1. Read the passage. Then answer the question.
A Community Park
It was Friday, and as she walked home from school, Samara thought about what she would do that weekend. Everyone would be at the fund-raiser for new sports equipment at the high school on Saturday. As she was trying to remember if any good movies were coming out this weekend, she noticed a group of kids playing tag. Samara thought they looked comical running around in circles on a small plot of land between two houses. “Well, they certainly seem happy,” thought Samara as the light turned and she crossed the street.
On the opposite side of Cherry Street, Samara saw Mr. Peters sitting on a bench. He was reading his newspaper as the heavy traffic of the town’s main thoroughfare whizzed by him. She wondered how he could concentrate. Later, as she took the last turn onto her street, Samara saw her neighbor planting her annual vegetable garden. Every year, Mrs. Yang grew eggplant, cucumbers, and bok choy, because that’s all she had room for. “The garden looks good so far, Mrs. Yang,” Samara called.
“Thank you, dear,” Mrs. Yang said. “You know, if I had room, I would plant enough vegetables to feed the entire neighborhood! My mother had a garden that was one square acre when I was a little girl in Korea.”
As Samara nodded and waved goodbye, she started thinking about what she had seen on her walk home that day. She realized that Pine Grove did not have any open public spaces where everyone could go to relax and enjoy nature. The only unused space was a vacated plot on Cedar Avenue that was completely overgrown. Suddenly, Samara had a great idea. She decided to spend her summer campaigning for a new community park. The only problem was that she had no idea where to start.
That evening, she went to the library and learned about what she would need to do in order to get the idea in front of the town zoning board. It was all a little intimidating, but Wanda, the reference librarian, helped Samara break it down into manageable steps. When Samara mentioned the Cedar Avenue plot, Wanda’s eyes lit up. “That is a perfect spot,” Wanda said. “It’s right in the middle of town, and better yet, the town owns it.”
Samara spent many afternoons over the next few weeks at the library with Wanda and a few other librarians drawing up a detailed plan to present to town officials. Samara and the librarians even planned and priced out irrigation necessary for the area that was designated as a garden. When the day of the zoning board meeting arrived, Samara felt nervous, but Wanda and the other librarians were there for moral support. Samara thought she at least sounded confident as she presented her idea to the board. When she finished her presentation, she was ready to wait patiently for an answer; Wanda told her that this kind of decision might take weeks, so Samara was surprised when the board members asked her to stay while they deliberated. The president of the board explained that Samara’s presentation had been the last order of business for the day, and he wanted his board to be able to agree on one thing before they left. After about 15 minutes, Samara was informed that the community park had been approved.
Samara had been telling her neighbors and friends about the park from the moment she thought of it, and it seemed as though everyone wanted to be a part of making her vision a reality. As soon as her idea was approved, Samara called a meeting for anyone interested in collaborating. At the meeting, residents voted on what would be included on the land: a playset for young children and one for older children, a swing set, several park benches, and a dog run. It was also decided that there would be a cooperative organic vegetable garden and an herb garden at the north end of the park. Residents agreed that Mrs. Yang would manage the gardens.
At Wanda’s suggestion, Samara asked a representative from a nearby horticultural society to come and advise the group on the design of the park, the best native shrubs to plant, and where to put them. Samara also asked local businesses to sponsor the park by the square foot so that the community would be able to afford equipment and plants. Surprised by the response, Samara went to the bank to open an account where the surplus would be saved for next spring. In a few weeks’ time, the space had been cleared and residents were beginning to roll out sod and plant small vegetable plants and summer flowers. By midsummer, the community was able to enjoy the new, peaceful space. Samara was happy to have been part of creating not only a beautiful space, but a common area where residents could come together.
How does the complicating incident in “A Community Park” affect Samara? Describe the complicating incident and its impact on Samara’s thoughts, feelings, actions, and interactions. Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be at least two complete paragraphs.
Answer:
The complicating incident in "A Community Park" is when Samara realizes that Pine Grove does not have any open public spaces where everyone can relax and enjoy nature. This realization sparks the idea in Samara's mind to campaign for a new community park. This complicating incident causes a shift in Samara's thoughts, feelings, actions, and interactions.
First, Samara's thoughts are impacted by the complicated incident. She starts thinking about what she has seen on her walk home and realizes the lack of open public spaces in her town. This thought leads to her idea of creating a new community park. She then starts thinking about how to make her idea a reality and seeks guidance from the library and Wanda, the reference librarian.
Next, Samara's feelings are influenced by the complicating incident. She feels a sense of determination and excitement about the possibility of creating a community park. She is nervous but also confident when presenting her idea to the zoning board. When she is informed that the park has been approved, she feels a sense of accomplishment and happiness.
The complicating incident also affects Samara's actions. She takes the initiative to learn about the process of getting her idea in front of the town zoning board. She spends time at the library and works with the librarians to create a detailed plan for the park. She then calls a meeting and collaborates with the residents to decide on the features of the park. She also reaches out to a horticultural society and local businesses for advice and sponsorship.
Finally, the complicating incident impacts Samara's interactions. She interacts with Mrs. Yang, her neighbor, and learns about her desire to have a larger vegetable garden. This interaction leads to the decision to have a cooperative organic vegetable garden and Mrs. Yang being appointed as the manager. Samara also interacts with Wanda and the other librarians at the library, who provide support and assistance in developing the park proposal.
Overall, the complicating incident of realizing the lack of open public spaces in her town drives Samara to take action and create a community park. It influences her thoughts, feelings, actions, and interactions, leading to the successful realization of her idea.