We were supposed to brandish the foam sword like knights, but halfway through rehearsal, the hilt peeled off with a sad snap. Elena stared at the dangling tape. "Ms. Kline, the prop broke," she called. "We can't do the duel scene like this." Marcus and I had practiced all week in the gym after school. "We'll stall with lines," I whispered, but my mouth went dry when the piano cue started. Ms. Kline rubbed her temples. "Take it from Scene Four," she said. The curtain swished, lights warming our faces. Elena stepped forward bravely. "Halt, intruder!" she cried, lifting the floppy sword. The audience of parents and siblings was small, but every cough echoed. Marcus shifted his stance, looking at me. He opened his mouth, then closed it. It was kind of tense and then something happened quickly. I tried to improvise, but my words came out like tangled string as the sword sagged lower.

Which sentence best adds dialogue that shows character at the moment the prop breaks?

Jay, Noor, and I squeezed into the crowd at the fun run start, our elbows brushing bright shirts. "Stay on the outside," Noor said. "Less traffic." The whistle squeaked, and the pack lurched forward like a single animal. Sneakers slapped pavement; someone's dog barked twice. We laughed, weaving past a stroller. A boy in a cape zoomed by, cape flapping like a noisy flag. We turned onto the gravel path by the creek. I could smell mud and summer weeds. People were talking a lot and then later it was different. My breath grew steady; my cheeks cooled in the shade. "You good?" Jay puffed, falling into step beside me. "Yeah," I said, checking the wooden footbridge ahead. The path curved past the ball fields, empty except for one groundskeeper dragging a rake across the infield. A crow scolded us from the fence as we pushed the last hill. At the finish, Noor whooped and flung water drops into the air.

Which sentence best clarifies the shift from the noisy start to the quieter middle mile while improving pacing?

Mia adjusted the tri-fold board while Dev set the vinegar bottle behind their papier-mâché volcano. "When the judge stops, you do the intro," Dev whispered. Mia nodded, wiping glue from her fingers onto a napkin. "Good afternoon," she began as the woman with the clipboard smiled. "Our question was how changing baking soda amounts affects eruption height." Dev poured the red liquid into a measuring cup, hands trembling a little. "Ready?" he asked. "Ready," Mia said. The cafeteria hummed with other projects; strings of lights made the trophies sparkle. Dev tipped the cup and the volcano did its thing. It looked cool. The judge leaned closer, pen hovering. "What do you notice?" she asked. "Uh," Mia said, thinking of their data table, the messy ones where they spilled. "The reaction is fast." Dev nodded, glancing at the paper towels they'd stacked under the cardboard mountain. A second bubble burped at the crater's edge, and Mia bit her lip, waiting for their moment to shine.

Which detail best replaces the flat description to make the eruption more vivid?

Grandma sprinkled flour over the wooden table like snow. "Hands clean?" she asked. "Yes, chef," I said, and she laughed, dimples deepening. We measured warm water, watched the yeast bloom like tiny clouds. "Listen," she said, holding the bowl close. It made a faint fizzing sound. I stirred while she told me about learning to bake in a kitchen with a cracked window and a radio that only played one station. "Now knead," she said, guiding my palms. The dough pushed back, soft and stubborn. "Talk to it," Grandma teased. "Tell it what you want." "Rise, please," I told it, and she clapped once. The house smelled toasty when we slid the loaves into the oven. We set the timer and washed bowls, and then the bread was done and we took it out and put it on the rack. Steam curled into the afternoon light. We cleaned up. That was all.

Which sentence provides a reflective conclusion that follows from the events?

Maya adjusted the cardboard mountain on her volcano model as families drifted through the gym. "Careful with the wires," her little brother warned, craning to peek at the battery. Their neighbor, Mrs. Ortiz, smiled. "Going to blow us away, Maya?" Maya laughed. "Just a small eruption." The gym was big and noisy. Somewhere a squeaky cart rolled by. The announcement bell chimed, and two judges in blue lanyards started toward her table. Maya's palms prickled. "Okay, remember the order," she whispered to herself, tapping the baking soda packet in her pocket. A judge cleared his throat. "Tell us about your variables." Maya began, "I tested different vinegar amounts to see how it changed height." She lifted the beaker and poured. Foam surged over the rim. Her brother cheered. The judges scribbled. Maya kept talking, pointing to her chart. The moment felt important, and she wanted them to see how much she worked.

Which sentence best adds a vivid sensory detail to strengthen the setting before the judges arrive?

