Lena and I hustled into the gym carrying our science fair board. "Careful with the volcano model," she laughed, balancing the box. We found our table, smoothed wrinkled paper, and taped the last graph in place. The judges were suddenly standing right in front of us. My stomach fluttered.

"Good morning," said a tall judge with silver glasses. "Tell us about your experiment."

I glanced at Lena. "We tested how different soils affect plant growth," I began, pointing to the photos. As I explained our watering schedule, Lena set the tiny pots in a row. The judge leaned closer to the measurements and nodded. Another judge asked about our errors, so I described the week our lamp burned out. Lena added, "We kept detailed notes anyway." When we finished, both judges smiled, and Lena squeezed my hand under the table.

Which transition sentence, inserted between "taped the last graph in place" and "The judges were suddenly standing right in front of us," best connects the setup to the judges arriving?

On our second night at Pine Hollow, Maya and I crept out of the tent to listen for owls. "Hear that?" she whispered. A soft hoot floated over the dark pines, then a splash from the creek made us both jump. We clicked on one flashlight and followed the sound along the pebbly bank. "I spotted tracks by the creek," I said, pointing near a patch of mud. We crouched there, listening to the water and the low wind combing the needles. "Do you think it's a raccoon?" Maya asked. I shrugged, suddenly brave and curious. We scanned the rocks, then turned back when our toes went numb with cold. Back at the fire ring, Uncle Rob looked up from his book. "Find anything?" he asked. "Maybe," I said, trying to picture the tracks again while the embers snapped.

Which sentence, added immediately after "I spotted tracks by the creek," adds the most vivid and relevant detail?

The week of the play, Mr. Diaz clapped his hands and called, "Places!" I stepped onto the taped mark and tried not to stare at the empty seats. "Project your voice," he reminded me. Jenna, in her paper crown, whispered, "You've got this," before our cue. We rehearsed the scene where my character finally forgives her brother. My cape kept catching on the chair legs, which made Jenna laugh. I practiced the line three times until it felt honest. I drew a slow breath and bowed to the crew as they dimmed the lights. The curtain rose. My mouth went dry as a roar rolled from the crowd, and a wash of gold spilled across the stage. Jenna squeezed my shoulder and grinned. "Ready?" she mouthed. I nodded, heart thudding, and stepped toward the spotlight.

Which transition best signals the shift from rehearsal to performance between "I bowed to the crew as they dimmed the lights." and "The curtain rose."?

Coach blew the whistle, and the backfield snapped awake. "Mark up!" I yelled to Zane as the other team dribbled down the wing. The ball shot across the grass, skipping over my cleats. I chased it to the corner and turned it upfield. "I'm open!" Priya called. I passed; she trapped and fired. Their goalie batted it away, and the ball popped into the air. For a heartbeat, everything went quiet. I sprinted, leaped, and headed it toward the net. It kissed the crossbar and dropped behind the line. The crowd burst into cheers so loud I felt them in my ribs. Zane grabbed me in a sweaty hug. Coach cupped his hands and shouted something I couldn't hear over the noise. Priya laughed, "You owe me that assist," and I nodded, dizzy with joy. The game ended. We won.

Which sentence best replaces the final two sentences to provide a stronger conclusion that reflects on the experience?

I tugged on the oven mitts as the timer beeped. "Careful, Jayden," Ms. Ortiz said, peeking into the oven. I slid the cupcake tray onto the counter, steam curling up. We whisked vanilla frosting while my little brother sprinkled sugar crystals everywhere. "These will sell fast," I said. We boxed the best dozen for the school fundraiser and practiced our sales pitch to the cat. I wiped flour from my face and laughed. Customers handed us dollar bills, and the line reached the gym doors. "Two for three dollars," I called, trying to sound confident. My friend Nia waved from the end of the table. "Save me one!" she shouted. I glanced at the near-empty box and felt a flutter of pride. Some frosting dotted my sleeve. Somewhere behind me, the band warmed up.

