All questions
Question 1
The river behind the neighborhood looked higher than usual, but it still moved with the same steady sound, like someone breathing.
Mr. Alvarez stood on the bank with a measuring stick and a notebook. "Two inches above last week," he said. His voice was flat, careful. "If it rises another foot, we start sandbags."
Keira heard "sandbags" and pictured water swallowing her street. She remembered the storm from when she was five: sirens, wet socks, her mom carrying photo albums. "We should leave now," she said. Her words came out too loud.
Noah, holding a fishing pole, squinted at the ripples. "It's fine," he said. "The river always looks dramatic after rain." He smiled like the whole thing was a story he had heard before. "Besides, we've been waiting all week to fish."
Mr. Alvarez wrote another note instead of arguing. Keira watched his pencil move and wished it could draw a safer ending.
Which choice best explains how the author shows different viewpoints about the rising river?
- The author gives Mr. Alvarez calm measurements, shows Keira's fear through her memories and urgent words, and shows Noah's relaxed view through his casual language and focus on fishing. (correct answer)
- The author gives all three characters the same careful, measuring tone as Mr. Alvarez, so their words show a single shared viewpoint about how serious the river actually is.
- The author shows viewpoints through Keira's memory of the storm alone, treating Mr. Alvarez's notes and Noah's fishing comments as background details that reveal nothing about how they see things.
- The author reveals each character's viewpoint mainly by describing their facial expressions and posture, letting body language stand in for the different thoughts they never actually put into words.
Explanation: The right answer traces all three viewpoints through what each character says and does: Mr. Alvarez stays calm with his exact measurements, Keira shows fear through her storm memory and urgent "We should leave now," and Noah stays relaxed with casual talk and his focus on fishing. The choice about everyone sharing Mr. Alvarez's careful tone is wrong because the characters clearly disagree—Keira is alarmed and Noah is dismissive, not measured like Mr. Alvarez. The choice claiming only Keira's memory matters is wrong because the author gives Mr. Alvarez and Noah their own revealing words and actions, not just background. The choice about facial expressions and body language is wrong because the author reveals viewpoints mostly through spoken words and specific reactions, and the characters do put their thoughts into words. Only the first choice accounts for all three distinct viewpoints.
Question 2
Read the passage and answer the question.
The announcement crackled over the intercom: "All students interested in the science fair, meet in Room 214 after school."
Linh's pencil stopped moving. Science fair meant judges, lights, and the chance to prove she wasn't just "quiet." She pictured a clean trifold board and her name printed in bold. If I win, she thought, people will finally notice.
Across the room, Mateo groaned loud enough for the nearest desks to hear. "Great," he whispered. "Another thing to fail at." He tapped his eraser until it left crumbs. Last year he had spilled his project in the hallway, and the laughter had stuck to him like gum.
After the bell, Linh hurried to the door. "You should come," she told Mateo. "We could be partners. Two brains."
Mateo shook his head, already backing away. "Partners means double the embarrassment," he said, forcing a grin that didn't reach his eyes.
What effect do Linh's and Mateo's contrasting viewpoints have on the reader's understanding of the science fair invitation?
- The contrasting views let the reader see the same invitation as both a chance for recognition and a reminder of past embarrassment, making it feel more complex. (correct answer)
- The contrasting views let the reader see the invitation only as a source of dread, so the sense of opportunity it offers ends up completely erased.
- The contrasting views let the reader see that Linh and Mateo want the same thing, so their shared excitement makes the invitation feel simple and settled.
- The contrasting views let the reader see the announcement as a small background detail, so the invitation matters far less than what the students eat for lunch.
Explanation: The same announcement lands two different ways: Linh hears a chance to finally be noticed, while Mateo hears one more chance to be embarrassed. Holding both reactions side by side makes the invitation feel layered instead of simple, which is what the correct choice describes. The choice claiming the invitation becomes only a source of dread ignores Linh entirely and erases the hope she clearly feels. The choice saying the two characters want the same thing is contradicted by the passage, where Linh is eager and Mateo pulls away. The choice treating the announcement as a tiny background detail is wrong because the whole scene is built around how strongly both students respond to it. Only the first choice captures how two opposite viewpoints make a single event feel more complex.
Question 3
The class stood in a crooked line outside the principal's office. A poster on the wall said, BE HONEST, in bright letters.
Ms. Delaney spoke in a calm voice. "Someone wrote on the new lockers. I'm not here to yell. I'm here to fix it." She looked from face to face like she was counting them.
Cam felt the marker still in his backpack, heavy as a rock. He told himself it was a joke, two minutes of drawing a silly crown. But the closer the office door got, the less funny it seemed. If I tell, he thought, I'll be the kid who ruins everything.
Beside him, Zara's stomach twisted for a different reason. She hadn't drawn anything, but she'd seen Cam do it and walked away. She kept hearing the poster's words like they were aimed at her. "We should just say what happened," she whispered.
Cam stared at her. "Easy for you," he hissed.
Which option best traces how Cam's point of view is revealed across the passage?
- Cam's point of view comes through his private thoughts about the marker and his fear of being labeled, and through his sharp reply to Zara, which reveal growing worry rather than humor. (correct answer)
- Cam's point of view is shown mainly through Ms. Delaney's calm speech, which lays out exactly what Cam is thinking and feeling inside.
- Cam's point of view is shown through Zara's twisting stomach and her nervous whisper, since her guilt stands in for what Cam believes.
- Cam's point of view is shown through the bright poster on the wall, whose cheerful colors reveal that he feels proud and happy.
