By the time the sun slid behind the pines, my cousin Leo and I had our tent staked and a small fire popping. The air smelled like pine sap and smoke, and the sky deepened from peach to purple. We clinked our metal spoons against the pot of noodle soup and laughed when a moth tried to land on Leo's hat. When the stars began to show, we set our bowls on a log and listened to the creek tumble over rocks. Then a sudden rustle came from the blackberry bushes near the edge of the campsite. Leo froze. I clicked on my flashlight and stepped toward the bushes. A striped face blinked at us, and the rustle turned into a scurry. We exhaled at the same time and watched the raccoon disappear. We went back to the fire, a little jumpy but grinning, and added another log, promising to tie up the trash this time.

Which sentence would best be added after the sentence "I clicked on my flashlight and stepped toward the bushes." to develop the narrator's experience at that moment?

On the day of the talent show, my stomach felt like a shaken soda can. Rina and I had practiced our hip-hop routine a hundred times in the gym, but the stage looked bigger and darker than the practice room. After homeroom, I kept tapping the rhythm on my desk while she stretched her wrists and ankles. By late afternoon, families filled the folding chairs, and the red curtain rippled like a quiet wave. Backstage, we tried to get ourselves ready before our names were called, but my brain kept skipping steps and the hallway buzzed with whispers. The band finished, the audience clapped, and the stage lights warmed the edge of the curtain. Finally, the curtain rose.

To complete the backstage moment, the following sentences are jumbled. What is the most logical order of these sentences? 1) Rina checked the battery in her portable speaker. 2) The stage manager whispered that we had five minutes. 3) I tightened my shoelaces and wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans. 4) We lined up behind the silver taped Xs on the floor.

Snow drifted across our street in lazy swirls, softening the edges of parked cars. I hurried, thinking I had time, but the sidewalk under the powder was slick, and I slid, windmilling, before landing on my knee with a small thud. My neighbor Mr. Alvarez leaned from his porch and asked if I was okay. I nodded, laughing a little because it was more surprise than pain, and he offered me a hand. We scraped a path with his old metal shovel, the scrape-scrape echoing in the cold air, and my breath puffed like short clouds. A few other kids gathered at the corner, stamping their boots and comparing soggy gloves. I checked the end of the block, but the bus was nowhere yet. Somewhere down the street, a dog barked, and the faint rumble of the bus finally grew louder.

Which sentence would best conclude the narrative by following from the events and reflecting on the experience?

Alex and I tested our papier-mâché volcano one last time during science class. The baking soda clumped a little, but the red-dyed vinegar bubbled over the rim just like we wanted. We wiped the table and packed our supplies into a plastic tub: bottles, funnels, food coloring, and extra paper towels. Our teacher handed us a rolling cart and nodded toward the hallway. We balanced the volcano on the top shelf and started toward the showcase. The gym was where the science fair would be held, and it was always loud on assembly days. Judges would be walking up and down, clipboards ready. Alex tried out a smile in the reflective window, and I laughed. We joined a stream of students, all guarding their inventions as if they were made of glass.

Which sentence would best connect the move from our classroom to the gym and develop the setting? Insert it between the sentences "We balanced the volcano on the top shelf and started toward the showcase." and "The gym was where the science fair would be held, and it was always loud on assembly days."

By the time my mom and I rolled my project board into the gym, the fluorescent lights were already humming. I tucked the corners of a blue tablecloth under my display and lined up the paint-splattered volcano I'd built from cardboard and clay. Across the aisle, someone's model of the solar system spun slowly on a string; the squeak of its motor blended with the echo of footsteps as judges made their first rounds. I checked my list: baking soda in the crater, dish soap for bubbles, a squeeze bottle of red-tinted vinegar. When the announcer welcomed everyone, my stomach fluttered like the paper flags hanging from the rafters. A judge stopped, smiled, and asked me to demonstrate. I unscrewed the bottle and poured. The mixture began to foam, climbing the crater's rim. [At this moment, I need a clearer description of what I see and feel.]

