Paired Text: “Next on Stage” and “With Good Reason”

Use “Next on Stage” to answer question.

1 How does the author build suspense in paragraph 12?

• A. By having Vincent question his resolve

• B By describing Vincent squinting at the audience

• C By causing Vincent to reveal his physical discomfort

• D By providing details about the audience

Use “Next on Stage” to answer question.

Which definition best matches the way the word break is used in paragraph 13?

break \brāk\ v

1. to divide into pieces 2. to snap off

3. to fail to fulfill 4. to lessen the force

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Use “Next on Stage” to answer question.

How does seeing his mother in the audience in paragraph 15 affect Vincent?

• A It causes him to remember their conversation.

• B It gives him confidence to perform.

• C It makes him feel nervous.

• D It helps him understand how to fail gracefully.

Use “Next on Stage” to answer question.

4 Read this sentence from paragraph 2.

"An impending epic tragedy, that’s what it was."

Why does the author use a metaphor in this sentence?

• A To reveal that Vincent is feeling insecure about the talent show

• B To show that Vincent has mixed emotions about how he will perform

• C To establish a connection between the talent show and a book Vincent has been reading

• D To compare Vincent’s upcoming performance to a previous performance

Use “With Good Reason” to answer question.

What is the best summary of the text?

• A Varsha and her father have a serious discussion about the necessity of apps. Her father wants her to

  focus more on the family business and managing the motel. Varsha disagrees but decides her father

  will never agree with her.

• B Varsha has a brilliant idea to create a scheduling app for the students at her school similar to the

  reservation program used at her family’s motel.

• C Varsha wants the students at her school to be more successful, so she works on creating a

  scheduling app for her school

• D Varsha is developing a scheduling app for students at her school. Her father is uncertain about

  her idea until she reminds him that the app is similar to the online reservation system used at the

  family’s motel.

Use “With Good Reason” to answer question.

Varsha’s​ ​ (a)   influences the resolution of the text because it causes her to ​ ​ (b)  

• commitment to her idea
• convince her father to believe in her idea.
• trouble expressing herself
• affection for her father
• accept her father’s outdated ideas.
• understand her father’s mistrust.

Use “With Good Reason” to answer questions

Read this dictionary entry for the word odd.

odd \ŏd\ adj

1. deviating from what is ordinary 2. being one of an incomplete pair

3. remote or out-of-the-way 4. happening infrequently

Which definition best matches the way the word odd is used in paragraph 3?

• A. Definition 1

• B. Definition 2

• C. Definition 3

• D. Definition 4

Use “With Good Reason” to answer question.

Read this sentence from the first paragraph.

“App,” Varsha’s father said, the word tasting terrible in his mouth.

Why does the author use figurative language in this sentence?

• A To stress Varsha’s father’s confusion about what his daughter is creating

• B To emphasize Varsha’s father’s negative feelings about the scheduling app

• C To show that Varsha’s father is unsure about the pronunciation of the word

• D To reveal that Varsha’s father has eaten something rotten

Use “Next on Stage” and “With Good Reason” to answer questions.

How are Vincent and Varsha similar?

• A They are both willing to help with the family business.

• B They both want to make their parents proud.

• C They both convince parents that their ideas are reasonable.

• D They are both working on school projects.

Use “Next on Stage” and “With Good Reason” to answer questions.

What is a theme of both “Next on Stage” and “With Good Reason”?

• A Trust those who have your best interest at heart.

• B Communication is a powerful tool.

• C People who are afraid of change rarely try new things.

• D Accomplish your goals with conviction.