Explanation: Cam's point of view surfaces through what we get from inside him: the marker feeling heavy, his fear of being "the kid who ruins everything," and his defensive "Easy for you." Together these show worry replacing his idea that it was a joke. Choice A traces that, so it is correct. Choice B relies on Ms. Delaney's words, Choice C on Zara's feelings, and Choice D on the poster's colors, none of which reveals Cam's own view.
Question 4
Read the passage, then answer the question.
At lunch, the principal’s email flashed across everyone’s screens: “Starting Monday, students may propose a new club.”
Maya’s hands tingled. “A robotics club,” she said, already picturing gears and bright posters. “If we start now, we can enter the spring competition.” Her words rushed ahead of her, as if the future were a door already open.
Jordan stared at the same message and felt his stomach tighten. Clubs meant meetings, sign-ups, and someone getting blamed when things went wrong. “Or,” he said slowly, “it’s one more thing teachers will use to keep us late. And what if nobody joins? That’s embarrassing.”
Maya leaned forward, smiling like the idea was a secret treasure. “If nobody joins at first, we invite people. We make it fun.”
Jordan folded the email into a tiny square on his screen, minimizing it. “Fun doesn’t fix schedules,” he muttered.
How do Maya’s and Jordan’s perspectives on the new club announcement differ?
- Both Maya and Jordan see the announcement as mostly unfair because it adds extra work for students.
- Maya views the announcement as an exciting opportunity and focuses on possibilities, while Jordan views it as a risk and focuses on potential problems like time and embarrassment. (correct answer)
- Maya feels confused by the announcement and wants more information, while Jordan feels confident and ready to lead a club immediately.
- Maya and Jordan both want to start the same club, but they disagree only about what to name it.
Explanation: This question tests analyzing how an author develops and contrasts points of view of different characters or narrators in literary text—examining how multiple perspectives are revealed (through dialogue, thoughts, actions, descriptions) and how they differ (in interpretation, values, knowledge, emotion). The passage develops Maya's and Jordan's contrasting perspectives through their distinct reactions to the same announcement: Maya's physical excitement ("hands tingled"), forward-looking language ("already picturing," "words rushed ahead"), and optimistic problem-solving ("we invite people. We make it fun") reveal her view of the announcement as an opportunity, while Jordan's physical discomfort ("stomach tighten"), focus on negative outcomes ("blamed when things went wrong," "embarrassing"), and dismissive actions ("folded the email into a tiny square") show his view of it as a risk. The author uses contrasting imagery—Maya sees "the future...like a door already open" while Jordan minimizes the email on his screen—to emphasize their opposing interpretations. Choice B correctly identifies this fundamental contrast between Maya's opportunity-focused perspective and Jordan's risk-focused perspective. Choice A incorrectly suggests both characters share the same negative view, missing Maya's enthusiasm entirely. When analyzing contrasting viewpoints, look for how authors use physical reactions, dialogue tone, imagery, and actions to reveal different characters' interpretations of the same event. Pay attention to specific word choices that signal optimism versus pessimism, possibility versus limitation.
Question 5
Read the passage, then answer the question.
The old oak behind the library had lost a thick branch in last night’s storm. The fallen limb lay across the path like a gate.
Ms. Chen, the librarian, sighed with relief. “At least it missed the windows,” she said, already thinking of clean-up. She pulled out her phone to call maintenance, her movements quick and practiced.
DeShawn stared at the broken wood and felt something different: a tug of excitement. The inside of the branch was pale and smooth, like a fresh page. “We could use it,” he said. “For the art project—carve it, paint it, make a bench.” His voice lifted on the word could, as if possibility were the most important fact.
Ms. Chen frowned, not at the idea, but at the mess. “Splinters, DeShawn. Bugs. Liability.” She stepped around the limb carefully, as if it might cause trouble just by being there.
DeShawn reached toward the wood anyway, imagining bright colors. Ms. Chen gently guided his hand back.
How do Ms. Chen’s and DeShawn’s priorities shape their different perspectives on the fallen branch?
- Both prioritize creativity, so both see the branch mainly as raw material and want to start carving and painting an art project right away.
- Ms. Chen prioritizes safety and responsibility, so she focuses on risks and cleanup, while DeShawn prioritizes creativity, so he focuses on how the branch could be reused. (correct answer)
- Both prioritize practical concerns, so Ms. Chen worries about the mess while DeShawn calmly agrees the safest choice is to let maintenance haul it away.
- DeShawn prioritizes finishing quickly, so he wants the branch removed, while Ms. Chen prioritizes creativity, so she hopes to save the wood for a decoration.
Explanation: The right answer is that Ms. Chen prioritizes safety and responsibility while DeShawn prioritizes creativity. Ms. Chen's relief that the branch "missed the windows," her call to maintenance, and her list of dangers—"Splinters, DeShawn. Bugs. Liability"—show she notices risks and cleanup first. DeShawn feels "a tug of excitement," sees the wood as "a fresh page," and imagines ways to "carve it, paint it, make a bench," showing he notices possibility first. Their opposite priorities make them see the same branch in completely different ways.
The choice saying both prioritize creativity is wrong because Ms. Chen never treats the branch as art material; she only wants it cleaned up. The choice saying both prioritize practical concerns is wrong because DeShawn is the one who is excited and eager to reuse the wood, not calmly agreeing to remove it. The last choice reverses the characters: it is DeShawn who wants to create with the branch, and Ms. Chen who wants it gone, not the other way around. When a question asks how priorities shape perspective, notice what each character reacts to first and what they value most.
Question 6
Mara watched the empty lot behind the library, where a faded sign read CITY GARDEN PROJECT. "It's perfect," she said, already picturing tomatoes and sunflowers. "If we start this weekend, we can show the principal it's not just a pile of weeds."
