Compare Characters, Settings, or Events Practice Test

Read the drama excerpt.

1. Chen and Amir were building a birdhouse in shop class, and both wanted it to be sturdy. The classroom smelled like sawdust, and the fans hummed above their heads. Chen measured each board with a ruler, marking tiny lines with a sharp pencil.

2. Amir held the wood up to the light. “This piece looks about right,” he said. Chen shook his head. “About right can become crooked.” Amir laughed softly. “Crooked can still hold a bird.”

3. When the first nail bent, Amir tried again immediately. “I’ll hit it harder,” he said. Chen stopped him. “Or we can start a pilot hole,” he suggested, pointing to the drill.

4. Amir hesitated. “That takes extra time.” Chen replied, “But it saves the wood from splitting.” Amir nodded and helped hold the board steady.

5. The next nail slid in straight. Amir whistled. “Okay, that was smoother.” Chen smiled. “Careful steps can be fast in the end.” They carried the birdhouse to the window ledge together.

Question: Which statement best compares Chen and Amir’s problem-solving when the nail bends?

Read the drama excerpt.

1. Amir and Keisha practiced for the same track meet, and they both wanted to improve. The first practice was on the outdoor track, where wind pushed at their shirts and the air smelled like cut grass. Amir took long, steady laps, breathing in a pattern: in for three steps, out for three.

2. Keisha sprinted the straightaway, then stopped suddenly. “That was fast!” she said, grinning. Amir checked his watch. “Fast, yes, but you’ll burn out. Try pacing.” Keisha shrugged. “Pacing feels slow.”

3. Two days later, rain forced practice into the gym. The floor squeaked, and a basketball thumped somewhere behind the bleachers. Amir looked calmer inside. “No wind,” he said. Keisha frowned at the tight turns. “I can’t stretch out here.”

4. Coach Rivera gave them a challenge: run the same distance in both places and compare times. Amir wrote his times neatly in a notebook. Keisha remembered hers by repeating them under her breath like a chant.

5. After practice, Keisha nudged Amir. “Your notebook is boring, but it works.” Amir nodded. “Your energy is loud, but it helps you push.” They agreed to trade: Amir would try one sprint, and Keisha would try one paced lap.

Question: How do Amir and Keisha respond differently to the change from the outdoor track to the gym?