7th Grade Writing Quiz: Use Precise Language To Capture Action

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Use Precise Language To Capture Action, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for 7th Grade Writing.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. "the carpet muffling her steps," a detail about the setting rather than Emma's body
2. "the paper edges bit into her skin," showing how tightly her fist grips the slip (correct answer)
3. "a printer whirred," a background sound that builds atmosphere but not her feeling
4. "pushed the door open," a plain action with no clear link to her emotion

Explanation: The question asks for a physical detail that lets you feel Emma's nervousness without the words saying "nervous." "The paper edges bit into her skin" works because it shows her hand squeezing the permission slip so hard it hurts—her body reveals her anxiety through action. That is exactly how strong writers show emotion instead of stating it. "The carpet muffling her steps" describes the setting, not Emma's body, so it tells you about the hallway rather than her feelings. "A printer whirred" is a background sound that adds atmosphere, but it belongs to the office, not to Emma's inner state. "Pushed the door open" is a simple action verb with no detail connecting it to any emotion—she could push a door open feeling calm, bored, or excited. Only the tight grip on the paper turns a physical sensation into a clue about how she feels.

Question 2

1. Change "was mad" to "was emotional."
2. Change "went" to "walked" and "left" to "went away."
3. Change "said" to "talked" in both places.
4. Change "went to" to "stormed over to" and "said" to "snapped." (correct answer)

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d by asking students to replace vague verbs with precise ones that show conflict. Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("stormed" shows angry movement vs generic "went"), relevant descriptive details connected to action, sensory language creating immersion—verbs carry the weight of showing emotion and manner. The passage uses generic verbs that don't capture the anger and conflict between Riley and Jordan. Option D correctly suggests changing "went to" to "stormed over to" (showing angry approach) and "said" to "snapped" (showing angry speech)—these precise verbs reveal the emotion and tension without telling. Option A changes description not verbs; Option B keeps verbs generic; Option C replaces with equally vague verbs. Teaching focus: identify emotion-carrying verbs; practice matching verb intensity to character emotion; show how verb choice reveals attitude. Common errors: changing descriptions instead of verbs, using synonyms that aren't more precise, not recognizing how verbs can show emotion.

Question 3

1. "The track looked long."
2. "She started running with the group."
3. "After two laps, her legs hurt, and she wanted to stop." (correct answer)
4. "She kept going anyway."

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d (precise words, relevant details, sensory language to capture action and convey experiences). Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("sprinted/trudged/darted"—each different manner), relevant descriptive details connected to action ("rumpled clothes, dark circles"=exhausted; "slippery floor"=nearly falling; "clenched jaw"=anger—details matter, not random), sensory language creating immersion (specific sights/sounds/textures/smells—reader experiences what character does). The passage describes Yuki's difficult run. Option C "After two laps, her legs hurt, and she wanted to stop" is most precise in showing her struggle because it gives specific details: "two laps" (concrete measure of effort), "legs hurt" (physical sensation of difficulty), "wanted to stop" (internal conflict)—together these create a clear picture of pushing through physical discomfort. Options A, B, and D are vague: "looked long" doesn't show actual difficulty, "started running" shows no struggle, and "kept going anyway" tells about perseverance without showing the physical challenge she overcame.

Question 4

1. It mainly repeats the same idea, which makes the lab feel boring and slow.
2. It focuses on unrelated details, like fashion and decorations, so the experiment is hard to imagine.
3. It adds specific smells, sounds, and textures (vinegar sting, shoes clicking, cold gritty foam) that help the reader feel present during the reaction and understand Yuki's reaction. (correct answer)
4. It works because it uses dialogue, and dialogue is the same thing as sensory detail.

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d by asking how sensory language helps capture the experience of a science experiment. Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("pinched" goggles shows careful adjustment), relevant descriptive details connected to action ("foam swelled over rim" explains why she flinched), sensory language creating immersion (vinegar sting in nose, cold gritty foam on glove, clicking shoes on tile—reader experiences the lab moment). The passage describes a baking soda and vinegar reaction with rich sensory details. Choice C correctly explains that specific smells (vinegar sting), sounds (shoes clicking), and textures (cold gritty foam) help readers feel present during the reaction and understand Yuki's physical responses (flinching from cold foam, nose stinging from vinegar). Choice A wrongly claims repetition; B incorrectly says details are unrelated when they all connect to the experiment; D confuses dialogue with sensory detail. Teaching focus: Show students how each sense contributes to immersion—smell warns of chemical reaction, texture shows unexpected contact, sound builds tension with approaching teacher; practice adding sensory details that connect to the action, not random descriptions.

