- Which choice best uses evidence from the excerpt to support the claim that Ava starts out controlling but learns to collaborate?
Answer: Ava is controlling when she says her plan will win and seals the joints before anyone can adjust them, and she collaborates when she slides the glue to DeShawn and asks what he thinks will hold.
The claim describes a change over time, so the best answer shows both the before and the after. Choice B does this. It shows Ava being controlling when she insists her plan will win and seals the joints before anyone can adjust them, and it shows her collaborating when she slides the glue to DeShawn and asks what he thinks will hold. That arc matches the passage, so Choice B is correct. Choice A rests on the teacher's board rather than Ava's actions, Choice C claims she never changes, and Choice D wrongly reads her early line as proof she was cooperative all along.
- Which choice best uses multiple pieces of evidence to support the inference that Inez is likely to succeed because she prepares carefully and stays focused under pressure?
Answer: Inez traces the route and runs the first mile alone the day before, says she does not want 'to guess tomorrow,' keeps the 'YOU GOT THIS' medal up, and on race day whispers 'Measured' and finds her rhythm instead of panicking.
The inference rests on Inez's preparation and her focus under pressure. She studies the route, runs it alone the day before, says she does not want to guess, keeps the encouraging medal, and on the slick race morning steadies herself with "Measured" and finds her rhythm. Choice B gathers that evidence, so it is correct. Choice A points only to weather, Choice C turns Coach's words into a guarantee of winning, and Choice D misreads her steady pace as not caring.
- Which choice best uses evidence to support the theme that taking responsibility builds trust?
Answer: Nico breaks the lever and right away admits it, offers to stay and help fix it, and the guide thanks him for telling the truth, after which Nico realizes rules are really about trust.
A theme is supported when several moments in the story point to the same idea. Choice B gathers them: Nico admits he broke the lever, offers to help fix it, earns the guide's thanks for telling the truth, and then sees that rules are about trust. Together these show responsibility leading to trust, so Choice B is correct. Choice A lists only setup details, Choice C misreads his joke as a lesson about avoiding rules, and Choice D focuses on the bowl instead of Nico's actions.
- Which choice best supports the interpretation that Tariq's main conflict is his pride getting in the way of accepting help?
Answer: Tariq says "I'm good" as the chain slips again, worries people will think he's scared, and gives in only at "Okay. Show me," so pride, not the bike, was the barrier.
An interpretation is strongest when several moments in the story point the same way. The best answer gathers them: Tariq refuses with "I'm good" while the chain keeps slipping, worries about looking scared, and only gives in at "Okay. Show me." Together these show that pride, not the broken bike, was the real barrier. The choice about the chain being hard to fix mistakes the surface problem for the conflict, since Tariq's own words show it's about how he'll look, not the mechanics. The choice claiming Tariq stays busy because he already knew how to fix it misreads the passage, where the chain slips again and again and his hands shake. The choice saying Tariq is not proud ignores that he first refuses help with "I'm good" and only accepts after a pause. So the answer tracing his refusal, his worry, and his final change is the one that truly supports the interpretation.
- Which choice gives the strongest set of evidence to support the analysis that Mateo begins uncertain but chooses courage and confidence?
Answer: At first Mateo's mouth 'went dry,' his voice comes out 'thin,' and he hears giggles, but then he inhales 'deep enough to hurt,' lifts the crown high, and declares 'I will not be a paper king' louder than the script, and the giggles stop.
A begins-uncertain-then-chooses-courage reading needs evidence of both the fear and the turn. The dry mouth, thin voice, and giggles show Mateo's early nerves, while the deep breath, the raised crown, and the bold line delivered louder than the script show his shift to confidence, and the giggles stop. Choice C tracks that arc, so it is correct. Choice A lists setting and props, Choice B describes the family, and Choice D points to Ms. Patel's coaching, none of which trace Mateo's change.
- Which choice includes multiple pieces of evidence that best support the claim that Kira is stubborn but able to adapt when necessary?
Answer: Kira insists 'I'm not lost,' her 'jaw tightened' when Ben suggests turning back, and she refuses to miss the overlook, but then she says 'Fine,' marks trees with bright tape, decides to 'go slow,' and counts her steps.
