All questions
Question 1
The bus stop sign leaned slightly, as if it was tired of waiting. Aria and her brother Dev stood beneath it, their breath puffing white.
Dev kept checking the street. "It's late," he said.
Aria pulled her scarf higher. "It's always late."
A car slowed at the corner, then turned away. Dev's shoulders rose. "Maybe we should walk."
Aria shook her head. The school was three miles, and the sidewalks were slick with ice.
Dev stared at the road, jaw tight. "If I miss first period again, Coach will bench me."
Aria's phone buzzed. A message from Mom: Bus company says 'weather delay.' I'm sorry. I can't leave work.
Aria typed back with numb fingers: We'll figure it out. Then she stepped closer to Dev, blocking some of the wind.
"Hey," she said. "If you walk, you'll slip. If you wait, you might miss warm-ups. So we make a plan." She pointed to the gas station a block away. "We'll wait ten minutes there, then decide. And I'll talk to Coach with you."
Dev exhaled slowly. "Okay," he said, and for the first time his shoulders dropped.
Which evidence most strongly supports the inference that Aria is a responsible problem-solver?
- "The bus stop sign leaned slightly, as if it was tired of waiting for the bus."
- "Aria typed back with numb fingers: 'We'll figure it out,' and hit send."
- "She pointed to the gas station. 'We'll wait ten minutes there, then decide. And I'll talk to Coach with you.'" (correct answer)
- "Dev kept checking the street for the bus that would not come."
Explanation: Being a responsible problem-solver means weighing options and making a concrete plan, which Aria does: she names a place to wait, sets a ten-minute limit, and offers to talk to Coach with Dev. Choice C is that evidence, so it is correct. Choice A describes the sign, Choice B shows reassurance but not a plan, and Choice D shows Dev's worry, so none demonstrates Aria's planning as directly as her step-by-step solution.
Question 2
Read the passage and answer the question.
The creek behind the apartments was usually a thin ribbon, but after three days of rain it had turned brown and loud. Laila stood on the footbridge with her bike, watching branches spin past like broken oars.
“Come on,” Mateo said, already lifting his front wheel onto the slick boards. “If we go fast, it won’t feel scary.”
Laila tightened her grip until her knuckles paled. She imagined her tires sliding, imagined the cold bite of water. She also imagined the late bell at school and Mr. Kline’s disappointed look. Mateo had been late twice this week; today he’d finally shown up at her door ten minutes early.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” she asked.
Mateo’s gaze dropped to his shoes. “My mom’s shift ended at midnight,” he said. “If I’m late again, she’ll have to leave work early to bring me, and she can’t.”
The wind shoved rain into Laila’s face. She looked at the bridge again—its boards dark, its nails shining like little teeth. Then she swung her bike around.
“We’ll take Maple Street,” she said. “It’s longer, but it’s safer.”
Mateo frowned. “We’ll be late.”
“We’ll be late together,” Laila answered, and started walking.
Question: What evidence best explains why Laila chooses to take a longer route instead of crossing the bridge?
- “The creek behind the apartments was usually a thin ribbon, but after three days of rain it had turned brown and loud.”
- “She imagined her tires sliding, imagined the cold bite of water.” (correct answer)
- “Mateo had been late twice this week; today he’d finally shown up at her door ten minutes early.”
- “The wind shoved rain into Laila’s face.”
Explanation: This question tests citing strongest textual evidence from literary texts supporting analysis of character motivation, specifically identifying what best explains Laila's decision to take the longer route instead of crossing the dangerous bridge. Strongest literary evidence reveals character motivation through thoughts, reactions to events, and the context of their choices, showing rather than telling why characters act. To explain why Laila chooses the longer route, the strongest evidence is "She imagined her tires sliding, imagined the cold bite of water." This quote directly shows Laila's specific fear of crossing the dangerous bridge—she visualizes the exact danger (tires sliding on slick boards) and consequence (falling into cold water), revealing her safety concerns as the primary motivation for avoiding the bridge. This is stronger evidence than "The creek behind the apartments was usually a thin ribbon, but after three days of rain it had turned brown and loud" (describes dangerous conditions but not Laila's reaction), "Mateo had been late twice this week; today he'd finally shown up at her door ten minutes early" (explains Mateo's urgency, not Laila's choice), or "The wind shoved rain into Laila's face" (weather detail but doesn't explain her decision). The correct answer provides strongest support because it shows Laila's internal thought process—her vivid imagination of potential danger—which directly motivates her decision to choose safety over speed. The other options provide context about the dangerous conditions or Mateo's situation but don't reveal Laila's specific reasoning for her choice.
Question 3
Jules told everyone he didn't care about the team captain vote. He said it in the hallway, loud enough for the lockers to echo it back. "I'm fine either way," he announced, spinning a basketball on his finger.
But when the votes were counted, his smile froze. A freshman, Theo, won by two points.
"Guess they like the new kid," someone joked.
Jules laughed too quickly. "Yeah. Great." He slapped Theo on the shoulder hard enough to make Theo stumble. "Don't mess it up."
After practice, Jules stayed behind, shooting alone. The ball thudded against the rim again and again. When Coach Ramirez asked if he was okay, Jules said, "I just want the team to win."
Coach nodded, but Jules couldn't meet his eyes.
On the walk home, Jules took the long way past the community center. Through the window he watched Theo helping little kids dribble, kneeling to tie one kid's untied shoelace. Jules's fingers tightened around the strap of his bag until it bit into his palm.