Question 5

1. Version 1, because stating directly that Chen was nervous is a clearer way to capture his experience for the reader.
2. Version 2, because it uses specific verbs and sensory details that show what Chen does and feels. (correct answer)
3. Version 1, because its shorter sentences keep the action simple, which makes the writing more precise for readers.
4. Version 2, because it adds extra descriptive words, and adding more description is what makes writing precise.

Explanation: The version that captures action and experience most precisely is the one built from specific verbs and sensory details. "Stepped," "smoothed," and "cleared" show exactly how Chen moves, and details like his voice that "trembled" and the silence that "pressed" let you feel the tension instead of just being told about it. The choice that praises stating "Chen was nervous" directly is wrong because naming an emotion tells rather than shows, so the reader experiences less, not more. The choice that rewards shorter, simpler sentences confuses brevity with precision; short sentences can still use vague words like "walked" and "said" that don't show how the action happens. The choice claiming that adding more description automatically makes writing precise mixes up quantity with quality; precision comes from choosing exact verbs and meaningful details, not from piling on extra words. Only the version with specific, sensory language actually captures both the action and the feeling.

Question 6

1. "opened her group chat"
2. "Her stomach dropped" (correct answer)
3. "typed one sentence"
4. "hovered over send"

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d (precise words, relevant details, sensory language to capture action and convey experiences). Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("sprinted/trudged/darted"—each different manner), relevant descriptive details connected to action ("rumpled clothes, dark circles"=exhausted; "slippery floor"=nearly falling; "clenched jaw"=anger—details matter, not random), sensory language creating immersion (specific sights/sounds/textures/smells—reader experiences what character does). The passage shows Emma's emotional reaction to cyberbullying through physical sensations and precise actions. Option B correctly identifies "Her stomach dropped" as the best sensory detail showing emotional reaction—this visceral sensation makes readers physically feel Emma's shock and hurt without stating "she felt hurt." Option A is a neutral action; option C describes typing not emotion; option D shows hesitation but not the initial emotional impact. Teaching: Replace generic verbs with specific showing how; add sensory details for experiences (not "nervous"—show: hands trembled, stomach knotted); include only relevant details advancing understanding; practice precision: rewrite vague with specific verbs, add sensory to flat passages; model showing vs. telling; analyze mentor texts.

Question 7

1. "The stage lights were bright and shining above the stage."
2. "She walked out onto the stage and started playing."
3. "She held her flute and listened to the other acts." (correct answer)
4. "She was nervous but did okay during her turn."

Explanation: The phrase about Maya holding her flute and listening to the other acts is the most precise because it uses specific action verbs—"held" and "listened"—along with concrete details like the flute and the other acts. You can picture exactly what she is doing while she waits. The phrase about the stage lights being bright and shining describes the setting, but "bright" only tells you a general quality; it doesn't show any action Maya takes or how she experiences it. The phrase about her walking out and starting to play names two actions but stays very general—"started playing" doesn't show how or what, so we can't really picture the moment. The phrase about her being nervous but doing okay names an emotion and a vague result; "nervous" and "did okay" tell us feelings and outcome without showing them through any specific action or detail.

Question 8

1. The passage is mostly vague because it uses general verbs like "went" and "did," so it is hard to tell what Maya is doing.
2. Words like "threaded," "sidestepped," "shouldered," "skittered," and "lunged," plus details like the slick milk and squeaking sneakers, precisely show how Maya moves and why she almost drops the tray. (correct answer)
3. The most precise part is the dialogue because any conversation automatically creates strong sensory language.
4. The passage is precise mainly because it uses longer sentences and a lot of commas, which makes the writing more specific.