Jalen didn't step off the sidewalk. He kept his hands in his hoodie pocket like the wind could steal them. "Perfect for what? For getting blamed when someone trips on a brick," he muttered. He pointed to a broken bottle glittering near the fence. "People dump stuff here. That won't stop because we plant a few seeds."
Mara's thoughts rushed ahead: volunteers, painted rocks, a ribbon-cutting. She talked faster, as if speed could turn plans into facts. "We can invite neighbors. If everyone helps, it'll feel like ours."
Jalen pictured the opposite: a half-finished garden and a teacher asking, Who started this? He imagined the lot staying the same, only now it would be their mess. "I'm not saying no," he said, softer. "I'm saying be careful."
How do Mara's and Jalen's perspectives on the garden project differ, and how does the author show that contrast?
- Mara sees the project as an exciting chance and speaks in hopeful, future-focused plans, while Jalen sees a risk and focuses on hazards and blame; the author shows the contrast through their dialogue and imagined outcomes. (correct answer)
- Mara worries the lot is too dangerous to fix while Jalen insists it could easily become beautiful; the author shows the contrast by having them switch attitudes halfway through their conversation.
- Mara wants to punish whoever littered the lot while Jalen wants to plant only sunflowers there; the author shows the contrast through their heated argument over which supplies to buy first.
- Jalen feels confident and eager to lead the project while Mara feels nervous and avoids responsibility; the author shows the contrast by keeping Mara standing quietly on the sidewalk the whole time.
Explanation: The two friends look at the same lot and see opposite things, and the author builds that difference through craft. Mara is hopeful: she pictures tomatoes, sunflowers, and a ribbon-cutting, and she talks in future plans about what could happen. Jalen is wary: he notices the broken bottle, the brick someone could trip on, and imagines being blamed. The author reveals this through their dialogue and the different outcomes each one imagines, which is exactly what the correct answer describes. The choice that says Mara fears danger while Jalen sees easy beauty flips both characters and invents an attitude 'switch' that never happens. The choice about punishing a litterer and arguing over supplies invents events found nowhere in the passage—no one plans punishment and there is no argument about supplies. The choice that makes Jalen the eager leader and Mara the nervous one reverses who is hopeful and who is cautious; it is Jalen who hangs back and Mara who pushes to start.
Question 7
Read the passage, then answer the question.
By the time the bus stopped at Camp Pine Ridge, the counselors were already waving. The lake beyond the cabins shone like a coin.
“I’m going to learn archery,” said Priya, pressing her face to the window. She spoke as if the week were a list of adventures waiting to be checked off.
Noah sat two seats back, rubbing the strap of his backpack until it twisted. He had promised his parents he’d be “fine,” but the word felt like a costume. The cabins looked unfamiliar, and unfamiliar meant mistakes. “What if my roommates are loud?” he whispered.
In the aisle, their counselor, Ms. Alvarez, counted heads and smiled. To her, the bus was not full of nervous kids or excited kids—it was a group that needed steady rules. “Remember,” she called, cheerful but firm, “we unpack, we meet at the flagpole, and we stay with our buddy.”
Priya bounced up. Noah stayed seated until Ms. Alvarez nodded at him.
How do the three perspectives (Priya, Noah, and Ms. Alvarez) affect the reader’s understanding of the camp arrival?
- They show that Priya, Noah, and Ms. Alvarez all feel exactly the same way about arriving, which makes the scene feel simple, calm, and easy for the reader to predict.
- They show camp as exciting, scary, and organized at the same time, helping the reader see the arrival as a mix of emotions and responsibilities. (correct answer)
- They show that Ms. Alvarez enjoys camp while Priya and Noah are both eager to try archery, so the reader sees the arrival as a purely happy and stress-free moment.
- They mainly describe the lake and the cabins in detail, helping the reader picture the setting rather than understand how the characters feel about being there.
Explanation: The best answer is the one saying the arrival is exciting, scary, and organized all at once. Each character reveals a different side of the same moment: Priya is thrilled and treats the week as a checklist of adventures, Noah is anxious because 'unfamiliar meant mistakes,' and Ms. Alvarez focuses on rules and safety, seeing 'a group that needed steady rules.' Together these viewpoints build a layered, complex arrival instead of one single feeling.
The choice saying everyone feels exactly the same is wrong because the passage carefully contrasts the characters—Priya bounces up while Noah stays seated, showing different emotions, not identical ones.
The choice calling the arrival 'purely happy and stress-free' is wrong because it erases Noah's worry; his twisting backpack strap and whispered question show real anxiety, so the moment is not stress-free.
The choice about describing the lake and cabins is wrong because, although the passage mentions the setting briefly, the three perspectives exist to reveal how the characters feel, not just to paint the scenery.
When a story gives you several points of view on one event, ask what each perspective adds. Here, three different reactions combine to make the arrival richer than any single response could.
Question 8
Read the passage, then answer the question.
When the science fair judges announced the winners, the gym filled with claps that sounded like rain on the roof.
Lena’s smile stayed in place, but inside it wobbled. She watched Mr. Ortiz shake hands with the first-place team—her former partners. Two weeks ago, she had left their group after an argument about who would present. Now, the ribbon in their hands felt like proof that she had been replaced. “So that’s it,” she thought. “They never needed me.”
Across the bleachers, Amir clapped hard enough to sting his palms. He knew the team had struggled after Lena left; he’d seen them redo the display at lunch. To him, their win meant they had pushed through, not that Lena was useless. He leaned toward her. “They worked like crazy,” he said. “That’s impressive.”
Lena’s voice came out tight. “Impressive for them.”