Which evidence most strongly supports the inference that Jules is jealous of Theo?
- "Jules told everyone he didn't care at all about the team captain vote."
- "He slapped Theo on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. 'Don't mess it up.'" (correct answer)
- "After practice, Jules stayed behind by himself, shooting basket after basket."
- "Through the window, he watched Theo patiently helping the little kids dribble."
Explanation: Jealousy shows in Jules's resentment toward the person who beat him, and his forced laugh followed by a too-hard slap and a sharp "Don't mess it up" aims that resentment right at Theo. Choice B captures it, so it is correct. Choice A is his earlier claim that he did not care, Choice C shows frustration but not clearly aimed at Theo, and Choice D describes Theo's kindness rather than Jules's feelings, so none points to jealousy as directly.
Question 4
In the attic, Grandma keeps a suitcase
that never leaves the cedar chest.
It smells like train smoke and winter pears.
I lift the latch, she doesn't stop me,
and find a map with creases like scars,
a postcard signed in careful ink,
and a ribbon, faded to the color of dust.
"Some things you pack," she says,
"and some things pack you."
Downstairs, the kitchen radio hums,
but her voice is louder than the song.
She folds dough the way you fold a letter:
slow, as if each turn remembers.
When I ask why she never travels,
she presses flour onto my nose,
and laughs, then looks away too fast.
The suitcase clicks shut by itself
(or maybe my hands are shaking).
Which evidence best supports the inference that Grandma is hiding sadness about her past?
- It smells like train smoke and winter pears.
- She presses flour onto my nose, and laughs, then looks away too fast. (correct answer)
- Downstairs, the kitchen radio hums a familiar tune.
- And a ribbon, faded to the pale color of dust.
Explanation: When the speaker asks why Grandma never travels, she deflects with a playful gesture, then "looks away too fast," a move that hides feeling rather than sharing it. That reaction to a question about her past best supports the inference of hidden sadness, so Choice B is correct. Choice A and Choice D are sensory details about the suitcase and ribbon, and Choice C is background sound, so none shows Grandma concealing emotion the way her quick glance away does.
Question 5
Read the excerpt from a science fiction story:
The first time the school’s translation earbuds glitched, everyone laughed. Mr. Han’s words came out as whale-song, and the class dissolved into giggles.
The second time, no one laughed.
Aya sat in the front row, watching Mr. Han’s mouth form careful syllables while her earbuds delivered a different message entirely: “DO NOT TRUST THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.” The letters even appeared on her desk screen for a blink, then vanished.
After class, Aya cornered her friend Mateo. “Did yours say anything weird?”
Mateo shrugged. “Just static. Why?”
Aya wanted to tell him, but the hallway cameras tilted as students passed, their lenses following like polite eyes.
At lunch, the intercom crackled. “Reminder: Report any device errors to the main office,” the voice said, cheerful as always.
Aya’s hand drifted to her pocket where the earbud case sat. She imagined walking to the office, smiling, and handing over the only proof she had.
Instead, she snapped the case shut and said, very quietly, “Not yet.”
Question: Which evidence most strongly supports the inference that Aya decides not to report the glitch because she suspects she is being watched?
- “The letters even appeared on her desk screen for a blink, then vanished,” showing the strange message reached Aya before she chose to stay silent.
- “Mateo shrugged. ‘Just static. Why?’” showing that Aya’s friend received nothing unusual and could not confirm her private experience.
- “Aya wanted to tell him, but the hallway cameras tilted as students passed, their lenses following like polite eyes,” linking her urge to speak with the tracking around her. (correct answer)
- “Report any device errors to the main office,” the cheerful voice said, showing the school openly encouraging students to hand in any malfunctioning equipment.
Explanation: The best answer pairs Aya’s impulse to share with the reason she holds back: she “wanted to tell him, but the hallway cameras tilted… following like polite eyes.” The word “but” shows the cameras’ tracking is exactly what stops her, tying her silence directly to a feeling of being watched.
The desk-screen line proves Aya really got the message and had a secret to keep, but it never mentions being watched, so it doesn’t explain her decision. Mateo’s reply shows no one else got the warning, which might explain why he can’t help her, but it says nothing about surveillance or her choice. The intercom reminder shows what the school wants students to do; it reveals official pressure to report, not Aya’s private fear of being observed. Only the camera detail connects noticing surveillance to the moment she stays quiet, which is what the question asks for.
Question 6
Read the excerpt from a short story:
Tessa promised her dad she wouldn’t go near the old pier. “The boards are rotten,” he warned. “And the tide turns fast.”
But when Tessa heard barking that afternoon—sharp, panicked—she followed the sound through the dunes. A small dog, soaked and shivering, stood at the end of the pier, its leash tangled around a broken post. Waves slapped the pilings like impatient hands.
“Tide’s coming in,” Tessa muttered. She looked back at the beach. No one.
She stepped onto the pier. The first plank groaned. The second plank dipped.
The dog whined and pulled harder, tightening the leash.
“Okay, okay,” Tessa whispered, crawling on her knees to spread her weight. Halfway down, a board cracked under her palm. Her breath caught, but she kept moving, inch by inch.
When she reached the post, she worked the knot loose with shaking fingers. “Got you,” she said.
As she turned to crawl back, the water surged higher, swallowing the lowest beams.
