Reread “Tipping Point” on page 118. In 2-3 sentences describe how someone can reach a tipping point in their lives. Use evidence from the poem to support your answer. Our seats are in the clouds, and every time Dad thinks the ref makes a bad call, he rains. All Mom does is pop up like an umbrella, then Dad sits back down. JB’s got nineteen points, six rebounds, and three assists. He’s on fire, blazing from baseline to baseline. Dad screams, Somebody needs to call the fire department, ’cause JB is burning up this place. The other team calls a time-out. Dad, JB still won’t speak to me, I say. Right now JB can’t see you, son, Dad says. You just have to let the smoke clear, and then he’ll be okay. For now, why don’t you write him a letter? Good idea, I think. But what should I say? I ask him. By then, Dad is on his feet with the rest of the gym as JB steals the ball and takes off like a wildfire.

Reaching a tipping point in someone's life can happen when they are faced with a significant challenge or success that pushes them to their limits. In the poem, JB's exceptional performance on the basketball court, with his father's enthusiastic support, represents a moment where he is on the verge of a breakthrough. This moment of peak performance and support from his father could be the tipping point that allows JB to overcome his current struggles and move forward in a positive direction.