What is Lena’s perspective on the team’s win, and how is it developed in the passage?
- Lena sees the win as proof she was replaced, and the author develops this through her internal thoughts and her tense, short dialogue. (correct answer)
- Lena sees the win as evidence her old team no longer values her, and the author develops this through her generous praise and her relaxed conversation with Amir.
- Lena sees the win as a moment that proves she was right to leave, and the author develops this through her calm reflection and her encouraging words to the team.
- Lena sees the win as an honor the judges awarded fairly, and the author develops this through her open admiration and her warm exchange with Mr. Ortiz.
Explanation: Lena's perspective is that the team's win proves she was replaced. The author shows this through her internal thoughts—the ribbon feels "like proof that she had been replaced," and she thinks, "They never needed me"—and through her tense, short dialogue: after Amir praises the team, her voice comes out "tight" and she snaps, "Impressive for them." These clipped words reveal hurt, not agreement. The choice about her old team no longer valuing her sounds close, but it credits her with "generous praise" and "relaxed conversation," the opposite of her tight, bitter reply. The choice claiming she feels proven right to leave describes "calm reflection" and "encouraging words," yet nothing she thinks or says is calm or encouraging. The choice about the judges being fair invents "open admiration" and a "warm exchange with Mr. Ortiz," but Lena never speaks to him and shows no admiration—her smile only masks an inner wobble. To identify how an author develops a point of view, match the described techniques to what the character actually thinks, says, and does.
Question 9
Read the passage, then answer the question.
“I didn’t lie,” Tessa said, gripping the edge of the kitchen counter. “I just didn’t tell Mom about the quiz.”
Her brother, Micah, looked up from his cereal with a flat expression that made Tessa feel even smaller. “That’s the same thing,” he said.
Tessa’s thoughts raced. If Mom knew, she’d cancel the weekend trip, and the trip felt like the only bright square on Tessa’s calendar. “I can fix it,” she insisted. “I’ll study, I’ll retake it, and then it won’t matter.” To Tessa, the missing truth was temporary, like a bandage you could peel off later.
Micah set his spoon down carefully. He hated the way secrets sat in a house, heavy and quiet. “It already matters,” he said. “Because now you’re building everything on pretending.”
Tessa shook her head fast, as if speed could erase guilt. “You don’t get it. I’m trying to protect something.”
Micah’s voice softened. “Or you’re protecting yourself.”
Which statement best contrasts Tessa’s and Micah’s perspectives about Tessa not telling their mom about the quiz?
- Tessa believes hiding the quiz score is a temporary choice she can fix later, while Micah believes the secrecy itself is harmful because it creates dishonesty right away. (correct answer)
- Tessa believes not telling their mom is different from lying, while Micah believes she should keep quiet to protect the weekend trip she cares about.
- Tessa believes she is trying to protect someone else, while Micah believes retaking the quiz will make the whole situation disappear completely.
- Tessa believes the missing truth still weighs on the house, while Micah believes grades matter more than being honest with their mom.
Explanation: The best answer captures the real split: Tessa treats not telling Mom as a temporary problem she can undo later ("I can fix it... then it won't matter," like a bandage you peel off), while Micah insists the secret is harmful now because she's "building everything on pretending." That's a genuine contrast in how each views timing and harm.
The choice saying Tessa distinguishes not telling from lying is true for her, but it misreads Micah—he never tells her to stay quiet to protect the trip; he wants her to face the truth.
The choice about protecting someone else twists both sides: Micah says retaking the quiz will fix things, but that's actually Tessa's belief, not his, so the perspectives are swapped.
The last choice wrongly gives Micah's worry about secrets weighing on the house to Tessa, and it invents that Micah cares only about grades—he cares about honesty, not scores. When contrasting characters, match each belief to the person who actually holds it.
Question 10
Read the passage, then answer the question.
The dog at the end of the driveway was small, tan, and still. Its tail tapped the ground in a slow, patient rhythm.
To the narrator, it looked like it had been waiting for someone all morning.
But Eli froze on the porch steps. In his mind, the dog’s quietness wasn’t calm—it was a trap. He remembered the neighbor’s story about a bite that “came out of nowhere,” and his thoughts filled in sharp teeth where he couldn’t even see them. “Don’t move,” he whispered to his little sister, as if the air itself might startle the animal.
The dog blinked and tilted its head.
Eli’s sister, Nora, slipped past him and crouched. “Hi,” she said softly, holding out her hand like an invitation.
Eli grabbed her sleeve. “Nora! It could lunge.”
Nora glanced back, puzzled. “It’s wagging, Eli.”
How does the author show the contrast between the narrator’s perspective and Eli’s perspective?
- By presenting only Eli’s frightened dialogue and leaving the narrator’s view of the dog unstated, so the reader must guess what the animal is actually like.
- By using the narrator’s calm, objective description of the dog’s behavior and then revealing Eli’s fearful thoughts and word choices that exaggerate danger. (correct answer)
- By having the narrator match Eli’s fear from the start, describing the dog with the same alarmed, threatening language that Eli uses in his warnings.
- By describing the dog’s peaceful actions and then showing Eli calmly agreeing with that view before stepping forward to greet the animal himself.
Explanation: The best answer notices that the author sets two viewpoints side by side. The narrator gives calm, factual details—the dog is “small, tan, and still” with a tail tapping in a “slow, patient rhythm.” Then Eli’s inner thoughts turn those same details into a threat: the quietness becomes “a trap,” and his mind adds “sharp teeth” that aren’t really there. This contrast between neutral description and fearful interpretation is exactly how the author shows the two perspectives.