Question: Which evidence most strongly supports the idea that the rising tide creates the central conflict in the scene?
- “Tessa promised her dad she wouldn’t go near the old pier, warning her the boards were rotten.”
- “A small dog, soaked and shivering, stood at the end of the pier, its leash tangled around a broken post.”
- “‘Tide’s coming in,’ Tessa muttered, then looked back at the empty beach behind her.”
- “As she turned to crawl back, the water surged higher, swallowing the lowest beams.” (correct answer)
Explanation: The best answer shows the tide actively becoming a threat at the worst moment: just as Tessa finishes freeing the dog and needs to escape, the water rises and covers the beams she must cross to get back. That is what makes the rising tide the central conflict—it directly endangers her way out.
The line about Tessa promising her dad not to go near the pier explains a rule she breaks, but it sets up the situation rather than showing the tide as an active danger. The description of the soaked, tangled dog gives Tessa a reason to act, but it shows her motivation, not the tide creating conflict. Tessa muttering "Tide's coming in" while checking the empty beach mentions the tide and hints at danger, but the water isn't doing anything yet—it's only noticed, not a present threat. Only the final line shows the tide rising and cutting off her escape, so it most strongly supports the idea that the rising tide is the central conflict.
Question 7
The river did not show Lina her reflection. It showed her choices. In the water, she saw herself wearing the silver crown, her village cheering. Then the image rippled, and she saw the same crown on a stranger's head while her village burned behind him. "Lies," Lina whispered. The ferryman's oar dipped without a splash. "Not lies," he said. "Possibilities." Lina clutched the satchel with the treaty scroll inside. The king had promised peace if she delivered it by moonrise. But the forest path was longer, safer. The river path was shorter and known for swallowing boats. A moth landed on the treaty seal, trembling. Lina watched its wings beat fast against the wax, as if the seal itself were a trap. "Why show me this?" she asked. "So you stop pretending you are fearless," the ferryman replied. Lina's throat tightened. She stepped into the boat anyway. "I'm not fearless," she said. "I'm responsible."
Which piece of evidence most strongly supports the inference that Lina chooses the river path because she feels responsible for her village?
- The river did not show Lina her reflection. It showed her choices.
- The ferryman's oar dipped into the water without making any splash at all.
- She clutched the satchel with the treaty scroll and said, "I'm not fearless. I'm responsible." (correct answer)
- A moth landed on the treaty seal, its wings trembling against the wax.
Explanation: Lina takes the dangerous river path even though she is afraid, and she explains why in her own words: not fearless, but "responsible," while clutching the treaty scroll that could bring her village peace. Choice C links her choice directly to that sense of responsibility, so it is correct. Choice A describes what the river reveals, Choice B is a quiet detail about the oar, and Choice D notes the moth, none of which explains why she chooses the risky path.
Question 8
Read the passage and answer the question.
On the first day of the summer program, Mr. Sato handed everyone a key and a scrap of paper. “Write one thing you want to learn,” he said, “and lock it inside the drawer.”
Tess stared at the key in her palm. It was warm from his hand, oddly heavy. Around her, students scribbled quickly. Tess wrote slowly: How to stop quitting.
She slid the paper into the drawer and turned the key until it clicked.
Weeks passed. Tess learned to solder wires without burning her fingers. She learned that code could fail for reasons as small as a missing dot. Each time her robot lurched sideways or refused to move at all, she felt the old urge rise—pack up, shrug, pretend she hadn’t cared.
On the last Friday, Mr. Sato rolled a narrow ramp to the center of the room. “Robots climb today,” he announced.
Tess’s robot jerked at the base, stalled, and tipped backward. Someone behind her snickered. Tess’s throat tightened.
Then she reached into her pocket and felt the key. She didn’t look up. She reset the wheels, adjusted the weight with a washer, and tried again. The second time it climbed halfway. The third time it reached the top and stopped, balanced and humming.
Mr. Sato nodded once, as if he’d been waiting for that moment.
Question: Which detail best supports the theme that perseverance means continuing even when failure feels embarrassing?
- “It was warm from his hand, oddly heavy.”
- “She learned to solder wires without burning her fingers.”
- “Someone behind her snickered.”
- “She reset the wheels, adjusted the weight with a washer, and tried again.” (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests citing strongest textual evidence from literary texts supporting analysis of themes, specifically identifying details that demonstrate perseverance means continuing even when failure feels embarrassing. Strongest thematic evidence shows characters' actions in meaningful moments, especially when facing adversity, with specific behaviors that directly illustrate the theme rather than stating it. For the theme that "perseverance means continuing even when failure feels embarrassing," the strongest evidence is "She reset the wheels, adjusted the weight with a washer, and tried again." This quote shows perseverance through specific repeated actions (reset, adjusted, tried again) immediately after public failure and mockery (robot tipped backward, someone snickered), demonstrating she continues despite embarrassment—the conjunction of continuing effort after public failure directly illustrates the theme. This is stronger evidence than "It was warm from his hand, oddly heavy" (describes key but unrelated to perseverance), "She learned to solder wires without burning her fingers" (shows learning but not perseverance through embarrassment), or "Someone behind her snickered" (shows embarrassment but not the perseverance response). The correct answer provides strongest support because it shows Tess's immediate, specific actions to continue trying after experiencing public failure and mockery, directly demonstrating perseverance despite embarrassment. The other options either show the embarrassing situation without the perseverance response or show general learning without the specific context of continuing despite embarrassment.