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d by asking students to identify precise words, relevant details, and sensory language that capture action and convey experiences in a cafeteria scene. Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("threaded/sidestepped/lunged"—each shows different movement), relevant descriptive details connected to action ("slick with spilled milk"=explains squeaking and careful movement; "tray tilted"=shows near-disaster), sensory language creating immersion (squeaking sneakers, smell of pizza/disinfectant, hot cheeks—reader experiences Maya's journey). The passage describes Maya navigating a crowded cafeteria while balancing a tray, nearly dropping it when bumped. Choice B correctly identifies the precise verbs ("threaded," "sidestepped," "shouldered," "skittered," "lunged") that show exactly how Maya moves, plus sensory details (slick milk, squeaking sneakers) that explain why she moves that way and help readers experience the precarious moment. Choice A incorrectly claims the passage is vague; C wrongly focuses on dialogue; D confuses sentence structure with precision. Teaching focus: Show students how specific verbs replace generic movement (not "went through crowd" but "threaded between backpacks"), how relevant details explain actions (slick floor explains careful movement), and how sensory language immerses readers in the experience.

Question 9

1. "sky hung low and gray" and "air tasted like rain" because weather is the main action
2. "pushed," "pumped," "lungs burned," "lurched," and "staggered" because they show strain through specific movement and body sensations (correct answer)
3. "glanced sideways" because looking is always the most intense action
4. "runner in blue" because adding a color makes the action precise

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d (precise words, relevant details, sensory language to capture action and convey experiences). Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("sprinted/trudged/darted"—each different manner), relevant descriptive details connected to action ("rumpled clothes, dark circles"=exhausted; "slippery floor"=nearly falling; "clenched jaw"=anger—details matter, not random), sensory language creating immersion (specific sights/sounds/textures/smells—reader experiences what character does). The passage captures Marcus's physical strain during a race through precise movement verbs and body sensations. Option B correctly identifies "pushed," "pumped," "lungs burned," "lurched," and "staggered" as words showing intensity—these verbs and sensations precisely capture the physical effort (pumped shows rhythm, burned shows pain, lurched/staggered show exhaustion). Option A focuses on setting not action; option C overvalues a simple glance; option D thinks color alone creates precision. Teaching: Replace generic verbs with specific showing how; add sensory details for experiences (not "nervous"—show: hands trembled, stomach knotted); include only relevant details advancing understanding; practice precision: rewrite vague with specific verbs, add sensory to flat passages; model showing vs. telling; analyze mentor texts.

Question 10

1. Add descriptive adverbs to the verbs, changing "was loud" to "was very loud" and "felt nervous" to "felt really nervous," to emphasize how intense the tryout setting feels for him.
2. Replace several vague verbs: "jogged" → "sprinted," "looked" → "glanced," "got" → "snatched," "went" → "drove," "said" → "shouted," and "waited" → "hovered," to show how he moves and reacts. (correct answer)
3. Add a new teammate and a funny line of dialogue so the scene feels more entertaining and lively, while leaving all of the original verbs exactly as they are written.
4. Replace specific verbs with broader ones: "shot" → "did a basketball thing" and "drove" → "moved around," so the writing sounds more casual and easier for readers to follow.

Explanation: The scene relies on flat, general verbs like "jogged," "got," and "went" that never show exactly how Jamal moves or feels during the tryout. The best revision swaps those weak verbs for precise ones: "sprinted" shows urgency, "glanced" shows a quick look, "snatched" shows eagerness, "drove" shows aggressive movement, "shouted" shows volume and emotion, and "hovered" shows anxious waiting. These choices reveal action and feeling through the verbs themselves, which is exactly what the question asks. Adding adverbs like "very loud" and "really nervous" only piles words onto weak verbs instead of replacing them, so the action still isn't shown precisely. Adding a new teammate and a joke might make the scene livelier, but it changes the content and ignores the verb problem entirely. Replacing exact verbs with vaguer phrases like "did a basketball thing" and "moved around" makes the writing less precise, which is the opposite of the goal. Only strengthening the verbs themselves captures Jamal's actions clearly.

Question 11

1. Version 1, because its plain verbs ("walked," "played") keep the action clear, and naming the feeling as "nervous" states Sofia's emotion more directly than scattered details do.
2. Version 1, because its short sentences move quickly through the moment, and telling readers Sofia "was nervous" is clearer than making them infer her feelings from physical clues.
3. Version 2, because specific verbs ("trudged," "wavered," "settled") and sensory details (hot lights, sweaty palms, rustling) create a clearer picture of what Sofia does and feels. (correct answer)
4. Version 2, because it stacks more descriptive adjectives around each noun, and piling on adjectives is what makes writing feel precise and capture an action vividly.

