Story Elements

For a moment, she panicked and glanced at the audience in front of her. Nadia spotted her mother in the first row. Seeing her mother made her think of home and Lucky. This time, when she looked down at the piano keys, she imagined she was at home with Lucky beside her. In that moment, her nerves settled as she forgot about the audience eagerly awaiting her performance. Now that it was just her and Lucky, she struck the first note, and the other notes just fell in line with ease. When Nadia hit the last note, she turned to the audience and smiled. Just as she did, the audience erupted in applause.

Which feeling do the words settled and ease illustrate about Nadia?

• her joy about competing in the show

• her comfort after thinking of Lucky

• her pride about playing a difficult song

• her anxiousness to finish her performance

For a moment, she panicked and glanced at the audience in front of her. Nadia spotted her mother in the first row. Seeing her mother made her think of home and Lucky. This time, when she looked down at the piano keys, she imagined she was at home with Lucky beside her. In that moment, her nerves settled as she forgot about the audience eagerly awaiting her performance. Now that it was just her and Lucky, she struck the first note, and the other notes just fell in line with ease. When Nadia hit the last note, she turned to the audience and smiled. Just as she did, the audience erupted in applause.

Which word BEST describes Nadia at the end of the story?

• scared

• puzzled

• guarded

• confident

For a moment, she panicked and glanced at the audience in front of her. Nadia spotted her mother in the first row. Seeing her mother made her think of home and Lucky. This time, when she looked down at the piano keys, she imagined she was at home with Lucky beside her. In that moment, her nerves settled as she forgot about the audience eagerly awaiting her performance. Now that it was just her and Lucky, she struck the first note, and the other notes just fell in line with ease. When Nadia hit the last note, she turned to the audience and smiled. Just as she did, the audience erupted in applause.

How did Nadia overcome her stage fright on the night of the performance?

• She practiced relentlessly beforehand.

• She chose a more complicated piece of music.

• She imagined she was at home with Lucky beside her.

• She sat down and looked at the black and white keys.

For a moment, she panicked and glanced at the audience in front of her. Nadia spotted her mother in the first row. Seeing her mother made her think of home and Lucky. This time, when she looked down at the piano keys, she imagined she was at home with Lucky beside her. In that moment, her nerves settled as she forgot about the audience eagerly awaiting her performance. Now that it was just her and Lucky, she struck the first note, and the other notes just fell in line with ease. When Nadia hit the last note, she turned to the audience and smiled. Just as she did, the audience erupted in applause.

Which type of conflict is the source of Nadia's anxiety?

• person vs. self

• person vs. person

• person vs. technology

• person vs. environment

For a moment, she panicked and glanced at the audience in front of her. Nadia spotted her mother in the first row. Seeing her mother made her think of home and Lucky. This time, when she looked down at the piano keys, she imagined she was at home with Lucky beside her. In that moment, her nerves settled as she forgot about the audience eagerly awaiting her performance. Now that it was just her and Lucky, she struck the first note, and the other notes just fell in line with ease. When Nadia hit the last note, she turned to the audience and smiled. Just as she did, the audience erupted in applause.

What is the theme of this story?

• Fighting for an important cause is rewarding.

• Being honest with oneself is important in life.

• Overcoming an obstacle can be very satisfying.

• Helping those in need is a crucial responsibility.

Which statement BEST explains how telling this story in the third-person point of view makes it more effective?

• The reader can see Nadia practice for the talent show as well as have insight into her nervousness.

• The reader hears directly from Nadia herself about how nervous she is about playing for the talent show.

• The reader gains insight into how the other piano players at the talent show prepared for the performance.

• The reader can perceive how nervous Nadia's peers were about watching her perform this difficult classical piece.

Nadia sat at the piano, tapping her shoe to keep time with the rhythm of the song she had been practicing for a month. Her dog Lucky, her biggest fan, lay near her feet. At first, Nadia had to shoo him away and distract him with his favorite toy, a blue rubber ball. But now, Lucky had found the ideal spot on the floor; close enough to be near Nadia, but far enough away that he wouldn’t disturb her playing.

How does the setting at the beginning of the story impact Nadia's performance?

• Nadia feels more confident as she imagines herself back at home with Lucky.

• Nadia becomes more and more nervous without Lucky.

• The other students boast about their performances.

• Nadia fears her home because of her dog.

Conflict begins to be worked out and tensions lessen.

• Exposition

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

Explains things that happened before the story began.

• Exposition

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

Occurs after the climax.

• Exposition

• Rising Action

• Falling Action