Question 9
In the back of Abuela's closet, Nico found a shoebox tied with yarn. Inside were letters, each one addressed in the same careful handwriting: To the Nico I have not met yet.
He carried the box to the kitchen table, where Abuela was slicing oranges into perfect moons. "Did you write these?" he asked.
Abuela didn't look up. "I did. When your father left for the sea, I needed somewhere to put my worrying."
Nico pulled out the top letter. The paper smelled faintly of salt and cinnamon. "It says I should 'keep my hands busy when my mind gets loud.'"
"That's good advice," Abuela said, finally meeting his eyes. Her smile was small but steady.
Nico hesitated. "Dad's not coming back, is he?"
Abuela set down the knife. For a moment, the only sound was the refrigerator humming. Then she pushed the orange slices toward Nico, as if feeding him courage. "When I didn't know," she said, "I still made room at the table. Hope is not a promise. It's a practice."
Nico unfolded another letter. On the last line, Abuela had written: Even when the chair stays empty, keep setting it out. It teaches your heart to stay open.
Which evidence best supports the theme that hope is something people choose to practice even during uncertainty?
- The paper smelled faintly of salt and cinnamon.
- It says I should keep my hands busy when my mind gets loud.
- When your father left for the sea, I needed somewhere to put my worrying.
- Even when the chair stays empty, keep setting it out. It teaches your heart to stay open. (correct answer)
Explanation: The theme is that hope is a chosen practice, kept up even when the outcome is unknown. Choice D shows exactly that: setting out a chair for someone who may never come is a deliberate act that keeps the heart open, so it is the best support. Choice A is only a sensory detail, Choice B is general coping advice, and Choice C explains why Abuela wrote the letters rather than showing hope practiced during uncertainty.
Question 10
The old library was closing for renovations, and everyone was allowed to take one book home. Jun walked the aisles like he was in a museum that might vanish overnight. Dust floated in the sunbeams, and the carpet held the hush of years.
Mrs. Calder, the librarian, watched him from behind the counter. "Only one," she reminded, but her voice sounded tired rather than strict.
Jun's fingers paused on a thick atlas with a torn spine. He pulled it out carefully. Inside the cover, someone had written in pencil: If you get lost, start with the rivers.
Jun smiled despite himself. He had been lost lately in a different way, new town, new school, new name mispronounced in three different classrooms.
He carried the atlas to the desk. "This one," he said.
Mrs. Calder ran her thumb over the torn spine. "You know it's missing pages," she said.
Jun nodded. "So am I."
For a moment Mrs. Calder's eyes shone, then she stamped the due date anyway, even though there was no due date anymore.
As Jun turned to leave, she called after him, "If the building forgets us, the stories won't."
Which quote most strongly supports the inference that Jun feels disconnected and is searching for a sense of belonging?
- "He walked the aisles like he was in a museum that might vanish overnight, drifting between shelves that felt strange to him."
- "He had been lost lately in a different way: new town, new school, new name mispronounced in class after class." (correct answer)
- "He pulled out the atlas and read the pencil note inside: if you get lost, start with the rivers."
- "He nodded at the torn, missing-pages atlas and told the librarian quietly, so am I, then turned to leave."
Explanation: The strongest evidence for Jun's disconnection and his search for belonging is his own reflection about being "lost" in a new town, a new school, and a name mispronounced from class to class. This directly names his personal, emotional situation and why he doesn't yet fit in. The image of him drifting through unfamiliar aisles hints at unease, but it describes the setting and his movement, not what he feels about belonging. The pencil note he reads is intriguing and even connects to being "lost," but the words are someone else's advice about maps, not evidence about Jun's own feelings. His quiet "so am I" comparing himself to the damaged atlas shows he feels incomplete, yet it's a brief echo of the librarian's remark and doesn't spell out the disconnection the way his "lost lately" thoughts do. Only the reflection about the new town, school, and mispronounced name states his sense of not belonging outright, so it is the best support for the inference.
Question 11
Read the passage and answer the question.
In rehearsal, the stage lights made everything look sharper—every mistake, every trembling hand. Priya stood in the wings with the paper crown for the final scene folded under her arm.
“You’re on in thirty,” Mr. Henson called.
Priya nodded, but her stomach rolled. She had begged for a backstage job, not a speaking part. Yet yesterday, when Nolan lost his voice, Mr. Henson had pointed at Priya. “You know the lines,” he’d said. “You’ve been mouthing them for weeks.”
Now Nolan sat on a folding chair, sipping tea and staring at his shoes. “I’m sorry,” he rasped.
Priya glanced at the audience seats—already filling, a sea of faces. Her hands shook so hard the paper crown crackled.
Nolan coughed again, and Priya noticed the way he flinched, like the sound hurt.
Priya exhaled and knelt beside him. “Listen,” she whispered, pressing the crown into his lap. “You built this. You should wear it.”
“But you’re the one going out there,” Nolan said.
Priya swallowed. “Then I’ll do it for both of us. But when your voice comes back, you’re not hiding. Deal?”
Nolan looked up, eyes wet. He nodded.
Question: Which evidence most strongly supports the idea that Priya is motivated by loyalty to her teammate rather than by a desire for attention?
- “In rehearsal, the stage lights made everything look sharper—every mistake, every trembling hand.”