The choice saying the narrator’s view is left unstated is wrong—the narrator clearly describes the dog as calm and waiting, so the reader is not left guessing.
The choice claiming the narrator shares Eli’s fear from the start is wrong because the narrator’s language stays objective and peaceful; only Eli reads danger into the scene.
The choice saying Eli calmly agrees and steps forward contradicts the passage—Eli freezes, whispers a warning, and grabs Nora’s sleeve; it is Nora, not Eli, who approaches. When two viewpoints clash, look for how the author uses different kinds of language—calm facts versus fearful thoughts—to reveal them.
Question 11
Grandma set the old quilt on the bed with both hands, as if it could bruise. "This stays in the family," she said. "Your great-grandfather stitched it during the winter he lost his job. We don't toss stories away."
Rory ran a finger over a frayed corner. He admired the quilt, but he also saw the holes like open mouths. In his mind, the quilt belonged in a box where it could not fall apart. "I'm not tossing it," he said. "I'm protecting it. The museum can preserve it better than we can."
Grandma's eyes narrowed, not angry, but guarded. She imagined strangers staring at the quilt like it was just fabric. "A museum is a place where things go to be quiet," she said. "This quilt is supposed to be used."
Rory pictured the opposite: sunlight fading the colors, a spilled drink, a careless guest. He folded his arms. "Using it is exactly how we lose it," he replied.
Which choice best identifies the main difference between Grandma's and Rory's perspectives on what should happen to the quilt?
- Grandma believes the quilt should be handled with great care by the family, while Rory believes it is more meaningful when it is used freely in everyday life.
- Grandma believes the quilt's value is in being used within family life, while Rory believes it is best protected by a museum's professional care. (correct answer)
- Grandma believes the quilt matters because of its family history, while Rory believes its worth comes mainly from how much a museum would pay for it.
- Grandma believes the quilt is too fragile to keep at home any longer, while Rory believes the family can repair the damage and continue using it.
Explanation: Both characters value the quilt, so the real difference is what they think should happen to it. Grandma insists it "is supposed to be used" and kept alive in family life, while Rory argues the museum "can preserve it better than we can" and keep it safe from fading or spills. The correct choice captures exactly this split between everyday use and protective preservation. One choice flips their positions, saying Grandma wants careful handling and Rory wants free everyday use — the opposite of what they actually say. Another claims Rory cares about the quilt for its resale value, but he never mentions money; he only talks about keeping it from falling apart. The last choice says Grandma finds the quilt too fragile for home and Rory wants to repair and use it, but Grandma is the one who wants it used, and neither of them suggests repairing it. Only one choice matches both characters' true viewpoints.
Question 12
I thought the class election was finally my chance to be heard. When I taped my poster to the hallway wall, the bright letters looked brave.
"You're really running?" my friend Kira asked, eyebrows raised. Her voice carried a warning, like she was pointing out a cracked step.
"Why not?" I said, but my confidence was a little too loud. In my head, I pictured myself giving speeches, making changes, proving that quiet people could lead.
Kira crossed her arms. "Because people can be mean," she said. "They'll joke about your stutter. And then you'll feel worse." She wasn't trying to crush my dream; she was trying to block the pain before it reached me.
I laughed, pretending it didn't matter. "They can joke. I'll still run."
Kira's eyes softened. "I want you to win," she said. "I just don't want you to get hurt."
How is the narrator's point of view about running for election revealed across the passage?
- It comes through the narrator's first-person thoughts about being heard and leading, plus dialogue that shows the narrator acting confident even while feeling unsure. (correct answer)
- It comes through Kira's opinions and her worried warnings, since the narrator seems to borrow her doubts and never states any real feelings of his own.
- It comes through the narrator's description of the poster's bright letters, which stand in for the excitement he chooses not to put into any of his words.
- It comes through the narrator's laughter and jokes, which reveal that he truly finds the whole election funny and does not care about winning at all.
Explanation: The narrator's point of view is built from what happens inside his head and what he says out loud. His private thoughts about wanting to be heard and proving that quiet people can lead show real hope, while his too-loud "Why not?" and "I'll still run" show him acting brave even though he feels unsure. The choice naming both the first-person thoughts and the confident dialogue captures this, so it is the best answer. Kira's warnings are her point of view, not the narrator's, and he actually pushes back against her doubts, so the choice built on her opinions misreads whose view we see. The poster's bright letters do describe his feelings, but the passage clearly gives us his words too, so saying he keeps his excitement out of everything he says is false. His laughter is pretending, not genuine amusement—he laughs while insisting he'll run—so the choice claiming he finds it funny and doesn't care ignores his stated determination to compete.
Question 13
"I didn't 'ditch' you," Nia said, balancing her lunch tray like it was evidence. "Coach moved practice earlier. I texted."
Owen pushed peas into a green pile. "A text is easy," he said. "Sitting alone at the table isn't." He kept his eyes on the peas, but his voice sounded sharp, like he'd been practicing the sentence.
Nia felt heat crawl up her neck. In her mind, she saw the gym clock ticking and Coach's whistle. If she missed warmups, she'd be benched. "You know how Coach is," she said, trying to make her words steady. "I thought you'd understand."
Owen remembered last week, when Nia promised, "Tomorrow we'll eat together, no matter what." He heard that promise louder than any explanation. "So the team matters more," he said.
Nia's fork paused midair. She wanted to say, It's not like that, but she also wanted Owen to stop looking hurt.
How are Nia's and Owen's perspectives on the missed lunch developed across the passage?
- Nia sees the missed lunch as a small mix-up she already fixed, shown through her text and steady words, while Owen sees it as an accident neither of them could control, shown through his focus on the peas and quiet voice.
