Read "The Undertow" ("The Undertow”, from Illuminate) and then answer the question that follows.
The Undertow
Anna lived in the outer banks of North Carolina in a small, clapboard house with her family. She truly loved living there. At 16, Anna was a smart and shy young woman. She preferred simple walks along the beach by herself to the complicated parties that her peers enjoyed. In fact, her ideal day included hours of swimming, jogging, collecting shells, and sunbathing on the beach all by herself.
Having lived by the ocean since she was a small girl of four, Anna was quite familiar with the dangers and joys associated with living so close to the ocean. She knew how to swim quite well, and, more importantly, she knew when to stay out of the water. Her parents exposed her constantly to the sea to familiarize her with it. They even showed her, from the safety of their living room television, what an intense hurricane was capable of doing. She also knew, from her countless trips to the seaside to collect shells, that the tide was strong, and the undertow was tricky. The ocean was a living, breathing beast that was not to be trusted or underestimated.
In fact, Anna was confident in her knowledge of the ocean and was, therefore, angry when her little brother, Gerard, would constantly say that her fears of the ocean were exaggerated. They would battle day after day over the topic, never reaching a compromise. One Saturday morning, though, their argument ended. Although they would both end the day safe and sound on their living room couch watching television, Anna's ocean knowledge and Gerard's naiveté were both tested that morning.
Anna set off from their house early that day to collect purple shells to complete a collage she was constructing. Gerard tagged along behind her, struggling to carry his boogie board in his small, six-year-old arms. Anna and Gerard reached the seaside and Anna cautiously walked into the shallow waves of the ocean to check for the undertow, like a mother duck that checks the water before letting her ducklings swim. After several minutes, she realized that there was, in fact, a strong undertow that morning.
Anna told Gerard to stay in the very shallow water to avoid the danger of the undertow. Gerard agreed. However, Gerard secretly had other ideas and refused to let his sister restrict him. As soon as Anna turned her back to explore the beach several yards away from him, Gerard paddled his boogie board into the waves. Anna squatted down, scanning a dense patch of shells. Because she was so engrossed in what she was doing, she missed seeing Gerard swim out too far. She did not see him get tossed underwater by a majorly harsh wave.
When Gerard surfaced, he knew the undertow had pulled him out further than was safe for him, and he began to panic. He called for his sister, but she could not hear him. He had no way of knowing when she would turn to look for him. He quickly let his boogie board go and tried to paddle for the shore. He felt the undertow pulling him sideways, though, when he wanted to go forward, and panic gripped his young heart. The undertow was like a string pulling him, and he was as useless as a wooden puppet to stop it. The impact of his stubborn refusal to listen to his sister was becoming more and more clear to him as the shoreline looked further and further away. His false confidence left him, and terror seized him.
Finally, when he was beginning to lose hope, Anna stood up and turned her gaze toward the ocean. With a panicked scream, Anna threw her shells to the ground and ran for the water. She carefully, but swiftly, paddled out to where Gerard was struggling. Thankfully, Anna's ocean knowledge along with her patience and confidence won the war against the undertow. Because of her strong swimming skills, both Anna and Gerard made it to shore safely.
After a tumultuous fight with the ocean, both Anna and Gerard finished the day with a healthy respect for its power. Gerard finally understood, and they never had another fight about the ocean.
Question: What evidence in the text most effectively supports the inference that Gerard overestimated his readiness for ocean swimming?
(1 point)
Responses
Gerard tagged along behind her, struggling to carry his boogie board in his small, six-year-old arms.
Gerard tagged along behind her, struggling to carry his boogie board in his small, six-year-old arms.
He quickly let his boogie board go and tried to paddle for the shore.
He quickly let his boogie board go and tried to paddle for the shore.
His false confidence left him, and terror seized him.
His false confidence left him, and terror seized him.
With a panicked scream, Anna threw her shells to the ground and ran for the water.
His false confidence left him, and terror seized him.
Question: Of the following statements, which would be the best theme of this story?
(1 point)
Responses
Sometimes fears can be exaggerated to be much worse than they really are.
