Subway Cat

(19) My mother shrieked about approaching strange animals and warned me. (20) The cat’s response wasn’t much better. (21) He hissed and jerked away, acting as if I had offended him. (22) Subway Cat and I never got very close to each other after that. (23) Over time we formed a sort of friendship. (24) I would stare at him. (25) He would stare at me.

Which transition word or phrase could BEST be added to the beginning of sentence 23?​ ​ ​ (a)  

• Yet
• In the same way
• For example
• Therefore

(9) Every Wednesday, my mother and I rode that same subway train. (10) We always got off at Eighth Street and walked to my piano teacher’s house. (11) On that winter’s day and every Wednesday for several months, the cat rode the same train we did. (12) He seemed to be by himself, with no one looking after him.

Tyler would like to add the following detail to the second paragraph (sentences 9–12).

It’s cold outside, but the subway is warm.

Where should Tyler insert this sentence?

• After sentence 10

• After sentence 11

• After sentence 12

• This sentence should not be added to this paragraph.

(18) One day I reached over and tried to pet him. (19) My mother shrieked about approaching strange animals and warned me. (20) The cat’s response wasn’t much better. (21) He hissed and jerked away, acting as if I had offended him.

What is the BEST way to revise sentence 19?

• My mother shrieked about approaching strange animals that warned me.

• My mother shrieked. As she warned me about approaching strange animals.

• My mother shrieked about approaching strange animals, she warned me.

• My mother shrieked and warned me about approaching strange animals.

(33) Clearly, the cat now had a human master— and he didn’t look happy about it. (34) He turned his golden eyes toward me. (35) He almost looked embarrassed.

What is the BEST way to combine sentences 34 and 35?

• He turned and his golden eyes toward me almost looked embarrassed.

• When he turned his golden eyes toward me, he almost looked embarrassed.

• Turning his golden eyes toward me, which almost looked embarrassed.

• He turned his golden eyes toward me, he almost looked embarrassed.

(38) Subway Cat was alone, lying on his usual seat and licking his paws. (39) At Eighth Street he got up and headed for the door. (40) Then he looked back, flicked his tail, and stared straight at me.

Tyler wants to add a closing sentence to his paper. Which sentence could BEST follow sentence 40 and help bring his paper to a close?

• Subway Cat seemed happy to be on his own once again.

• He was the subway cat, and now he was worried about having to find his own food.

• He carted his silly little self straight to the door.

• And that is now the end of the story about the brave little subway cat I met one day.