Explanation: The best answer is Version 2, because its specific verbs and sensory details let you experience the moment instead of just being told about it. "Trudged" shows reluctance that "walked" hides; "wavered" then "settled" shows exactly how the note behaved. Details like the hot lights, sweaty palms, wood taste, and rustling program let you feel Sofia's nervousness without the writer announcing it. The choice praising plain verbs and naming the feeling directly is wrong: "walked" and "played" tell us little about how Sofia moved or felt, and labeling her "nervous" tells rather than shows. The choice claiming short sentences and the flat statement "was nervous" are clearer makes the same mistake—good narrative shows feelings through action and sensation, not a direct label. The choice about piling on adjectives misjudges what creates precision: strong, specific verbs and well-chosen sensory details do the work, not stacked adjectives. Only Version 2 captures both action and emotion, so it is the clear best answer.

Question 12

1. "The room had tables and stools set up for the day's experiment."
2. "She went to her assigned station and started working on the lab."
3. "When she poured the liquid, something happened at her station." (correct answer)
4. "Then Sofia felt calmer and better about the whole situation."

Explanation: The strongest answer is the moment the liquid is poured and "something happened." This is the key action of the whole story, yet the words tell you nothing: Did the liquid bubble over, hiss, change color, or spill onto the floor? A precise version—"the solution foamed up and overflowed onto the counter"—would let readers picture exactly what went wrong. The sentence about tables and stools describes the setting, not an action, so vague wording there matters far less; readers can still see the room clearly enough. The sentence about going to her station and starting the lab does describe an action, but it is a routine step, not the critical event that drives the story—improving it would add little. The sentence about Sofia feeling calmer and better names an emotion after the problem is solved; it could be more specific, but it is not the moment readers most need to visualize. Only the poured-liquid sentence hides the passage's most important event behind empty words, which is why it needs precise language most.

Question 13

1. Keisha held up her drawing and waited a long time. The teacher said it was very interesting, and Keisha felt very weird.
2. Keisha displayed her drawing, and the teacher said it was interesting. Keisha experienced emotions. Then she sat down.
3. Keisha raised her charcoal portrait, arms trembling as the paper quivered. The classroom fell into a tight silence broken only by the vent's hum. The teacher tilted her head and studied the shading. "Interesting contrast," she remarked. Heat crawled up Keisha's neck. When a classmate snickered, "The eyes are kind of creepy," Keisha's jaw clenched. She lowered the page, smoothed the bent corner with her thumb, and dropped into her seat, staring at the smudges on her fingertips. (correct answer)
4. Keisha was sad and mad. The teacher was mean. The student was rude. The room was awkward.

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d by asking students to revise vague emotional and action language with specific, relevant details. Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("raised" with "arms trembling" shows nervousness, "clenched" shows anger response), relevant descriptive details connected to action ("paper quivered" shows shaking hands, "heat crawled up neck" shows embarrassment), sensory language creating immersion (tight silence, vent's hum, smudges on fingertips—reader experiences the critique moment). The original tells emotions directly ("felt weird," "didn't like it") with vague actions. Choice C correctly replaces vague language with precise verbs and physical manifestations of emotion: "arms trembling" and "paper quivered" show nervousness, "heat crawled up Keisha's neck" shows embarrassment, "jaw clenched" shows anger, specific actions like "smoothed the bent corner" show care for her work despite criticism. Choice A still tells emotions; B is overly formal without precision; D only tells emotions more bluntly. Teaching focus: Create emotion-to-action charts showing how feelings manifest physically; practice rewriting emotional tells ("was embarrassed") as physical shows ("heat spread across cheeks").

Question 14

1. Add: "Jordan liked pizza, and his favorite color was blue."
2. Add: "The pencil's eraser crumbled into pink dust, and the paper felt thin where he'd rubbed the same spot again and again." (correct answer)
3. Add: "Math is important for many careers in the future."
4. Add: "The teacher had a desk, a chair, and a computer."

