Playing the Field

What does the interaction between Mom and the boys show about her?

• Mom is eager to help the narrator with his request.

• Mom tries to consider everyone’s feelings when making decisions

• Mom is angry that she has to give up her office for the narrator.

• Mom expects her children to act perfectly at all times.

In paragraph 8, the word concessions refers to something that is —

• created by accident

• decided without much thought

• kept in a special area

• done in order to come to an agreement

What is the best summary of paragraphs 1 through 19 of the story?

• A The narrator helps clean the table because he wants his own room. He is upset to hear that he will have to be the one to change rooms. He suggests that his brother would like a new room with his own decorations. He reminds his mother that Kirk really enjoys trains.

• B The narrator asks his mother if she and his father talked about moving Kirk into a different room. The mother considers that Kirk might like to decorate a new room. She mentions trains to Kirk. Kirk becomes excited and thinks they are going somewhere with trains.

• C The narrator thinks of a plan that will make his brother happy and allow them both to have their own rooms. His mother says that Kirk should stay in the room he is currently in. She explains that he has always been in that room and would be more comfortable there.

• D The narrator tries to be helpful so he can get his own room. He becomes upset when his mother says that he will have to move into the office. He tells his mother that Kirk would enjoy the new room. She talks to Kirk, but Kirk refuses to move out of their current room.

Read this sentence from paragraph 21.

Since when has reason solved anything in the world?

This sentence suggests that the narrator believes —

• F his parents do not understand why he wants his own room

• G he is unlikely to get the outcome he wants

• H his brother is too young to understand what is being asked of him

• J he has the same problem as many of his friends

Which event occurs as a result of the narrator’s conversation with Kirk?

• A Kirk decides he would enjoy having trains in his room.

• B The narrator realizes that sharing a room with Kirk is not all bad.

• C Kirk becomes excited about moving his bed into the office.

• D Dad is unhappy that the narrator tried to scare Kirk.

How are the narrator and Kirk similar?

• F. Both are determined to get what they want.

• G Both enjoy sharing stories about hidden treasures.

• H Both feel their parents do not understand them.

• J Both know the best way to trick each otherk.