As the curtain rustled, Maya's hands trembled. The bright lights made the stage feel like a cliff's edge. She stared at the first row and forgot the opening line. Then she remembered Grandma's whisper from last night: "Breathe and find your voice." Maya took one slow breath. Her heartbeat slowed, and the line returned like a friend. She stepped forward, lifted her chin, and spoke clearly. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as the audience leaned in to listen.

Student draft paragraph: In this scene, Maya changes from nervous to confident. My paragraph needs one sentence that uses a detail from the text to prove she was nervous at first.

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to show that Maya was nervous at the beginning?

Beavers are engineers of the river world. Using branches, mud, and stones, they build dams that stretch across streams. These dams slow rushing water into calm ponds where beavers can swim safely and hide their homes. The new ponds also collect silt, creating muddy bottoms where plants take root. When spring rains come, the ponds spread water into nearby meadows, keeping them wet longer. Scientists have found that these changes help fish and birds by making more places to feed and nest.

Student draft paragraph: The author argues that beavers change their environment to make it safer. I need to add a sentence that uses evidence from the article.

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to support the idea that beaver dams create safer homes?

Snow powdered the pines until every branch sagged. The path was a white ribbon that kept disappearing under drifts. Luis pulled his scarf tighter and tested each step with a stick. The wind bit through his coat and made his eyes water, but the cabin roof finally appeared between the trees. He knelt to clear the latch, brushing away a crust of ice with his sleeve. Inside, he stacked kindling by the stove, saving the thick logs for later when the cold would press harder.

Student draft paragraph: The setting is harsh winter, and Luis adapts to it. I need a sentence that uses a detail from the text to prove the cold was intense.

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to show the setting is harsh and cold?

At a recycling center, machines do much of the sorting, but they work best when people put items in the right bins at home. Conveyor belts carry cans, paper, and plastic past spinning wheels and air jets that push different materials into separate piles. When glass or food waste is mixed in, the belts can jam and workers must stop the line to clean. Each pause slows the process and costs time. Proper sorting means cleaner materials and faster work for the whole system.

Student draft paragraph: The author explains that sorting at home helps the recycling center work better. I need to add a sentence that uses evidence to support this point.

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to explain why sorting matters?

Passage: Maya waited behind the curtain, tapping her foot to the beat of the orchestra tuning up. Her script felt soft at the corners from so much practice. She peeked through a gap; faces floated in the dim theater, and she could make out even the last row. Her mouth felt dry, but she drew a long breath and let it out slowly. "I can do this," she whispered, then stepped forward into the warm stage lights as the music began.

Student Draft: In this scene, Maya starts out nervous but shows growing courage right before the play begins. I need to include a sentence from the passage to prove she becomes braver. [Insert evidence from the passage here.]

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to complete the draft?

Passage: Clouds piled over the fields like gray hills, and the wind bent the tall grass until it laid flat. A first fat drop darkened the dust, then the porch boards creaked as the gusts lifted and fell. Thunder rolled like a drum across the valley. The rain came in sheets, rinsing the air. After a while, the storm drifted on. The air smelled like fresh earth, and the creek chattered again along the stones. The farmhouse windows gleamed, speckled with beads of water.

Student Draft: The setting makes a calm, fresh mood after the storm. I should add a sentence that shows what the place is like once the rain has passed. [Insert evidence from the passage here.]

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to complete the draft?

Passage: Bees share news about food using a waggle dance. Inside the hive, a forager shakes her body while tracing a small figure-eight. The angle of the waggle line points toward the sun, telling nestmates which direction to fly. The distance to the flowers is shown by how long the waggle lasts. In one study, when the dance lasted longer, the bees flew farther to find the patch. Researchers watched the recruits leave and confirmed that both the angle and the duration guided them.

Student Draft: The author gives reasons and evidence to explain the bees' dance. I want to support the point that the dance tells distance. [Insert evidence from the passage here.]

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to complete the draft?

Passage: At several middle schools, the start time moved 45 minutes later for one semester. Researchers surveyed students before and after the change. After the shift, students reported feeling less sleepy in morning classes. Attendance records also improved: tardiness dropped 20 percent compared with the previous term. A principal noted that visits to the nurse for headaches went down. The author uses these results to argue that later start times help students focus because more sleep leads to better alertness and on-time arrivals.

Student Draft: The author claims that starting school later helps students pay attention. I need to include a sentence with evidence from the article. [Insert evidence from the passage here.]

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to complete the draft?

Passage (literature): The wind kept tugging at Mia's kite, yanking it sideways until it dove into the grass again. Mia brushed dirt from the paper and tightened the knots with steady fingers. "I'm not giving up," she muttered, checking the tail one more time. Her friend Luis suggested they play a different game, but Mia shook her head. She studied the sky, waited for a calmer gust, then ran, feet thudding, arms high. The kite wobbled, dipped, and finally lifted, and Mia laughed, breathless and proud. Student draft: Mia is a determined character who keeps trying even when her first attempts fail. [evidence needed]

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to support the student's idea?

Passage (informational): Community gardens help schools in several ways. First, tending plants teaches responsibility: students water, weed, and record growth. Second, gardens encourage healthy eating; when children grow lettuce and tomatoes, they are more willing to try salads. Finally, a small study at three schools found that classes with gardens spent more time outdoors and reported feeling calmer. Even on rainy days, teachers used indoor planters to discuss life cycles. These experiences turn science vocabulary into real-life observation and build teamwork. Student draft: The author argues that school gardens benefit students by teaching skills and improving habits. [evidence needed]

Which sentence best uses evidence from the passage to support the student's claim?