Explanation: This question tests W.7.3.d (precise words, relevant details, sensory language to capture action and convey experiences). Narratives capture action/experience through PRECISE LANGUAGE: specific action verbs showing exactly how ("sprinted/trudged/darted"—each different manner), relevant descriptive details connected to action ("rumpled clothes, dark circles"=exhausted; "slippery floor"=nearly falling; "clenched jaw"=anger—details matter, not random), sensory language creating immersion (specific sights/sounds/textures/smells—reader experiences what character does). The passage needs sensory details showing Jordan's struggle with the math problem. Option B correctly adds relevant sensory details: "eraser crumbled into pink dust" (visual and tactile showing repeated erasing), "paper felt thin where he'd rubbed" (touch sensation showing frustration through physical evidence)—these details directly connect to his struggle, making readers see and feel his difficulty through concrete sensory evidence. Options A, C, and D add irrelevant information about pizza preferences, career advice, and classroom furniture—none connect to Jordan's immediate struggle with the test problem.

Question 15

1. Version 1, because its plain verbs like "got" and "went" keep the pace fast and let readers imagine the movement themselves.
2. Version 2, because its specific verbs like "yanked," "darted," and "skittered" show readers exactly how Chen moved. (correct answer)
3. Version 1, because it states directly that Chen was in a hurry, which is clearer than making readers infer his mood.
4. Version 2, because its longer sentences pack in extra details that make the writing feel more mature and complete.

Explanation: The best answer is Version 2 for its specific verbs like "yanked," "darted," and "skittered." Each verb shows exactly how the action happened: "yanked" is a forceful pull, "darted" is quick dodging movement, and "skittered" is papers sliding across the floor. Precise verbs let readers see and feel Chen's rush without being told about it. The choice praising Version 1's plain verbs like "got" and "went" is wrong because vague verbs don't show manner—the reader can't picture how Chen moved, so precision is lost, not gained. The choice saying Version 1 is clearer for stating Chen was in a hurry mistakes telling for showing; naming a feeling is weaker than using action words that let readers experience it. The choice favoring Version 2's longer sentences is wrong because length alone doesn't create precision—a sentence can be long and still vague. What makes Version 2 stronger is the exact verbs, not the extra words. Precision comes from choosing verbs that show the specific manner of an action.

Question 16

1. Version 1, because its short sentences and simple verbs move quickly and keep the reader focused on the action
2. Version 1, because general words like "ran" and "went" let each reader picture the action however they choose
3. Version 2, because specific verbs and sensory details show exactly how Chen moved and felt (correct answer)
4. Version 2, because its longer sentences pack in more words and describe the hallway scene in greater detail

Explanation: The best answer is that Version 2 uses specific verbs and sensory details to show exactly how Chen moved and felt. Words like "sprinted," "darted," and "fumbled" tell you the precise manner of each action, while details like squeaking sneakers, sweaty fingers, and a knotted stomach let you experience his panic. That is what precise language does—it captures the action clearly instead of leaving it vague. Saying Version 1 works because short sentences move quickly confuses speed of reading with precision; those sentences are easy to read but still tell you almost nothing about how Chen actually moved. Saying Version 1 is better because "ran" and "went" let readers picture anything they want treats vagueness as a strength, but leaving the action fuzzy is the opposite of precise writing. Choosing Version 2 because its sentences are longer and pack in more words mistakes quantity for quality—extra words alone do not make writing precise; it is the specific, revealing word choices that do.

Question 17

1. Riley placed the laptop on the desk and did the slides in the quiet room while Jamal got the notecards ready and set them in a neat stack beside the humming laptop screen.
2. Riley carefully, nicely, and thoughtfully put the laptop down in a very quiet room and did the slides in a good, organized, and really nice way while Jamal calmly and neatly got the notecards.
3. Riley set the laptop down with a soft thud and clicked through the slides while Jamal sorted notecards, paper edges rasping under his fingers. Riley glanced at the clock and tapped her foot as the hallway lights buzzed. (correct answer)
4. Riley walked over to the door and then came back to the desk, and Jamal said some things about the time, and after that the two of them just went on with the presentation work together.

