, which looked like heaps of comfort. Mother always knew everything.
What is the best summary of the selection?
Responses
A Natalie doesn’t notice her sister’s needs for affection until she needs care and understanding from her little sister. Although she hasn’t been close to her sister for years, one day Natalie expresses her sorrow over the broken friendship and seeks comfort. The little sister gives all she can and finally feels like she has a friend in her big sister, who also seems to need her. Natalie doesn’t notice her sister’s needs for affection until she needs care and understanding from her little sister. Although she hasn’t been close to her sister for years, one day Natalie expresses her sorrow over the broken friendship and seeks comfort. The little sister gives all she can and finally feels like she has a friend in her big sister, who also seems to need her.
B The narrator feels apart from her older sister and doesn’t want to think about the future when their parents will be old. When the narrator notices her sister crying in the hallway and follows her, she realizes Natalie is sad about a broken friendship and comforts her. They go out to the living room, where their mother has already prepared popcorn while the girls plan to watch a movie.
The narrator feels apart from her older sister and doesn’t want to think about the future when their parents will be old. When the narrator notices her sister crying in the hallway and follows her, she realizes Natalie is sad about a broken friendship and comforts her. They go out to the living room, where their mother has already prepared popcorn while the girls plan to watch a movie.
C The narrator’s mother shares a tale of her own childhood, which makes the narrator worry about the future. She is worried because she doesn’t want to imagine her parents as being old and needing help and care. She is worried that her perfect sister will be ahead of the game in taking care of her parents as well. She has always compared herself to her sister and felt like she doesn’t measure up. The narrator’s mother shares a tale of her own childhood, which makes the narrator worry about the future. She is worried because she doesn’t want to imagine her parents as being old and needing help and care. She is worried that her perfect sister will be ahead of the game in taking care of her parents as well. She has always compared herself to her sister and felt like she doesn’t measure up.
D The narrator is the younger sister of Natalie who acts much older than her age and is not as close to her little sister as the younger sibling wants. She is unaware of that until she no longer has a friend and needs someone to listen to her feelings. One day, the little sister lets Natalie cry until she feels better. Since then, the girls develop a lasting bond. The narrator is the younger sister of Natalie who acts much older than her age and is not as close to her little sister as the younger sibling wants. She is unaware of that until she no longer has a friend and needs someone to listen to her feelings. One day, the little sister lets Natalie cry until she feels better. Since then, the girls develop a lasting bond.
B The narrator feels apart from her older sister and doesn’t want to think about the future when their parents will be old. When the narrator notices her sister crying in the hallway and follows her, she realizes Natalie is sad about a broken friendship and comforts her. They go out to the living room, where their mother has already prepared popcorn while the girls plan to watch a movie.
Never Again
K. Reiter
Big wet flakes fell from the dreary sky. Marco and Nico stared out the window admiring the snow that covered everything in sight. They watched excitedly at the skiers turned their skis to the left and the right down the steep mountain. They could not wait to learn how to ski.
Macro grabbed his puffy ski pants and his long-sleeved undershirt. Next came the sweatshirt and then the ski jacket. He looked like a giant blue marshmallow.
“Don’t forget your hat and your ski goggles,” reminded his mom.
“I know, I know,” he muttered back.
Nico’s entire body was covered. All that could be seen was his beady blue eyes peering out beneath his warm grey hat.
Both Marco and Nico stumbled past their mom and out the door. The white snow had accumulated outside the door, so both boys pushed with all their might. Snow went flying everywhere, and they chuckled at the sight. They put on their bright green skis and grabbed their poles. Their dad, who was an avid skier, decided he would be the one to teach the boys for the first time. He was thrilled to share one of his hobbies with his boys. He followed closely behind as they eagerly headed to the ski lift.
The snow continued to fall as the boys jumped on the ski lift. They held on tightly as it swayed back and forth and climbed closer to the top of the mountain. Marco and Nico’s excitement grew, as did their apprehension. Were they ready for this?
The ski lift stopped abruptly, and the boys glided off the seats. Boom! They both hit the cold ice beneath and was quickly pushed off to the side to avoid being hit by the chair behind them.
“That hurt,” whined Marco.
“I want to go home,” cried Nico.
“You’ll be fine,” reassured their dad, even though he wasn’t so sure. It was going to be a long day.
What is the best summary of the passage?
Responses
A Marco and Nico are eager to learn how to ski. They put on all their ski gear and head to the ski lift. Their dad is going to teach them how to ski. The boys first time off the lift does not go well and they do not want to continue. Their dad tries to convince them that they will be fine. Marco and Nico are eager to learn how to ski. They put on all their ski gear and head to the ski lift. Their dad is going to teach them how to ski. The boys first time off the lift does not go well and they do not want to continue. Their dad tries to convince them that they will be fine.
B Marco and Nico bundle up to get ready to ski for the first time. Their mom reminds them to put on their goggles and hat. Nico is covered from head to toe. The boys fall off the ski lift and decide not to ski anymore. Marco and Nico bundle up to get ready to ski for the first time. Their mom reminds them to put on their goggles and hat. Nico is covered from head to toe. The boys fall off the ski lift and decide not to ski anymore.
C Snow falls as Marco and Nico head to the ski lift for the first time. They sit on the ski lift and look down at the other skiers. As soon as the ski lift stops, they both fall on the cold ice beneath. They decide they did not want to ski anymore. Their dad is not happy about their decision. Snow falls as Marco and Nico head to the ski lift for the first time. They sit on the ski lift and look down at the other skiers. As soon as the ski lift stops, they both fall on the cold ice beneath. They decide they did not want to ski anymore. Their dad is not happy about their decision.