The claim has two parts, so the best evidence shows both stubbornness and adaptation. Kira insists she is not lost, tightens her jaw, and refuses to miss the overlook, yet she then agrees to mark the trees, go slow, and count her steps. Choice A gathers both sides, so it is correct. Choice B lists only setting details, Choice C uses Ben's line to mislabel Kira as careless, and Choice D turns the dead phone into a guarantee that she will fail.
- Which choice best uses evidence from the excerpt to support the claim that Mina is responsible but struggles to ask for help?
Answer: Mina shows responsibility when she says she promised to set up the chairs and carefully files the permission slip, and she avoids help by insisting she will not bother anyone while lifting the heaviest chair.
The claim names two traits, so the best answer needs evidence for both. Choice C does this. It shows responsibility through Mina's promise to set up the chairs and her careful filing of the permission slip, and it shows her trouble asking for help through her line about not wanting to bother anyone and her choice to lift the heaviest chair alone. Because it supports both traits, Choice C is correct. Choice A leans on a single detail and ignores the rest, Choice B misreads the custodian unlocking the door as evidence about Mina, and Choice D points to nervousness instead of the two traits in the claim.
- Which choice best uses evidence from the passage to support the theme that small acts of kindness can matter a lot to others?
Answer: The framed line about small kindnesses, Kai bringing the groceries and reading the note aloud, Mr. Duran's watery eyes and whispered thanks, and Kai picking up the next bag on his own all point to the theme.
A theme is supported when several separate moments in the story point to the same idea. The best answer gathers a chain of them: the framed line about small kindnesses, Kai delivering the groceries and reading the note aloud, Mr. Duran's watery eyes and whispered "Gracias," and Kai picking up the next bag without being asked. Together these show the kindness truly mattered to Mr. Duran and even changed how Kai acted afterward.
The choice about the orange-peel smell, the framed sentence, and the sorted cans only describes the setting; it doesn't show kindness affecting anyone. The choice about the skate park, the warning, and Kai's muttering captures only his early reluctance, which is the opposite of the theme. The choice about stumbling over Spanish, the broken elevator, and the coughing points to difficulty and hardship, not to the effect of a kind act. Only the answer that links multiple moments of kindness and its impact actually supports the theme.
- Which choice cites several pieces of evidence that best support the inference that the narrator values perseverance and second chances?
Answer: The narrator recalls Rosa falling and climbing back on with 'eyes steady,' insists 'Someone will' want the small bike, and then pumps the tires and works the rust loose until the bell 'finally chimed,' showing a belief in not giving up.
The inference rests on several actions that point the same way. The narrator remembers Rosa getting back on after a fall, insists 'Someone will' want the small bike, and then repairs it until the bell 'finally chimed,' all of which show a belief in perseverance and second chances. Choice B gathers that evidence, so it is correct. Choice A lists only setting details, Choice C says the narrator agrees with Dad's plan, which is the opposite of what happens, and Choice D invents an approval-seeking motive.
- Which choice best uses evidence to support the inference that the speaker hides their feelings to fit in, even though it hurts?
Answer: The speaker says "Nothing" when a friend says "Tell me," and lines like "swallow the bruise of it" and the wish that a coin could "buy a voice" reveal the hurt behind hiding.
The best answer pulls together lines that show both the hiding and the pain underneath. Saying "Nothing" when a friend asks to talk is the hiding; "swallow the bruise of it" and wishing a coin could "buy a voice" show the hurt the speaker keeps quiet to fit in. The choice about trading an apple and laughing "on time" treats the speaker's forced cheerfulness as real fun, missing that laughing "on time" is an act. The choice about coins and "still healing" mistakes images of unspoken pain for calm, ignoring that the wounds are healing, not healed. The choice about counting coins reads the figurative coins as literal money, but the coins stand for unspoken apologies, not cash. Only one choice uses more than one piece of evidence to prove the speaker hides feelings even though it hurts.
- Which choice best uses evidence from the scene to evaluate the idea that Rina hides the truth to protect her mom from stress, rather than to be cruel?
Answer: Yes. Rina gives short, evasive answers and turns her phone screen down, and she later says she stayed quiet because her mom has "been working doubles" and carries "the whole world."
