Use the paragraph to answer the question.
Sylvia woke up exactly when she should have been walking out the door to the bus stop. She bolted out of bed, threw on her school clothes, and rushed out the door. She could not be late today. Not today of all days. Just as she rounded the corner to the bus stop, hoping she hadn’t missed it, she felt a sharp tug at her back. A strap of her backpack was tangled in a broken fence. Not today! Sylvia thought to herself.
Which paragraph would help build tension if added to the story?
(1 point)
Responses
Sylvia struggled to free herself. Why was she stuck? And what was that strange buzzing sound coming from the sky? Suddenly, she woke up to her alarm blaring. It was all a dream!
Sylvia struggled to free herself. Why was she stuck? And what was that strange buzzing sound coming from the sky? Suddenly, she woke up to her alarm blaring. It was all a dream!
She yanked hard on the backpack and heard a tearing sound, but she didn’t care. The bus was coming to a stop. She raced to it, climbed on, and slumped down into her seat, relieved. That was too close for comfort, she thought to herself.
She yanked hard on the backpack and heard a tearing sound, but she didn’t care. The bus was coming to a stop. She raced to it, climbed on, and slumped down into her seat, relieved. That was too close for comfort , she thought to herself.
As she struggled to free herself, the bus pulled into view. She waved her arms wildly, but the driver didn’t notice her. And she was still stuck. What was she going to do? She could not be late to school today.
As she struggled to free herself, the bus pulled into view. She waved her arms wildly, but the driver didn’t notice her. And she was still stuck. What was she going to do? She could not be late to school today.
She pulled on the backpack, but it wouldn’t come free. Oh well, she thought to herself, and sat down on the sidewalk. I guess I’ll be late today. She watched the bus come and go, resigned to her late arrival.
The paragraph that would help build tension if added to the story is:
"As she struggled to free herself, the bus pulled into view. She waved her arms wildly, but the driver didn’t notice her. And she was still stuck. What was she going to do? She could not be late to school today."
This paragraph builds tension because Sylvia is still entangled in the fence, the bus has arrived which she desperately needs to catch, and the bus driver doesn't see her plight. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the repeated idea that she cannot be late, especially "today of all days," and the reader is left wondering what could be so important about today and if she will manage to free herself in time.