- Nia sees the situation as a scheduling problem caused by Coach, shown through her thoughts about practice and consequences, while Owen sees it as a broken promise and loneliness, shown through his remembered words and focus on sitting alone. (correct answer)
- Nia sees the lunch as unimportant compared to the team, shown through her thoughts about being benched, while Owen agrees it barely matters, shown through the way he calmly pushes his food into a pile.
- Nia sees practice as a choice she made to hurt Owen, shown through her guilt about the promise, while Owen sees the missed lunch as proof she wants to quit their friendship, shown through his sharp accusation.
Explanation: The best answer explains that Nia treats the missed lunch as a scheduling conflict—her thoughts about the ticking clock, Coach's whistle, and being benched show she felt she had no choice. Owen instead treats it as a broken promise, recalling Nia's exact words, "Tomorrow we'll eat together," and focusing on "sitting alone." The author develops these two views through different tools: Nia's private thoughts versus Owen's remembered promise.
The choice saying Nia already fixed a small mix-up and Owen blames an uncontrollable accident misreads Owen, who clearly holds Nia responsible rather than fate. The choice claiming Owen agrees the lunch "barely matters" contradicts his sharp, hurt reaction—he cares deeply. The choice saying Nia acted to hurt Owen and Owen fears losing the friendship overstates both: Nia never intends harm, and Owen names a broken promise, not a threat to quit the friendship. Only one option matches what each character actually thinks and how the text reveals it.
Question 14
The history teacher placed a sealed envelope on the desk and said, "Inside is the topic for tomorrow's debate. One of you will open it now."
Sasha's heart jumped. Debates were a stage, and Sasha loved stages. "Let me," she said, already imagining a dramatic opening line.
Owen's eyes flicked to the envelope and then away. He knew something Sasha didn't: he had overheard the teacher in the hallway saying the topic was "banning phones at school." Owen had been caught texting in class last week, and another debate about phones felt like a spotlight aimed straight at him. "Maybe we should wait," he said. "So nobody gets stressed tonight."
Sasha laughed. "Stressed? It's just a topic." She reached for the envelope.
Owen's hand shot out faster than he meant it to. "Seriously, don't."
Sasha paused, suddenly studying Owen's face.
Why do Sasha and Owen react differently to the envelope, and how does the author hint at the reason for Owen's reaction?
- Sasha is eager because she enjoys a good debate, while Owen is impatient because he wants to skip the topic and move on; the author hints at this through Owen's bored eyes flicking away and his tired sigh about waiting.
- Sasha is excited because she loves performing, while Owen is anxious because he knows the topic and got in trouble for texting; the author hints at this through Owen's secret knowledge and his sudden, urgent grab. (correct answer)
- Sasha is annoyed because she dislikes the school's rules, while Owen is pleased because he hopes phones will be banned; the author hints at this by showing Owen cheering when the topic is finally announced.
- Sasha is nervous because she secretly dreads debates, while Owen stays calm because he fully trusts the teacher's choice; the author hints at this by giving Owen a slow, relaxed tone as he speaks.
Explanation: The best answer says Sasha is excited because she loves performing, while Owen is anxious because he knows the topic and got in trouble for texting, and points to Owen's secret knowledge and his sudden, urgent grab as the author's hints. Both parts match the text: Sasha loves the stage, Owen overheard the topic, and his hand "shot out faster than he meant it to." The choice about Owen being impatient and bored misreads him—his eyes flick away out of worry, and there is no tired sigh; he actually grabs for the envelope urgently. The choice that makes Sasha annoyed at rules and Owen hopeful invents feelings the passage never shows and describes cheering that never happens. The choice calling Sasha nervous and Owen calm reverses the story: Sasha is thrilled, not dreading debates, and Owen is anything but relaxed when his hand shoots out.
Question 15
The dog at the corner house was small and calm, sitting like a statue beside a water bowl. Its tail tapped the porch once, politely.
Tessa slowed anyway. She remembered a news clip her dad watched, jagged teeth, a headline, a person running. Her brain pasted that picture onto this quiet dog. That beast could lunge, she thought, gripping her backpack strap until it hurt.
"Hi, Peanut," Mr. Ortiz called from the doorway, his voice cheerful and ordinary. The dog's ears lifted, and it blinked as if waking from a nap.
Tessa's little brother, Eli, skipped ahead. "Can I pet him?" he asked, already reaching.
"No!" Tessa snapped, stepping between them. She felt her heart thumping like it was trying to warn her. Eli stared, surprised.
Mr. Ortiz didn't argue. He simply held out his hand for the dog to sniff first and said, "He's gentle. You can go slow."
Which statement best explains how the author contrasts points of view in the passage?
- The author contrasts Tessa's fear of the dog with Eli's fear of the dog, showing that both children see the animal as an immediate danger to avoid.
- The author contrasts a calm, factual description of the dog's behavior with Tessa's fearful thoughts, while Mr. Ortiz and Eli act as if the dog is safe. (correct answer)
- The author contrasts Mr. Ortiz's cautious warning about the dog with Eli's stubborn refusal to listen, showing adults and children disagreeing about safety rules.
- The author contrasts Tessa's calm view of the dog with the frightening picture in the news clip, showing that her memory made the animal seem far safer.
Explanation: The passage sets the dog's calm, factual behavior—sitting like a statue, tapping its tail politely, blinking sleepily—against the scary image Tessa's memory paints onto it. Meanwhile Mr. Ortiz's cheerful greeting and Eli's eager reach show they view the dog as safe. That gap between one fearful viewpoint and everyone else's calm one is the contrast the correct answer names. The choice pairing Tessa's fear with Eli's fear is wrong because Eli isn't afraid at all—he tries to pet the dog. The choice about Mr. Ortiz's warning and Eli's stubbornness is wrong because Mr. Ortiz never argues and Eli doesn't refuse anything; the passage shows no adult-versus-child clash. The last choice flips Tessa's actual feelings: she is the frightened one, and her memory made the dog seem more dangerous, not safer.
