Read the list of sentences from the article.

1. He was inspired by vegan ultramarathoner Robbie Balenger, who also ran across the country.

2. He was joined by his girlfriend and dog as his sole support crew.

3. On March 31, Swartz and Dalto found Zhou out in the Colorado countryside.

4. When he crossed the George Washington Bridge on May 27, there was a group waiting for him, including Dalto and Swartz, with flowers and tape for him to break through.

Which two sentences taken together provide the BEST evidence supporting the idea that Timmy Zhou made new friends on his run?

A
1 and 2

B
1 and 4

C
2 and 3

D
3 and 4

C

2 and 3

Which sentence from the section “88 Days Later” BEST explains how rare Timmy Zhou’s accomplishment was?

A
His supporters flew back to New York City, preparing to join him when he crossed the George Washington Bridge on the final leg of his trip.

B
It took Zhou 88 days to complete a challenge only a few hundred can claim to have ever done.

C
He raised more than $20,000 for VetPaw, a charity that protects African wildlife.

D
He may have stopped running that day, but he plans to keep trying to raise money if he can.

B

It took Zhou 88 days to complete a challenge only a few hundred can claim to have ever done.

Read these paragraphs from the section “A Hobby During COVID Turned Into A Challenge.”

Within five weeks of starting to run, he completed his first half-marathon, which is 13.1 miles. Within three months, he finished his first marathon, which is 26.2 miles. But he didn’t stop there.

Zhou started training for a cross-country fundraising journey. He ran two 50-mile races, a 100-mile race and earned the title for fastest known time of the Central Park loop.

How is the central idea developed in these paragraphs?

A
by showing how Zhou prepared for his cross-country run

B
by showing how challenging the fundraising was for Zhou

C
by showing how running marathons proved to be adequate training for Zhou

D
by showing how Zhou hoped to set a record for the fastest cross-country run

A

by showing how Zhou prepared for his cross-country run

Which statement would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

A
Timmy Zhou completed his run across the United States in 88 days.

B
Timmy Zhou started college at New York University in fall of 2019.

C
Timmy Zhou discovered ultramarathons from Rickey Gates’s documentary.

D
Timmy Zhou met with Tyler Swartz and Rob Dalto in the Colorado countryside.

A

Timmy Zhou completed his run across the United States in 88 days.

Write a paragraph that explains the central idea of the text. Use at least two details from the article to support your response.

the text is Real-life Forrest Gump: A student's 3,000-mile run across the country. on newsela

The central idea of the text "Real-life Forrest Gump: A student's 3,000-mile run across the country" is the incredible journey of Timmy Zhou as he runs across the United States to raise funds for charity. Zhou, inspired by vegan ultramarathoner Robbie Balenger, embarked on a challenging fundraising journey that took him 88 days to complete. Along the way, Zhou faced numerous physical and mental challenges, but he persevered and successfully completed the 3,000-mile run. His dedication and determination are exemplified by the fact that within a short period of time, he went from running half-marathons and marathons to completing two 50-mile races and a 100-mile race. Zhou's incredible feat not only showcased his physical endurance but also raised over $20,000 for VetPaw, a charity that protects African wildlife.

To find the two sentences that provide the best evidence supporting the idea that Timmy Zhou made new friends on his run, let's examine each option:

A) Sentence 1 states that Timmy Zhou was inspired by Robbie Balenger, and Sentence 2 mentions that his girlfriend and dog joined him as his sole support crew. Although these sentences show support and companionship, they do not explicitly suggest that Timmy made new friends on his run.

B) Sentence 1 notes that Timmy Zhou was inspired by Robbie Balenger, but Sentence 4 implies that there was a group waiting for him when he crossed the George Washington Bridge. This group included Dalto and Swartz, who brought flowers and tape for him to break through. Sentence 4 provides evidence that Timmy Zhou made new friends on his run. Therefore, Option B is a possible answer.

C) Sentence 2 indicates that Timmy Zhou was joined by his girlfriend and dog as his sole support crew, and Sentence 3 states that Swartz and Dalto found Zhou out in the Colorado countryside. Although these sentences show support and interaction, they do not explicitly suggest that Timmy made new friends on his run.

D) Sentence 3 states that Swartz and Dalto found Zhou out in the Colorado countryside, and Sentence 4 implies that there was a group waiting for him when he crossed the George Washington Bridge, including Dalto and Swartz. Both sentences provide evidence that Timmy Zhou made new friends on his run. Therefore, Option D is also a possible answer.

Based on the explanations above, the two sentences that provide the BEST evidence supporting the idea that Timmy Zhou made new friends on his run are either Option B (1 and 4) or Option D (3 and 4).