- “She had begged for a backstage job, not a speaking part.”
- “Priya glanced at the audience seats—already filling, a sea of faces.”
- “‘Then I’ll do it for both of us. But when your voice comes back, you’re not hiding. Deal?’” (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests citing strongest textual evidence from literary texts supporting character analysis, specifically identifying what demonstrates Priya is motivated by loyalty to her teammate rather than desire for attention. Strongest evidence for character motivation shows specific actions and dialogue revealing internal values, particularly when characters make choices that sacrifice personal gain for others' benefit. To support that Priya is motivated by loyalty rather than attention-seeking, the strongest evidence is "'Then I'll do it for both of us. But when your voice comes back, you're not hiding. Deal?'" This quote shows multiple indicators of team loyalty: she frames her performance as representing both of them ("for both of us"—shared credit not solo glory), she looks forward to Nolan's return (wants him back on stage, not keeping spotlight), she challenges him not to hide (encouraging teammate's future participation), and makes it a mutual agreement ("Deal?"—partnership approach)—all showing she sees this as temporary team support, not permanent starring role. This is stronger evidence than "In rehearsal, the stage lights made everything look sharper—every mistake, every trembling hand" (shows performance anxiety, not motivation), "She had begged for a backstage job, not a speaking part" (shows she didn't want attention but doesn't prove loyalty motivation), or "Priya glanced at the audience seats—already filling, a sea of faces" (shows nervousness about performing, not motivation). The correct answer provides strongest support because it shows Priya explicitly framing her action as temporary team support with expectation of Nolan's return, demonstrating loyalty-based rather than attention-seeking motivation. The other options show her reluctance or anxiety about performing but don't reveal the loyalty driving her decision.
Question 12
Dante kept the class fundraiser envelope in his binder, tucked behind his math homework so no one would see it. The envelope felt heavier than paper should.
At lunch, his friend Kira slid into the seat across from him. "Did you turn in your money yet?" she asked, unwrapping her sandwich.
Dante's fingers tightened on his milk carton. "Not yet."
Kira frowned. "You sold more candy bars than anyone. Coach is counting on you."
Dante stared at the table's scratched surface. Last night, his mom had opened the fridge and laughed once, short, like a cough. "We'll make it work," she'd said, even though there was only a jar of pickles and a box of baking soda.
After school, Dante walked past the office where the envelopes were collected. He slowed, then kept going.
At home, he placed the envelope on the counter. His mom's eyes moved to it and away again.
"I can take extra shifts," she began.
Dante pushed the envelope toward her. "You already do."
Which piece of evidence most strongly supports the inference that Dante is keeping the fundraiser money because his family needs it?
- "The envelope felt heavier than paper should, tucked behind his math homework."
- "Kira frowned. 'You sold more candy bars than anyone. Coach is counting on you.'"
- "His mom had opened the fridge; there was only a jar of pickles and a box of baking soda." (correct answer)
- "Dante stared at the scratched surface of the lunch table without saying a word."
Explanation: The inference is that Dante's family needs the money, and the nearly empty fridge, just pickles and baking soda, is the clearest sign of that need, especially beside his mom's forced "We'll make it work." Choice C gives that evidence, so it is correct. Choice A shows his guilt about the envelope, Choice B is Kira's pressure about the fundraiser, and Choice D shows his discomfort, but none points to the family's need the way the bare fridge does.
Question 13
Sienna's grandmother kept a small tin of buttons on the highest shelf, the kind with faded flowers and dull gold rims. "They're just buttons," Grandma said whenever Sienna asked, "but they've held a lot together."
On the day of the spring concert, Sienna discovered her dress had split at the seam. A thin tear ran from her hip down toward the hem.
"I can't go like this," Sienna whispered, staring at herself in the mirror.
Grandma didn't panic. She climbed onto a chair, reached for the tin, and shook it once so the buttons clinked like rain.
"Pick one," she said.
Sienna chose a plain blue button. Her hands trembled as Grandma threaded the needle.
"Why do you keep these?" Sienna asked.
Grandma tied a knot with practiced fingers. "When your grandfather lost his job, I fixed his coat with this tin. When your mother left for college, I sewed her suitcase strap back on."
She pressed the button into place and smoothed the fabric. "We don't always get new things, Sienna. We make what we have last."
Which evidence best supports the theme that resourcefulness helps people overcome challenges?
- “Sienna chose a plain blue button.”
- “Grandma tied a knot with practiced fingers.”
- “‘They’re just buttons,’ Grandma said… ‘but they’ve held a lot together.’”
- “‘We don’t always get new things, Sienna. We make what we have last.’” (correct answer)
Explanation: Tests citing strongest textual evidence from literary texts supporting analysis of characters, themes, plot elements, and literary techniques—identifying specific quotes, actions, details most directly supporting interpretations. Strongest literary evidence characteristics for theme: Specificity—concrete examples of resourcefulness; Relevance—directly connects resourcefulness to overcoming challenges; Directness—explicit demonstration of theme; Significance—pattern showing repeated success; Richness—specific actions rather than general statements. For theme that resourcefulness helps overcome challenges, strongest evidence is "'We don't always get new things, Sienna. We make what we have last.'" This directly states the theme connecting limited resources ("don't always get new things") with resourceful response ("make what we have last"), serving as culminating wisdom after specific examples of fixing grandfather's coat during job loss and mother's suitcase for college. This is stronger than "Sienna chose a plain blue button" (shows selection but not resourcefulness), "Grandma tied a knot with practiced fingers" (shows skill but not theme), or "'They're just buttons,' Grandma said... 'but they've held a lot together'" (metaphorical but less direct about resourcefulness theme). The correct answer provides strongest thematic support because it explicitly articulates the lesson about resourcefulness as life strategy, coming after concrete examples that demonstrate the principle in action—it's both the moral and summary of lived experience. The incorrect options show components of the story (button selection, sewing skill, metaphor about buttons) but don't directly state the thematic connection between being resourceful and overcoming life's challenges—strongest thematic evidence often combines specific examples with explicit statement of theme.