Question 16
The group chat exploded right after the video got posted.
"It's hilarious," Ben typed. "Everyone's sharing it." He leaned back in his chair, pleased by the attention that followed each new notification.
Rina watched the same clip and felt her face burn. The video showed their classmate Dev tripping over a cord during the assembly. The fall wasn't dangerous, but the moment had been private, the kind of mistake that should disappear the second it happened. "Take it down," she typed. Her fingers shook as she hit send.
Ben replied with a laughing emoji and, "Relax. He'll never see it."
Rina stared at that sentence. She knew Dev checked the school website and sometimes even the student pages. She didn't have proof he'd find it, but the possibility felt real enough to be wrong. She stood up from her desk and walked to Ben's table. "You don't get to decide what's humiliating for someone else," she said.
Ben's smile faltered.
How does the author develop and contrast Ben's and Rina's perspectives on sharing the video?
- By presenting Ben's discomfort through his nervous jokes and rushed messages, and Rina's amusement through her relaxed posture, playful words, and interest in gaining attention online.
- By showing Ben's craving for attention through his casual messages and reactions, and Rina's concern through her physical reactions, firm words, and focus on respect and consequences. (correct answer)
- By treating both characters as equally worried from the start, and showing them agree quickly to delete the video together and apologize to Dev in the chat afterward.
- By having the narrator simply announce that Ben is careless and Rina is caring, and stating these judgments directly instead of revealing them through the characters' own actions and words.
Explanation: The author builds each perspective through what the characters do and say. Ben's casual messages and his pleasure at the attention show he cares about being liked, while Rina's burning face, shaking fingers, firm statement, and worry about Dev show she cares about respect and consequences. The correct answer captures exactly that contrast. The choice that flips their feelings—calling Ben uncomfortable and Rina amused—reverses the evidence in the text, since Ben enjoys the attention and Rina objects. The choice saying both are worried and quickly agree to delete the video is wrong because they clearly disagree; Ben resists and defends the post. The choice claiming the narrator flatly announces who is careless and who is caring is wrong because the author never states these judgments—we learn each perspective through the characters' actions and dialogue instead.
Question 17
I told myself the new student, Sora, didn't care what anyone thought. She walked into class late, hair still damp from rain, and didn't even apologize. When Ms. Kline asked her to introduce herself, Sora shrugged and said, "I'm here," like that was the whole story.
In my head, that shrug meant she was stuck-up. I wrote her off before she even sat down.
But during group work, I noticed her hands shaking as she opened her notebook. She kept her eyes on the desk, not on us. When I asked what she thought about the assignment, she answered too quickly, as if she had memorized the words: "Whatever you decide is fine."
After class, I overheard her in the hallway. "I'm sorry," she whispered into her phone. "I tried. I just, my voice won't work."
I felt my earlier judgment crack. Maybe her shrug wasn't confidence. Maybe it was armor.
How is the narrator's point of view about Sora developed and changed over the passage?
- The narrator first assumes Sora is arrogant based on her shrug and lateness, then revises that view after seeing her shaking hands and hearing her apologetic phone call, and the author shows the shift through the narrator's judgments and new observations. (correct answer)
- The narrator first assumes Sora is nervous because she arrives late, then decides she is confident after the group work, and the author shows this reversal through the narrator's shifting descriptions of Sora's quiet voice and body language.
- The narrator's view of Sora stays the same all the way through, since the narrator reads the shrug as arrogance and finds nothing during class or in the hallway that changes that first impression.
- The narrator first assumes Sora is arrogant, then grows even more certain of it after the phone call, and the author shows this hardening view through the narrator's rising frustration with Sora's silence during group work.
Explanation: The passage traces one clear arc: the narrator starts by reading Sora's shrug and lateness as arrogance, then, after noticing her shaking hands and overhearing her apologetic phone call ("I'm sorry... my voice won't work"), softens that judgment. The best answer follows exactly that shift—first assumption, then revision, shown through the narrator's own judgments and observations. One choice reverses the order, claiming the narrator moves from thinking Sora is nervous to thinking she is confident; the text does the opposite. Another says the narrator's view never changes, but the final lines ("my earlier judgment crack") prove it does. The last choice says the narrator grows more sure Sora is arrogant after the call, yet the call is apologetic and clearly makes the narrator more sympathetic, not more critical. Only the first choice matches both the direction and the evidence of the narrator's changing point of view.
Question 18
"Tell me again why we're doing this," Kai said, staring at the stage curtain like it might bite.
"Because the talent show is how we raise money for the trip," Lila replied, tightening the ribbon on her violin case. Her words came out neat and confident. "And because you're good at comedy. People need to laugh."
Kai's knee bounced. He pictured the audience as one giant face, waiting to judge him. Last year, someone had posted a shaky video of his voice cracking during a presentation. He could still feel that moment like a bruise. "They don't need my laugh," he said. "They need someone who won't mess up."
Lila paused. She wanted to say, I'm scared too, but she didn't. Instead, she pointed to the empty seats. "Right now, it's just chairs," she said quietly. "We decide what it becomes."
Kai swallowed. The chairs stayed chairs, but his breathing slowed.
How does the author develop and contrast Lila's and Kai's points of view about performing?