Jamal jogged down Maple Street, a crumpled flyer in his fist. "Poppy!" he called, trying to keep his voice steady. Mrs. Lin stepped onto her porch. "Still missing?" He nodded. "She slipped out when the screen door stuck." "Check behind the bakery," she said. "She loves crumbs." Jamal cut across the park, weaving between picnic tables. A skateboard rattled past. "You seen a little terrier?" he asked. The kid shrugged. He checked the creek; dragonflies stitched the surface. He kept moving. A car door thumped somewhere. Poppy liked to chase birds, and sometimes she hid under benches. He headed toward Main, heart thudding. Later, he spotted something by the mural and hurried. A breeze lifted old leaves along the curb. "Poppy?" He crouched and peered. Just a grocery bag. He straightened, throat tight. His phone buzzed. Dad: Any luck? Jamal stared down the block, past the bakery's dark window, and made himself keep going.

Which revision best clarifies the shift from the park in late afternoon to downtown in early evening?

On the auditorium floor, Noor balanced her script on her knees while the stage crew lowered a painted moon. "Places!" Mr. Rivera called. Ben, playing the prince, paced. "I always forget line three," he muttered. Noor nudged him. "We'll trade panic for practice," she said, grinning. The overture crackled from an old speaker. They stepped into the light. Noor climbed the cardboard tower and looked down at the empty rows. She delivered her first lines, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice. Ben reached the cue where he was supposed to ask for forgiveness. He lifted his hands, then paused. Noor replied with the next line anyway, filling the space. The scene kept moving, and the moon turned slowly, making a circle of light on the floor. Mr. Rivera scribbled notes. At the end, the cast gathered at the edge of the stage, breathing hard. The moment between them stayed fuzzy and didn't show how they felt.

Which sentence best adds dialogue that shows Ben's character during the forgiveness moment?

Liz clipped her helmet strap and rolled her bike to the starting chalk. "Pace, not panic," Coach said, tapping two fingers to his temple. Theo grinned from the next lane. "See you at the finish!" A whistle blew. Liz pushed off, legs burning as the hill rose. The course veered along the river, wind tugging at her sleeves. "Cadence, cadence," she breathed. A rider ahead wobbled; Liz swung wide. At the bridge, Coach shouted, "Shift now!" She clicked gears; the climb smoothed just enough. Theo's back wheel flashed near the turn cone. "On your left!" she called, and they laughed as they traded places. The last stretch unspooled across the parking lot. Spectators clapped. Her lungs felt like paper. She crossed the line and coasted to a stop, head light. "Nice finish," Theo panted. "You too," she said. She stood there for a second, looking around. Then they walked to get water.

Which line would best replace the last sentence to provide a reflective conclusion?

Maya balanced the papier-mâché volcano on a cafeteria tray while her cousin Leo hovered beside her. 'Careful,' he said, 'the baking soda is already in there.' The gym was big and nice. Posters wobbled on the walls, and waxed floors made our sneakers squeak. When the announcer called their names, Maya set the tray on the table and nodded to Leo. He poured the vinegar dyed red. Foam puffed up, then more, then more, and Maya laughed. She turned to the crowd and tried to explain their measurements, but her voice tangled with the noise from other tables. A teacher leaned in, smiling. 'Speak up, scientists.' The lava looked cool. Maya took a breath and started again, slower this time, and the clapping around them thinned into separate sounds. Leo wiped a spill with a napkin, their hands bumping, and the volcano kept bubbling as if it were breathing. Somewhere, a whistle blew.

Which sentence best adds a vivid, sensory detail to strengthen the scene?

By late afternoon, the library windows held the last square of sun. I traced history dates while my brother Rene whispered, 'Five more pages, and we're free.' Aunt Rosa shelved books nearby, her cart squeaking like a cricket. When the lights flickered, the librarian called, 'Ten minutes.' I underlined 1865 and snapped my notebook shut. Rene stretched. We packed our bags. Suddenly we were on the bus, and the driver's mirror showed his eyebrows like seagull wings. Rene drummed the seat. 'We actually did it,' he said. 'No more procrastination.' I laughed and pressed my forehead to the cold glass. The town drifted by in smudges: bakery, mural, and the empty lot where the carnival would set up next week. Rene's phone chimed, and he frowned at a message. 'Coach moved practice to the morning.' I wanted to say something helpful, but the words stayed tangled, as if tied to that square of sun back in the library.

Which sentence best clarifies the shift in time and place between the library and the bus?