Question 14
Jasper's science fair volcano sat on the kitchen table like a lopsided mountain. The papier-mache had cracked along the rim, and the paint looked like it had been applied in a hurry, because it had.
His dad leaned against the counter, arms folded. "You've got one more night," he said. "If it doesn't work, it doesn't work."
Jasper stared at the instructions. He had followed them twice. Both times the "eruption" had fizzled into a sad puddle.
He carried the volcano to the sink and rinsed it out. Then he tore a page from his notebook and began writing a new list: vinegar amount, baking soda amount, dish soap, water temperature.
"You're starting over?" his sister asked.
Jasper nodded. "Not over. Different."
At midnight, he tested again. The foam rose higher, then collapsed.
Jasper wiped the counter, reset the volcano, and adjusted the measurements by a teaspoon. "One more," he whispered.
When the volcano finally surged, thick and red, Jasper didn't cheer. He just exhaled, like he'd been holding his breath for days.
Which evidence best supports the theme that perseverance leads to success?
- "If it doesn't work, it doesn't work," his dad said from the counter.
- "Not over. Different," Jasper said as he started a new list.
- "Jasper's science fair volcano sat on the kitchen table like a lopsided mountain."
- "Jasper reset the volcano and adjusted the measurements again. 'One more,' he whispered." (correct answer)
Explanation: Perseverance means trying again after setbacks, and the line where Jasper resets the volcano, adjusts the measurements, and whispers "One more" shows him pushing on right before the eruption finally works. Choice D is that evidence, so it is correct. Choice A is his dad allowing him to stop, Choice B shows his mindset but not the repeated effort, and Choice C just describes the volcano's look, so none captures the persistence that leads to success as directly.
Question 15
The old soccer field behind Westbrook Middle was soaked from last night’s rain. Mara could smell wet grass and mud as she walked the sideline, her cleats sinking slightly with each step. Coach Patel blew his whistle. “Tryouts start now. Hustle!” Mara’s stomach tightened. She had practiced in her backyard, alone, where no one watched and every mistake disappeared into the fence. On the first drill, she trapped the ball too hard. It bounced away, and a boy behind her snorted. “Nice touch,” he said, not nice at all. Heat rushed to Mara’s face. She jogged after the ball, then slowed. For a second, she pictured herself turning around, handing Coach her form, and walking home before anyone learned her name. Instead, she forced her legs to keep moving. When she reached the ball, she planted her foot and tried again—softer this time. The ball stayed close. Coach Patel called out, “Better, Mara. Again.” Mara didn’t look at the boy. She nodded once, as if she had been nodding all her life.
Which detail best supports the inference that Mara feels embarrassed but chooses to push through it?
- “The old soccer field behind Westbrook Middle was soaked from last night’s rain.”
- “Heat rushed to Mara’s face… Instead, she forced her legs to keep moving.” (correct answer)
- Coach Patel blew his whistle. “Tryouts start now. Hustle!”
- “Better, Mara. Again,” Coach Patel called out.
Explanation: Tests citing strongest textual evidence from literary texts supporting analysis of characters, themes, plot elements, and literary techniques—identifying specific quotes, actions, details most directly supporting interpretations. Strongest literary evidence characteristics: Specificity—concrete actions and internal reactions; Relevance—directly reveals both embarrassment and pushing through; Directness—explicit demonstration of both emotions; Significance—pivotal moment of choice; Richness—evidence showing internal state and external action. To support that Mara feels embarrassed but chooses to push through it, the strongest evidence is "Heat rushed to Mara's face... Instead, she forced her legs to keep moving." This quote combines physical reaction showing embarrassment (heat rushing to face is classic embarrassment response) with deliberate action showing choice to continue ("forced her legs" shows conscious effort against desire to quit, "Instead" signals she considered stopping but chose differently). This is stronger than "The old soccer field behind Westbrook Middle was soaked from last night's rain" (setting description, no emotion), "Coach Patel blew his whistle. 'Tryouts start now. Hustle!'" (coach's action, not Mara's emotion), or "Better, Mara. Again," Coach Patel called out" (shows improvement but not embarrassment or pushing through). The correct answer provides strongest support because it captures both required elements: the physical manifestation of embarrassment and the deliberate choice to continue despite that feeling, using specific sensory details and action verbs. The incorrect options either provide setting (A), show other characters' actions (C, D), or miss the emotional component entirely—strongest evidence must show both the feeling and the character's response to it.
Question 16
Read the excerpt from a short story:
Mara kept her hood up as the bus hissed away, leaving her and the library’s brick steps slick with rain. Inside, the air smelled like paper and lemon cleaner. Mr. Duran, the librarian, held up a cardboard box. “Last call for donations to the shelter,” he said.