- The author develops Lila's confidence through her organized actions and steady words, and Kai's anxiety through his physical reactions and a painful memory, setting their dialogue and thoughts side by side. (correct answer)
- The author develops both characters' shared excitement through their eager actions and cheerful words, describing how each of them looks forward to the moment the waiting audience finally arrives to watch.
- The author develops Kai's confidence through the jokes he rehearses aloud, and Lila's fear through her physical reactions when she quietly sets down her violin, placing their words and thoughts side by side.
- The author develops the contrast through a second-person narrator who steps in between scenes and tells the reader directly which character's point of view is the correct one to have.
Explanation: The right answer tracks how each viewpoint is built from different details. Lila's neat, organized actions and steady words show confidence, while Kai's bouncing knee and the bruise-like memory of his cracking voice show anxiety, and their lines and thoughts are placed right next to each other.
The choice about shared excitement is wrong because the two are not alike: Lila is calm and Kai is scared, and no one looks forward eagerly to the audience. The choice giving Kai confidence and Lila fear flips the characters—Kai tells no jokes and dreads messing up, while Lila never sets down her violin in fear. The choice about a second-person narrator is wrong because the story is told in third person and never addresses the reader as "you" or announces a correct point of view. Only the first choice accurately names how the author develops and contrasts the two views.
Question 19
After the play, the director announced, "We're changing the ending. The hero will apologize instead of fighting."
In the dressing room, Val slammed her script onto the table. "That ruins it," she said. "The whole point is courage. People came to see a victory." Her voice was sharp, like she could cut the new ending out of the air.
Ethan, still in costume, read the revised page twice. He felt a strange relief. The fight scene had always made him tense, like his body was pretending to be fearless while his mind was not. "I think it's braver," he said quietly. "Apologizing is harder than swinging a sword."
Val scoffed. "Brave is standing your ground."
Ethan looked up. "Or admitting you were wrong."
The director did not argue. She just watched them, letting the silence show that both ideas mattered.
Which choice best explains how the author contrasts Val's and Ethan's views of courage?
- Through their shared reactions: both Val and Ethan calmly agree the fight scene should stay, showing that they define courage the same way and only differ about who should deliver the final blow.
- Through their opposing dialogue and actions: Val's angry, forceful reactions show she values fighting and winning, while Ethan's calm words and relief show he sees apology as the braver choice. (correct answer)
- Through the director's judgment: the author has her firmly settle the argument, declaring that Ethan's view of courage is right and that Val's view of fighting is mistaken and outdated.
- Through their changing minds: the author shows Val slowly accepting the new ending while Ethan admits the fight scene was braver, so the two characters gradually trade their original positions.
Explanation: The contrast comes through what each character says and does. Val slams her script and insists courage means fighting and winning, while Ethan feels relief and quietly argues that apologizing is braver. The choice describing their opposing dialogue and actions captures that clash, so it is correct. The choice claiming they agree the fight scene should stay is wrong because they clearly disagree—Val defends fighting and Ethan defends apology. The choice saying the director settles the argument is wrong because she deliberately does not argue; she lets the silence show both ideas matter. The choice saying they trade positions is wrong because neither character changes their mind by the end—Val still insists on standing your ground, and Ethan still calls apology braver.
Question 20
When the power went out, the whole apartment building sighed. Elevators stopped, hallway lights vanished, and someone's music cut off mid-beat.
Mrs. Han from 3B lit a candle and smiled. "Good," she said, as if darkness were an old friend. "We'll talk to each other for once." She knocked on doors, offering extra batteries and telling people to share flashlights.
DeShawn, carrying a bag of groceries up the stairs, felt sweat gather under his collar. His phone was at 12 percent. He imagined the milk spoiling and his little sister crying in the heat. "This isn't cozy," he muttered. "This is a problem." He hurried, skipping Mrs. Han's cheerful questions.
On the landing, a teenager named Priya sat with her back against the wall, earbuds out for the first time. She watched the neighbors' candlelight flicker across their faces. Part of her wanted to join them. Another part wanted to disappear. She pulled her hoodie tighter and stayed silent.
How do the three characters' perspectives on the blackout differ?
- Mrs. Han sees the blackout as a chance for community, DeShawn sees it as an urgent hardship with real consequences, and Priya feels torn, curious but withdrawn, shown by her mixed wishes and quiet stillness. (correct answer)
- Mrs. Han views the blackout as a welcome pause, DeShawn worries mainly about missing his sister at home, and Priya feels relieved to finally have a good reason to keep her earbuds in and ignore everyone around her.
- Mrs. Han feels nervous alone in the dark, DeShawn is glad for a chance to slow down and rest, and Priya is eager to join the neighbors, shown by how quickly she jumps up to help them share their flashlights.
- Mrs. Han treats the outage as a minor annoyance, DeShawn assumes the power will return within minutes, and Priya believes the whole building planned the evening together, shown by the way she waits calmly for it all to begin.
Explanation: The right answer captures each character's true outlook. Mrs. Han greets the blackout warmly, as a chance to connect with neighbors. DeShawn treats it as an urgent problem, worrying about spoiling milk and his low phone battery. Priya is pulled both ways, wanting to join the candlelight yet pulling her hoodie tighter and staying silent. The choice that says DeShawn worries "mainly about missing his sister" misreads his fear—he worries about the heat and spoiling food, not being apart from her—and calls Priya "relieved," ignoring that part of her longs to join. The choice that makes Mrs. Han "nervous" and DeShawn "glad to rest" reverses their reactions, and it claims Priya "jumps up to help," though she never moves. The choice about a planned evening invents a detail the passage never gives; nothing shows the building arranged the outage, and Priya is torn, not calm. Only the first choice fits all three perspectives as the text actually presents them.