Which transition sentence should be inserted between "I wiped flour from my face and laughed." and "Customers handed us dollar bills, and the line reached the gym doors." to connect baking at home to selling at the school table?

I tightened my backpack straps as Maya pointed at the trailhead map. "Ready?" she asked. "Ready," I said, even though my stomach fluttered. We stepped under pines, the air damp and cool. Our boots thudded over roots while a creek whispered somewhere to our left. "Pace yourself," Maya reminded me when I started jogging to keep up. After three switchbacks, my legs burned, but the trees thinned, and sunlight spilled across the path. We reached a rocky outcrop and stopped. The view was nice. I leaned on my knees, catching my breath. "Worth it?" Maya grinned. I nodded, grinning back, and pulled a granola bar from my pocket. Pollen dusted the rocks in pale yellow. A hawk circled above us as the wind tugged at my cap.

Which sentence best replaces "The view was nice." to add vivid, sensory detail?

At lunch, our robotics club crowded around a tangle of wires in the tech room. "If we slow the motor, the arm won't fling the rings," I said. "Try it," Karim replied, tapping keys. The servo whirred, and the claw lowered smoothly. "Yes!" we shouted. We rehearsed our script until the bell and packed the bot into its crate. We rolled our robot onto the stage. The auditorium lights warmed my face. "Good evening," I began, spotting my science teacher in the front row. The robot hummed to life, and the claw pinched a foam ring. "Please work," I whispered. It arced neatly onto the target, and the audience burst into applause. Karim elbowed me, grinning. "We did it," he said. I exhaled a breath I hadn't noticed holding. My hands finally stopped shaking.

Which transition should begin the sentence "We rolled our robot onto the stage." to show the shift from lunch practice to the evening showcase?

The whistle pierced the cool morning as our midfield huddled. "We need the first goal," Coach said. "Got it," I told Zoey, bouncing on my toes. When the ball rolled to me, defenders closed in. "Back to you!" I called, tapping to Zoey, then sprinted into space. She sent it right back. My lungs burned. I kicked it hard. The keeper stepped forward, sun flashing off her gloves. "Follow!" Zoey shouted. The crowd murmured, then rose with a gasp. The net rippled, and I skidded to my knees, laughing. "Nice shot," Zoey panted, slapping my hand. I listened to my heart slow as we jogged to the circle for the restart. Grass stains bloomed on my shins. A breeze carried the chalky smell of the lines.

Which revision best replaces the sentence "I kicked it hard." to make the action more precise and vivid?

I balanced the cardboard volcano on the cafeteria table while Lia taped the wires. "Stop shaking the table," she said, laughing. Vinegar sloshed in the bottle, and I wiped my hands on my jeans. A line of students drifted past, each project buzzing or blinking. We tested the switch. Nothing. My stomach did a slow flip.

I ducked under the table to check the battery pack. "There," I said. The little red light finally blinked on. Lia grinned. We stood up together and faced the crowd. Teachers clustered near the stage. The room hummed like a beehive. I took a breath, ready to start our demo. The lights dimmed. A spotlight found the microphone at center stage. The room held its breath. The principal raised a hand to speak.

Which transition sentence best connects the moment when the demo is about to start to the principal beginning to speak?

By the time we found the overlook, the lake was a sheet of gray glass. "One more picture," Theo said, backing up with his phone. Wind lifted the edges of my cap. I pointed at the sky. "We should head back." Thunder rolled somewhere behind the ridge. We started down the trail at a fast walk. The first drop hit my cheek.

We rounded a switchback, and the light went from silver to slate. "Okay, okay," Theo puffed, stuffing the phone into his pocket. We slid past the tall pines toward camp. Our cabin porch appeared through the trees, and I grabbed the rail. We tumbled inside, breathless, and rain hammered the steps a second later. Theo laughed, wide-eyed. "Next time," he said, "we check the weather first."

Which sentence would best be added after "The first drop hit my cheek." to add the most vivid, sensory detail?