Which sentence would best develop the narrator's experience at the moment the volcano erupts?

Luis said the trail would be easy, but the path from the parking lot tilted upward right away. Pines crowded close and left damp shadows on the dirt. I tried to breathe in steady counts as we climbed switchbacks. When we heard water ahead, Luis grinned and said we were getting close to the overlook. A narrow creek braided across the trail, clear enough that I could see pebbles glittering on the bottom. I wanted to cross without soaking my socks. Use these four sentences to describe what happened after we reached the creek:

I. I stretched my foot toward a flat stone, using my arms to balance.

II. My boot slid on a slick patch, and icy water splashed over my ankle.

III. Luis tossed me a fallen branch, and I steadied myself before taking the next step.

IV. We reached the far bank, breathing hard but laughing.

What is the most logical order for these four sentences to complete the paragraph?

Rain hammered the bus windows so hard that the glass trembled. We were on our way to the city museum for a field trip, but for thirty minutes the highway was just a gray ribbon and red taillights. Our driver held the wheel with both hands, leaning forward, and Ms. Patel kept her voice calm as she reminded us to stay seated. Lightning stitched the clouds, and each burst froze our reflections on the wet window for a second. Jalen pressed his forehead to the glass and said he couldn't even see the exit signs. When the bus finally turned off the highway, the tires hissed over puddles in the parking lot. I could see the museum's glass doors ahead and the rain sheeting down in front of them. [Add one transition sentence here to move from being inside the bus to stepping outside.]

Which sentence would best connect the stormy ride to our arrival at the museum?

Grandma set a wooden bowl on the counter and dusted it with flour like snow. We mixed chopped cabbage, ginger, and scallions until the kitchen smelled bright and peppery. I could feel the dough soften under my palms as we kneaded, fold after fold, while Grandma told a story about making dumplings with her sister when they were my age. We rolled the wrappers into thin moons, spooned in the filling, and pinched the edges into careful pleats. Steam fogged the window above the sink, and my cheeks were warm from standing near the pot. When the timer chimed, Grandma lifted the lid, and clouds of steam curled up to the ceiling. I picked up the first dumpling with my chopsticks and waited. [Insert a concluding sentence that follows from these events and gives a satisfying close.]

Which sentence would best conclude the narrative?

I zipped my sleeping bag up to my chin and listened to the wind brush the trees. My older cousin Maya had fallen asleep, but I was too awake. Dad's lantern flickered outside the tent, and I could see a thin triangle of light on the fabric. A twig snapped near the fire ring, and the sound echoed in the quiet campground. [ADD SENTENCE HERE] I held my breath and traced the seam of the tent with my fingertip, wondering if it was just a raccoon or something larger. Another rustle came, then silence. I thought about calling for Dad, but the words stuck like peanut butter. Maya rolled over and mumbled, and I finally forced myself to peek through the zipper. It was only our backpack swaying on the hook. I laughed once, too loud in the dark, and the night settled again.

Which sentence would best develop the narrator's experience at the marked spot?

I volunteered to run sound effects for our sixth-grade play because I like pressing buttons and making things happen on cue. Before rehearsal, Ms. Patel showed me a clipboard with a neat list of scenes and a faded sticky note that said Thunder. The drama room smelled like sawdust and paint, and the actors twirled their wooden swords, practicing under the hot lights. I slid into the chair by the soundboard and felt the hum under my palms. When the battle scene started, everyone glanced toward me. These sentences need to be put in the best order to show what I did next:

1. I tested the thunder sound, and the speakers popped before the rumble faded.
2. When Jamal raised his prop sword, I circled Thunder on the cue sheet.
3. Ms. Patel gave me a thumbs-up as the actors froze, waiting for the storm.
4. I slid the volume up to five and pressed the button.

What is the most logical order for these sentences?