To evaluate the interpretation, the best choice gathers evidence from across the scene. Choice A does this: Rina gives short, guarded answers and turns her phone face down, and she finally explains that she stayed quiet because her mom has been working doubles and already seems overwhelmed. Together, those clues support the idea that she hides things to spare her mom stress, so Choice A is correct. Choice B ignores her stated reason and claims she lies for no reason. Choice C relies on faulty logic about glitter, and Choice D wrongly assumes the scene cannot be about more than a poster.
- Which choice best combines explicit statements and implied details to support the inference that Marcus feels insecure but begins to accept support from others?
Answer: Marcus admits that a mistake would show he doesn't belong and repeats that his dad calls acting playing pretend, while his shaking pages and torn script hint at anxiety; he then accepts help by knotting Leena's ribbon on his wrist as his shoulders drop.
The best answer pulls together stated and implied evidence for BOTH sides of the inference. It quotes Marcus saying a mistake would prove he doesn't belong and repeating his dad's dismissive "playing pretend," pairs that with the implied clues of shaking pages and a torn script, and then shows him accepting support when he knots Leena's ribbon and his shoulders drop. That covers insecurity and acceptance of help. One choice cites real signs of nervousness but stops there, treating the ribbon moment only as mood-setting, so it misses the acceptance-of-support half. Another choice focuses on Leena's kindness and the play beginning, but never shows Marcus's own insecurity. A third choice misreads "I'm fine" and the humorless laugh as genuine confidence, which contradicts his shaking hands and his fear of not belonging. Only the answer that combines both explicit lines and implied details for insecurity AND for accepting help fully answers the question.
- Which choice provides the strongest set of multiple evidence pieces to support the inference that Devon is anxious but determined to improve?
Answer: Devon arrives early with his notebook, his "voice shook," and he says, "I can't do the king," yet he "tried again, slower" and accepts the crown "with both hands" to practice, showing worry and a choice to keep working.
The strongest answer pairs signs of worry with signs of effort. The best choice does both: arriving early, a shaking voice, and "I can't do the king" show anxiety, while trying again slower and taking the crown home to practice show he is determined to improve. That combination matches the inference exactly. One choice cites real details (touching the pouch, Talia's whisper) but uses them to describe the play's plot, not Devon's feelings, so it misses the stem's ask. Another choice claims the evidence proves Devon is "completely confident and is not the least bit anxious" — but the shaking voice and "I can't do the king" show he clearly is anxious, so it contradicts the passage. The last choice reads Devon's carefulness as mere tidiness, ignoring that his actions reveal nervousness and commitment, not a preference for neat props. Only the first choice links multiple pieces of evidence to both parts of the inference: anxious AND determined.
- Which choice cites several pieces of evidence that best support the inference that Tess is empathetic and willing to include others?
Answer: Tess notices Saeed's trembling hands, stays silent instead of agreeing when Logan says 'He's probably stuck-up,' calls 'Saeed!' to return his worksheet, and offers 'I can show you tomorrow,' all suggesting she senses his discomfort and wants him included.
The best answer gathers several actions that all point one direction: Tess notices Saeed's trembling hands, refuses to join Logan's put-down, chases him down to return his worksheet, and offers to show him around tomorrow. Stacked together, these show she senses his discomfort and wants to include him. The choice about the noisy lunchroom cites real details, but they describe the setting's chaos, not Tess's caring behavior, so they don't support the inference. The choice about being admired reads a 'popular' conclusion into 'Thank you' and 'half a step behind'—the text never says other students look up to Tess. The choice about pronunciation stretches too far: the passage says the class repeated the name awkwardly, but nothing shows Tess can say it correctly or that she is the only one who could.
- Which choice best combines explicit and inferential evidence to support the analysis that the mood is tense but also comforting?
Answer: Aunt Sora speaks "too brightly," Mina whispers "What if something's in there?," the hallway looks like a tunnel, and a branch scrapes the window, while Eli shielding Mina, holding her hand, and planning cards add comfort.
The mood is both tense and comforting, so the best answer has to point to evidence for each feeling. The winning choice does exactly that: the "too bright" voice, Mina's whisper, the tunnel-like hallway, and the scraping branch all build tension, while Eli shielding Mina, holding her hand, and planning a card game bring comfort. Because it names stated details and the feelings you infer from them, it captures both sides.