D Marco and Nico’s dad is a great skier, so he decides to teach the boys how to ski. They sit on the ski lift and watch the other skiers. When it stops, both boys fall off and get hurt. They decide that they do not want to ski anymore. Marco and Nico’s dad is a great skier, so he decides to teach the boys how to ski. They sit on the ski lift and watch the other skiers. When it stops, both boys fall off and get hurt. They decide that they do not want to ski anymore.
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A Marco and Nico are eager to learn how to ski. They put on all their ski gear and head to the ski lift. Their dad is going to teach them how to ski. The boys first time off the lift does not go well and they do not want to continue. Their dad tries to convince them that they will be fine.
Closer
A. Gautam
My sister Natalie wanted to grow up in seconds and not in years. I was left behind to catch up in real time. Only two years apart, I also felt decades away from her. Natalie wanted privacy, personal room, and mother’s pretty possessions at ten. I longed for her cuddles, which she only dispensed when she had upset me and was sorry. I loved my big sister with every ounce of my being though she felt weighed down by my displays of affection.
“When I was your age, your aunt Jen and I weren’t close,” our mother confessed. “Now, we can’t get enough of each other. Your grandparents are really old, and we share our worries and responsibilities, you know.”
I wasn’t ready to think about that—my beautiful mother being frail or my towering father using a cane. I suspected Natalie would be ahead in the care arrangements and that I would try to play catch-up. I wondered if I would always be just a shadow in Natalie’s life until the day I caught her sobbing in the hallway.
“You didn’t see anything,” Natalie said between sobs and rushed to her room, which she didn’t seal with a locked door.
Entering her neat room, which was a furniture catalog, was a privilege. The veneer of the green curtains added a layer of beauty to the windows. Except for crumbled tissues in the trashcan, nothing seemed unkempt. What had been bothering my perfect sister?
“What’s wrong?” I asked and sat on the edge of the bed to take up the smallest possible space. Then, I spotted a broken friendship bracelet by the night lamp. How could I have not noticed before? Carly hadn’t come over in months. Natalie wasn’t on the phone every free minute of Saturday and Sunday. I had been buried in books and band practice and failed to see my big sister’s loneliness. “Do you want to watch Zombie Cheer together? We don’t have to talk. We can just be…together.”
Natalie lunged at me to hold me tight and wailed until my hair was damp. I let her. Then, she dried her face with tissues and took me by the hand to the living room. Mother had already set up two big bowls of popcorn, which looked like heaps of comfort. Mother always knew everything.
A theme in the story is love can be expressed without using words. Select two statements that highlight the development of this theme throughout the passage.
Responses
A Mother had already set up two big bowls of popcorn, which looked like heaps of comfort. Mother had already set up two big bowls of popcorn, which looked like heaps of comfort.
B Natalie wasn’t on the phone every free minute of Saturday and Sunday. Natalie wasn’t on the phone every free minute of Saturday and Sunday.
C Entering her neat room, which was a furniture catalog, was a privilege. Entering her neat room, which was a furniture catalog, was a privilege.
D My sister Natalie wanted to grow up in seconds and not in years. My sister Natalie wanted to grow up in seconds and not in years.
E “We don’t have to talk. We can just be…together.”
E “We don’t have to talk. We can just be…together.” AND A Mother had already set up two big bowls of popcorn, which looked like heaps of comfort.
Late Night Cleaning
A. Gautam
I had to find out what was going on with my parents without their knowledge and without worrying my little brother. Lately, I had heard their dialogue getting louder, thankfully, way past Pedro’s bedtime. If I weren’t up late with AP assignments, I wouldn’t have known.
First, I noticed mother was cleaning out the garage, and we weren’t expecting company. She’d gathered stuff we no longer used and boxed them up. I had to sneak into the garage when my parents were yelling because the boxes would be gone in the morning. Every afternoon after school, I gave Pedro a snack and went into my parents’ bedroom before mother returned from work. More boxes were visible. One day, I went to the closet, even though I knew mother would be absolutely mad if she knew. The closet was as spotless as a showroom. My parents’ clothes were neatly organized and labeled. I was baffled because normally the closet seemed as if a bomb had gone off in there.
When I went into the pantry, I noticed fewer food containers, which were also neatly labeled. This was no longer my kitchen—and no longer my house. I couldn’t take it anymore, and one night, I headed to my parents’ room. I could hear them through the door which was teasing me with its secrets.
“We need to tell them, at least Pillar,” mother screeched. “She can help.”
“Not the ties. I need those,” father screamed. “Not yet. Maybe during the break. Or after the exams. Don’t want to worry her.”
“You never wear ties. They’re all new. I can sell them at a good price,” mother yelled. “Be reasonable.”
“Me? How about you be reasonable and do this stuff on weekends,” father yelled back. “That’s it. I’m going to tell Pillar, and I’m not going to clean at nights anymore.”
I didn’t guess that father was heading straight to my room, and he was shocked to see me outside the door.
Father pulled me away to the hallway, gestured me to hush, and took me to my room. He explained everything that had driven me crazy for weeks. We were going to sell the house and move into a smaller house to save money because grandmother needed to be in a better nursing home. They were cleaning for an open house. I was too speechless to say anything.
A theme in the story is disagreement is part of a family life. Select two statements that highlight the development of this theme throughout the passage.
Responses
A I didn’t guess that father was heading straight to my room, and he was shocked to see me outside the door. I didn’t guess that father was heading straight to my room, and he was shocked to see me outside the door.
B We were going to sell the house and move into a smaller house to save money because grandmother needed to be in a better nursing home. We were going to sell the house and move into a smaller house to save money because grandmother needed to be in a better nursing home.
C He explained everything that had driven me crazy for weeks. He explained everything that had driven me crazy for weeks.
D I had to sneak into the garage when my parents were yelling because the boxes would be gone in the morning.