Sometimes fears can be exaggerated to be much worse than they really are.
Confidence is the key to getting out of a tough situation.
Confidence is the key to getting out of a tough situation.
To understand the danger of something completely, sometimes you have to experience it first.
To understand the danger of something completely, sometimes you have to experience it first.
Even people that are very strong struggle against the power of nature.
Even people that are very strong struggle against the power of nature.
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Even people that are very strong struggle against the power of nature.
The undertow was like a string pulling him, and he was as useless as a wooden puppet to stop it. The impact of his stubborn refusal to listen to his sister was becoming more and more clear to him as the shoreline looked further and further away. His false confidence left him, and terror seized him.
(1 point)
Responses
The two phrases "useless as a wooden puppet" and "like a string pulling him" demonstrate that Gerard was not at fault to be in this situation.
The two phrases "useless as a wooden puppet" and "like a string pulling him" demonstrate that Gerard was not at fault to be in this situation.
The two phrases "false confidence" and "stubborn refusal" demonstrate that Gerard is overconfident due to praise from his family and friends.
The two phrases "false confidence" and "stubborn refusal" demonstrate that Gerard is overconfident due to praise from his family and friends.
The two phrases "false confidence" and "stubborn refusal" demonstrate that Gerard is in this situation due to his overconfident attitude.
The two phrases "false confidence" and "stubborn refusal" demonstrate that Gerard is in this situation due to his overconfident attitude.
The two phrases "useless as a wooden puppet" and "like a string pulling him" demonstrate that Gerard does not really put forth much effort to get out of the undertow.
The two phrases "useless as a wooden puppet" and "like a string pulling him" demonstrate that Gerard does not really put forth much effort to get out of the undertow.
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The two phrases "false confidence" and "stubborn refusal" demonstrate that Gerard is in this situation due to his overconfident attitude.
Question: Read this part of the story and answer the question that follows.
The undertow was like a string pulling him, and he was as useless as a wooden puppet to stop it.
What effect is created by the author when they use the two similes/analogies in this sentence?
(1 point)
Responses
The text is very serious up to this point, and the similes/analogies make the story funny.
The text is very serious up to this point, and the similes/analogies make the story funny.
The similes/analogies in the sentence create an effect of hopelessness, making it easier for the reader to understand how desperate Gerard felt while in the water.
The similes/analogies in the sentence create an effect of hopelessness, making it easier for the reader to understand how desperate Gerard felt while in the water.
The similes/analogies create an effect that shows Anna's anger towards her brother.
The similes/analogies create an effect that shows Anna's anger towards her brother.
The similes/analogies in the sentence create a helpless effect by explaining that it was not Gerard's fault that he was stuck in the undertow in the first place.
The similes/analogies in the sentence create an effect of hopelessness, making it easier for the reader to understand how desperate Gerard felt while in the water.
Read "The Mysterious Box" ("The Mysterious Box”, from Illuminate) and then answer the question that follows.
The Mysterious Box
"This is the last box," Samuel called as he entered the foyer of his new home. He carried the heavy box down the hallway to the kitchen where he found his mother, father, and sister unpacking various gadgets. Samuel's family had sold their previous home and moved into this old Victorian-style house so his father could work at the local hospital. Samuel didn't relish the idea of moving at first, but now he thought this might not be such a bad place to call home. Additionally, school didn't start for another month, so Samuel and his sister, Catherine, would have time to explore their new neighborhood and meet other kids.
After Samuel placed the cardboard box on the kitchen counter, his mother rushed over and started inspecting it.
"This box contains your great-grandmother's wedding china," Mom explained as she opened it. "These dishes are very old and fragile, so I hope they survived the move."
While his mother carefully examined each piece of china, Samuel asked his father what needed to be accomplished next.
"Well, you and Catherine can take the boxes of winter clothes up to the attic after lunch," Dad said as he put spices and canned goods away in the pantry. "We'll also need to see if the previous owners left anything behind and clear it out."
Catherine let out a groan at the thought of spending the afternoon cleaning the attic.