The choice built on the 9:03 outage and the kettle uses only opening setup details and claims the mood is tension alone—it ignores every comforting action Eli takes. The choice about "Adventure time" and playing cards sees only the comfort and pretends no one is ever afraid, which skips Mina's fear and the scraping branch. The choice about the wind and clock treats ordinary background sounds as real "threats" and "danger," misreading calm setting details as proof of tension. Only the balanced choice supports both parts of the analysis with the right evidence.
- Which choice identifies the strongest evidence to support the inference that Mira is hiding stress behind a cheerful act?
Answer: Mira enters with a bright song and a twirl, but Grandma tells her she does not have to perform, her shoulders tighten even as her smile stays, and later she presses her palm to her stomach and breathes slowly, hinting at hidden stress.
The strongest evidence gathers clues that point beneath the cheerful surface. Choice B does: the bright entrance, Grandma's gentle remark that Mira need not perform, the shoulders tightening under a fixed smile, and the private moment of pressing her stomach and breathing slowly all imply hidden stress. That is why Choice B is correct. Choice A and Choice D lean on scene-setting details, and Choice C takes Mira's cheerful act at face value.
- Which choice includes the strongest textual evidence to support the inference that Jasper is pretending not to care but actually values his past achievements?
Answer: Jasper says 'It's just metal,' but his thumb rubs the chipped corner, he stops with the trophy 'hovering over the lid' instead of dropping it, then sets it 'gently' on the box and says it can go in the attic.
The inference depends on the gap between Jasper's words and his actions. He calls the trophy "just metal," yet his thumb rubs the chipped corner, he stops instead of dropping it in the trash, and he sets it "gently" on the box and suggests the attic, all signs he still values it. Choice B gathers that evidence, so it is correct. Choice A and Choice C point to moving-out details, and Choice D takes his bored words at face value while ignoring his actions.
- Which choice best uses evidence from the passage to support the claim that Mara is principled and honest, even when tempted?
Answer: Mara tells Jules that is not how it works, puts the twenty-dollar bill back and labels the wallet, and repeats her dad's rule about borrowed things, showing she keeps her principles even when no one is watching.
The claim is about Mara being principled and honest even when tempted, so the best answer gathers several actions and words that show her choosing to do right. The correct choice does this: she tells Jules "that's not how it works," she puts the money back and labels the wallet, and she repeats her dad's rule about borrowed things. Together these prove she keeps her principles when no one is watching.
The choice about noticing the bill and recognizing the man from the newspaper points to real details, but being observant is not the same as being honest, so it does not support this claim. The choice about the pausing pencil and sharp voice actually describes Mara being tempted, not proving she is principled—it stops before her honest choice. The choice about returning the wallet gets the action right but invents a selfish motive; the text shows she returns it because it is not hers, not to impress others.
- Which choice best uses evidence to support the inference that Devon feels anxious and overwhelmed?
Answer: Devon flips his buzzing phone face-down and back up, his knee bounces, his mouth tightens at the giggle, he walks off to browse, and he writes START OVER and Ask for help.
An inference about a character rests on gathering clues from actions and word choice, not one detail. Choice B does this: Devon keeps flipping his buzzing phone, his knee bounces, his mouth tightens, he walks off to browse, and he writes START OVER and Ask for help. Together these signal stress even though he never says he is anxious, so Choice B is correct. Choices A, C, and D point only to setting or setup details that do not show his feelings.
- Which option cites multiple pieces of evidence that best support the theme that protecting others can come with personal emotional costs?
Answer: Nora wants to keep others safe: "Kids sneak in there. People get hurt," and she hopes nobody "has to lose someone." But she pays a price too, shown when she turns the photo face down and Eli says she is "banning a memory," forcing her to face painful feelings about their dad.
The best answer names a real cost to Nora that grows from her wish to protect others. The winning choice pairs her protective lines about kids getting hurt and not wanting anyone to lose someone with true emotional pain: she turns her dad's photo face down, and Eli tells her she is "banning a memory," forcing her to feel the loss behind her cause. That is the personal emotional cost the theme is about. The choice pointing to rain and blurry streetlights uses setting details that create mood but show no cost Nora pays for protecting people. The choice pointing to her fanned notes and "If I win tomorrow" describes her effort to compete, not the emotional price she pays. The choice pointing to Eli's arrival, his mention of Dad, and sitting together describes ordinary family activity, not a painful cost. Only the winning choice supplies two pieces of evidence that actually connect protecting others to Nora's own emotional loss.
