Study Break
by J. Robbins
"I hope you guys are hungry," called Vera as she brought a tray of snacks from her kitchen into the living room. Her friends barely looked up from their textbooks.
"I'm too worried about this test to be hungry," Nesky moaned dramatically. "I usually love to try new foods, but I'm in the study zone. I may never eat again!"
"You'll change your mind once you taste a pelmeni," Vera told him. "My grandmother taught me how to make them, and they are delicious. You'll study better once you have a full stomach."
"These look disgusting!" said Raul rudely. "Why couldn't you make sandwiches or something normal for us to eat?" His sister Schmi gave him a look.
"Clearly, you have forgotten your manners," Schmi said to Raul. "Sandwiches are something we can have every day, but that doesn't mean that everyone wants one. Vera is from Russia, and her grandmother is teaching her to cook traditional Russian food. I think it's great!"
Vera smiled gratefully at her friend's supportive words.
"I guess I could try one," muttered Raul as he reached for a pelmeni.
"These snacks remind me of my mother's pierogis," Nesky said through a mouthful of food. "She is from Poland, though, so how could her food taste like Russian food?"
"Many cultures make dumplings similar to pelmeni," replied Vera. "Dumplings filled with spicy meat are popular all over the world."
"I can't believe it," Raul said, sitting up straight in his chair. "These dumplings are tasty! Pelmeni may look like little rocks, but they are even better than sandwiches."
"It sounds like you've convinced my brother to widen his cultural horizons after all," laughed Schmi.
"I never would have guessed by looking at Raul that he could be so open-minded," Vera replied with a wink.
Authors often include multiple themes in their writing. What is a theme expressed in the passage?
A.
People are often judged unfairly by their close friends.
B.
Family members are more forgiving than friends are.
C.
People can let their environment affect their behavior.
D.
Family traditions can alienate people from their friends.