Explanation: The best revision replaces vague verbs with specific ones that show exactly how the action happens: "set the laptop down with a soft thud," "clicked through the slides," "sorted notecards," "glanced," and "tapped." It also adds sensory details you can hear and feel—paper edges rasping, hallway lights buzzing, a foot tapping—which pull you into the scene and quietly show the time pressure without saying "worried." The choice using "placed" adds one better verb but leaves weak verbs like "did" and "got" and offers no real sensory detail—it barely improves precision. The choice piling on adverbs ("carefully, nicely, and thoughtfully," "in a good way") tells you how Riley feels instead of showing it; stacking adjectives is not the same as choosing precise verbs or concrete sensory details. The choice about walking to the door keeps every vague verb ("walked," "said some things," "went on") and actually stays general, so it doesn't improve precision at all. Only one revision does what the question asks: sharpen the verbs AND add relevant sensory details.

Question 18

1. Change "he walked off" to "he moved off the stage, leaving the bright lights behind."
2. Change "he walked onto the stage" to "he strode onto the stage, eyes fixed on the spotlight." (correct answer)
3. Change "he looked at the crowd" to "he saw the crowd, which was watching him closely."
4. Change "he said his line" to "he stated his line to the audience gathered below."

Explanation: The word "walked" tells you Marcus moved, but not HOW he moved. Changing it to "strode onto the stage, eyes fixed on the spotlight" gives a precise action verb—"strode" shows confident, purposeful movement instead of shuffling or creeping—and adds a relevant detail showing his focus. Together they capture exactly how a nervous performer enters with intention. The choice that swaps "walked off" for "moved off" trades one vague verb for another; "moved" still doesn't show manner, and the added phrase is just scenery, not a sharper action. The choice replacing "looked at" with "saw" makes the verb weaker, not stronger—"saw" is even more general—and the extra clause describes the crowd rather than Marcus's action. The choice changing "said" to "stated" only makes the wording stiffer without revealing how Marcus spoke, and the appended phrase adds place, not precision. Only the keyed choice upgrades a flat verb into one that shows a specific manner of movement, which is what capturing action onstage requires.

Question 19

1. Change "The ball bounced away" to "The ball went across the floor, moving away from him."
2. Change "Jamal went to the front" to "Jamal shuffled to the front, shoulders tight." (correct answer)
3. Change "Coach told everyone" to "Coach spoke to everyone about doing the drill."
4. Change "He got the ball" to "He had the ball in his possession again."

Explanation: The prompt asks you to replace vague verbs with precise action verbs that show exactly how something is done. Changing "Jamal went to the front" to "Jamal shuffled to the front, shoulders tight" is the best answer: "shuffled" names a specific manner of moving that shows Jamal's reluctance and nerves, and "shoulders tight" adds a physical detail that captures his tension. The other choices trade a vague verb for language that is just as vague or wordier. Swapping "bounced away" for "went across the floor, moving away from him" actually replaces the more precise verb "bounced" with the weaker verb "went," so it makes the action less exact. Changing "told everyone" to "spoke to everyone about doing the drill" adds words but not precision—"spoke" shows no more about how Coach acted than "told." Changing "got the ball" to "had the ball in his possession again" is longer and more formal, but "had in his possession" still does not show how Jamal moved to recover the ball, so it captures no clearer action. Only the "shuffled…shoulders tight" revision uses a precise verb and a telling detail to show the action.

Question 20

1. "The crowd's noise blurred into a low roar while the coach shouted his name"
2. "Carlos darted toward the loose ball, cleats chattering against the hard turf"
3. "Pain shot up his leg. He bit the inside of his cheek and hobbled two steps" (correct answer)
4. "A defender lunged, and Carlos cut left so fast his ankle twisted inside his sock"

Explanation: The best answer is "Pain shot up his leg. He bit the inside of his cheek and hobbled two steps." Instead of stating that Carlos was hurt, it shows the injury through his body: "shot" makes the pain sudden and sharp, "bit the inside of his cheek" is an involuntary reaction to pain, and "hobbled" shows he can barely walk. You feel the injury without being told about it. The phrase about the crowd's noise and the coach shouting describes the setting and other people's actions—it shows the scene around Carlos, not his pain. The phrase about Carlos darting toward the ball with cleats chattering shows fast, healthy movement that happens before the injury, so it tells us nothing about him being hurt. The phrase about the defender lunging and Carlos cutting left names the moment his ankle twists, but it reports the cause of the injury rather than showing Carlos's pain and struggle afterward. Only the keyed phrase captures Carlos's bodily reaction to being hurt.