Mara’s stomach tightened. She’d walked here instead of buying a snack after practice. In her backpack was the only extra thing she owned that still felt new: a pair of wool gloves, navy blue, with a tag that said “insulated.” She pictured her little brother’s hands, red from waiting at the corner. Then she pictured the shelter’s line she’d seen last winter—people stamping their feet, trying to smile.
Mr. Duran’s eyes flicked to her damp sleeves. “You don’t have to,” he said softly.
Mara pulled the gloves out anyway. “They’ll help someone more than they help me,” she said, and slid them into the box before she could change her mind. When she turned away, her fingers stung in the cold, but her shoulders felt oddly lighter.
Question: Which quote best supports the inference that Mara is compassionate?
- “Mara kept her hood up as the bus hissed away, leaving her and the library’s brick steps slick with rain.”
- “Inside, the air smelled like paper and lemon cleaner.”
- “Mara pulled the gloves out anyway. ‘They’ll help someone more than they help me,’ she said, and slid them into the box…” (correct answer)
- “When she turned away, her fingers stung in the cold, but her shoulders felt oddly lighter.”
Explanation: This question tests citing strongest textual evidence from literary texts supporting analysis of characters, specifically identifying quotes that most directly demonstrate Mara's compassion. Strongest literary evidence characteristics include specificity (concrete actions vs general descriptions), relevance (directly reveals the character trait being analyzed), directness (minimal inferential leaps), significance (pivotal moments over casual mentions), and richness (showing rather than telling). To support the claim that Mara demonstrates compassion, the strongest evidence is "Mara pulled the gloves out anyway. 'They'll help someone more than they help me,' she said, and slid them into the box..." This quote combines dialogue and action showing compassion specifically: she gives away her only new possession (significant sacrifice), she articulates her reasoning showing concern for others' needs over her own ("help someone more than they help me"), and she acts despite the personal cost (knowing her brother needs gloves too). This is stronger evidence than "Mara kept her hood up" (shows she's cold but not compassionate), "Inside, the air smelled like paper" (setting description unrelated to compassion), or "her fingers stung in the cold" (shows consequence but the compassionate act already occurred). Choice C provides the strongest, most direct textual support showing Mara actively choosing to help others at personal sacrifice. Choice A provides setting details but doesn't relate to compassion, Choice B describes the library atmosphere without character revelation, and Choice D shows the physical consequence of her action but the compassionate deed itself appears in Choice C.
Question 17
The gym smelled like floor wax and old banners. Mara stood near the trophy case, turning the cracked silver medal over and over in her palm. "It's not even mine," she muttered.
Coach Duran's clipboard snapped shut. "Then why keep carrying it?"
Mara's eyes flicked toward the bleachers where Jay sat alone, pulling the sleeve of his hoodie over his hand. "Because if it's in my pocket, it can't end up in someone else's."
Coach waited.
Mara swallowed. Last week, Jay had missed the final shot and the crowd had groaned like one creature. Afterward, someone taped a note to his locker: YOU RUINED IT. Mara had seen the note first. She had ripped it down, crumpled it, and, without thinking, slipped her own medal from freshman year into Jay's locker with a sticky note that read, For when you forget you belong here.
Now she stared at the trophy case as if it could answer for her. "If they find out I did that," she said, "they'll say I'm babying him."
Coach Duran's voice softened. "Or they'll say you remembered what teams are for."
Which quote best supports the inference that Mara is compassionate toward Jay?
- Mara's eyes flicked toward the bleachers where Jay sat alone, pulling the sleeve of his hoodie over his hand.
- The crowd had groaned like one creature after Jay missed the final shot and someone taped a note to his locker.
- She slipped her own medal into Jay's locker with a note reading, "For when you forget you belong here." (correct answer)
- "It's not even mine," she muttered, turning the cracked silver medal over and over in her palm by the trophy case.
Explanation: Compassion means caring enough to help someone feel better. The best evidence is Mara secretly giving Jay her own medal with a note telling him he belongs on the team—an action done just for his sake. Noticing Jay sitting alone and tugging his sleeve shows she sees his loneliness, but she doesn't yet do anything for him, so it is only sympathy, not compassion in action. The line about the crowd groaning and a note being taped up describes how others treated Jay cruelly; it shows the situation, not Mara's kindness. The line where she turns the medal over and mutters that it isn't hers is about her own guilt and uncertainty, not about helping Jay. Only the medal she slips into his locker directly shows compassion toward him.
Question 18
When the power went out, the apartment building became a tower of quiet. No elevator hum, no TV chatter, only the rain tapping the windows like impatient fingers.
Kira found her little brother, Omar, sitting on the hallway carpet with his knees hugged to his chest. He was staring at the dark stairwell.
"It's just a blackout," Kira said, trying to sound older than thirteen. "They'll fix it."
Omar didn't answer.
Kira remembered the last time the lights failed, sirens outside, Mom rushing them into the bathtub, Omar shaking so hard his teeth clicked.
She went back into their apartment and returned with the camping lantern Dad had left behind. She clicked it on. Warm light filled the hallway.
Omar blinked at it.
Kira sat beside him and placed the lantern between them like a small campfire. "Tell me the space facts," she said. "The ones you always know."
Omar's mouth twitched. "Okay," he whispered. "If you fall into a black hole,"
"Not that one," Kira interrupted quickly, and Omar let out a breath that sounded almost like a laugh.