"Come on, Catherine," Samuel said with a smile. "Clearing out the attic might be fun! You never know what treasures might be hidden in this old house.
Catherine replied, "You've got your head in the clouds if you think we'll discover hidden treasures in this place. I think we're more likely to find a bunch of clutter."
After lunch, Samuel and Catherine hauled several boxes to one of the guest rooms, where they could access the stairs to the attic. The attic was hot, and Catherine immediately felt like leaving the cramped space. They deposited the boxes in one corner of the large attic and then looked around to see what had been left behind.
Catherine let out a dramatic sigh when she reached the opposite end of the attic where several cardboard boxes were piled against the wall. Unfortunately, they would need to go through them all to see what was inside.
Samuel found a box of old books that were in good condition and could be taken to the local library. Catherine's mood improved immensely after finding a trunk filled with outdated clothes. Samuel could not keep a straight face when he saw her donning a hideous floral scarf and an enormous feathered hat. The clothes were spotless, so Catherine decided to donate them to the high school's drama department.
After spending most of the afternoon sorting through boxes, Samuel had just about run out of steam when he heard Catherine let out a gasp of excitement.
"Samuel, take a look at this!"
His sister was pointing at something, and Samuel peered over her shoulder to see a wooden box sitting on one of the rafters near the ceiling.
He carefully dislodged the box from its resting place and set it on the attic floor. Samuel noticed that the locked box had the name "Reynolds" painted on one side and assumed this was the name of a family that once lived in the house.
"Let's try to open it and see if there really is treasure inside!" Samuel exclaimed as he searched the rafter for the key that would unlock the mysteries inside the box.
"No, Samuel," Catherine said quickly. "Imagine that this box contained Great–grandmother's wedding china or Dad's baseball card collection. You wouldn't want someone to look through it, would you?"
After listening to Catherine, Samuel had a change of heart and abandoned his search for the missing key. When they finished their task, the siblings brought the wooden box downstairs to show their parents.
Samuel's mother immediately recognized the name on the box. "This is the name of the woman who sold us this house," she explained. "She inherited the home from her grandfather, but she didn't think that she could handle all the maintenance. Ms. Reynolds only lives a few blocks away, so we could return the box to her this evening."
About half an hour later, Samuel, Catherine, and their mother stood on the steps of a small brick house. A woman with bright red hair answered the door and smiled after recognizing the children's mother. Their mother introduced Samuel and Catherine, and Ms. Reynolds ushered them all inside. Samuel held onto the box as everyone took seats around a small kitchen table. He carefully placed the box on the table and told Ms. Reynolds about their discovery. After listening, Ms. Reynolds abruptly left the kitchen. She returned a few moments later with an antique key in her hand. Samuel felt his heart begin to race as he waited for Ms. Reynolds to open the box and reveal what was inside.
Ms. Reynolds's face filled with emotion when she finally opened the lid.
"It's filled with old photographs and letters from my grandparents," Ms. Reynolds said in a quiet voice. "I thought these were lost forever. I can't tell you what it means to me to have them back."
Realizing that they had uncovered a hidden treasure after all, Samuel smiled widely at his sister.
Question: What specific information in the text MOST effectively demonstrates Samuel and Catherine's generosity towards their newfound community?
(1 point)
Responses
The clothes were spotless, so Catherine decided to donate them to the high school's drama department.
The clothes were spotless, so Catherine decided to donate them to the high school's drama department.
Samuel noticed that the locked box had the name "Reynolds" painted on one side and assumed this was the name of a family that once lived in the house.
Samuel noticed that the locked box had the name "Reynolds" painted on one side and assumed this was the name of a family that once lived in the house.
Additionally, school didn't start for another month, so Samuel and his sister, Catherine, would have time to explore their new neighborhood and meet other kids.
Additionally, school didn't start for another month, so Samuel and his sister, Catherine, would have time to explore their new neighborhood and meet other kids.
Samuel could not keep a straight face when he saw her donning a hideous floral scarf and an enormous feathered hat.
Samuel could not keep a straight face when he saw her donning a hideous floral scarf and an enormous feathered hat.
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