Which piece of evidence most strongly supports the inference that Kira understands Omar's fear and tries to comfort him?
- Kira tried to sound older than thirteen, telling Omar it was just a blackout and that they would fix it soon.
- Kira remembered the last blackout: Mom rushing them into the bathtub, Omar shaking so hard his teeth clicked. (correct answer)
- She returned with the camping lantern her dad had left, clicked it on, and warm light filled the dark hallway.
- She placed the lantern between them and asked Omar to tell her the space facts he always seemed to know so well.
Explanation: The inference has two parts: Kira grasps WHY Omar is scared, and she acts to soothe him. The winning evidence is the memory of the earlier blackout, where Omar shook so hard his teeth clicked, because recalling that terrifying night shows she understands the real source of his fear, which is what drives everything she does next. The choice about calling it 'just a blackout' shows her trying to reassure him, but it comes before she understands how deep his fear runs. Returning with the lantern shows a comforting action, yet the light alone does not reveal that she knows the cause of his fear. Asking for the space facts is another comforting move that distracts him, but it too shows kindness without showing her understanding of the fear itself. Only the memory captures both halves of the inference at once, so it is the strongest support.
Question 19
Read the passage from a short story:
Owen loved the museum’s quiet halls because they made his thoughts sound louder, like footsteps in an empty gym. He wandered ahead of his class until he reached a glass case holding a cracked compass.
A small label read: Used on the 1911 North Ridge Expedition. Found in snow, 40 years later.
“Imagine getting lost with that,” Owen said.
Ms. Larkin appeared beside him. “Or imagine trusting it anyway,” she replied.
Owen leaned closer. The compass needle was stuck, pointing stubbornly northeast.
His friend Lena caught up and squinted at the case. “It’s broken,” she said. “Why keep it?”
Owen didn’t answer right away. In his pocket, his phone buzzed with another message from his dad: Tryouts? You sure you’re ready?
Owen read it twice, then slid the phone back without replying.
He looked again at the compass. “Maybe,” he said, “they kept it because it reminds you what happens when you pretend you’re not lost.”
Question: Which quote most strongly supports the inference that Owen is feeling uncertain about trying out for something?
- “Owen loved the museum’s quiet halls because they made his thoughts sound louder, like footsteps in an empty gym.”
- “He looked again at the compass. ‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘they kept it because it reminds you what happens when you pretend you’re not lost.’”
- “In his pocket, his phone buzzed with another message from his dad: ‘Tryouts? You sure you’re ready?’” (correct answer)
- “Owen didn’t answer right away. He leaned closer as the compass needle stayed stuck, pointing stubbornly northeast.”
Explanation: The strongest evidence is the buzzing phone message from Owen’s dad: “Tryouts? You sure you’re ready?” This is the only quote that names the tryout situation directly and shows Owen’s uncertain response—it’s “another” message, he reads it “twice,” and he slides his phone away “without replying,” all signs he’s unsure how to move forward. The line about the quiet halls making his thoughts “sound louder” tells you Owen is thinking hard, but it never reveals what he’s thinking about, so it can’t support an inference about tryouts. His comment about pretending you’re “not lost” hints at feeling uncertain in general, but it’s about the compass and being honest, not about trying out for something. The moment where he leans closer and the needle stays “stuck” builds mood and mirrors his mixed feelings, yet it describes the object, not his reaction to the tryout question. Only the dad’s text connects the specific situation (tryouts) to Owen’s hesitant behavior, making it the clearest support for the inference.
Question 20
Evan found the key on the windowsill the first day they moved in. It was brass, shaped like a leaf, and it didn't match any lock in the house. His dad laughed. "Probably old junk," he said, and tossed it into the kitchen drawer.
That night, the wind worried the eaves like fingers tapping. Evan lay awake listening to the house settle. Somewhere downstairs, something clicked, soft and careful.
In the morning, the kitchen drawer was open an inch.
Evan didn't tell his dad. He slipped the key into his pocket before school. All day it warmed against his leg, heavy as a secret.
After dinner, he tested the basement door. It was always stuck, painted shut by years of landlord fixes, but tonight it opened with a sigh.
The stairs smelled of damp stone. At the bottom, a door Evan had never seen waited in the dark, its lock a perfect leaf.
Which detail from earlier in the text most strongly foreshadows Evan discovering a hidden door?
- "His dad laughed. 'Probably old junk,' he said," dismissing the strange object he had tossed into the kitchen drawer.
- "Evan found the key on the windowsill the first day," a brass object that "didn't match any lock in the house." (correct answer)
- "All day it warmed against his leg," a heavy weight he carried "like a secret he was keeping" from his father.
- "The stairs smelled of damp stone," a cold, unfamiliar scent that met him as he made his way down them.
Explanation: Foreshadowing is an early hint that prepares you for what comes later. The best answer points to the key that "didn't match any lock in the house" — that mismatch plants a question the story later answers when Evan finds a door with a matching lock. It looks ahead, so it foreshadows. The choice about the dad calling the key "junk" only shows a character brushing the object aside; it hints at nothing to come. The choice about the key warming against Evan's leg reveals his nerves and the secret he's keeping, but tension is not the same as a clue about a hidden door. The choice about the stone-smelling stairs is sensory scene-setting once he is already descending; it describes the moment rather than hinting at what lies below. Only the unmatched key raises a lingering question that the ending resolves.