The Trail - 7th Grade

Which quotation supports the idea that the narrator underestimated how difficult hiking the trail would be?

• “I was twenty-three years old, at the height of my athleticism—and the height of my ego.” (paragraph 6)

• “I thought hiking the Appalachian Trail would be a fun summer activity, something to add to my list of bragging rights and gold stars.” (paragraph 6)

• “I had just completed my final year of business school and needed a change of pace before starting my life as a ‘real adult.’” (paragraph 7)

• “Nothing scared me more than those two words.” (paragraph 7)

How does the author use the setting of the passage to develop the plot?

• by describing how the woods required extensive preparation for the hiking trip

• by establishing the story in a location with which most readers would be familiar

• by explaining how facing the challenging elements of the wilderness transformed the narrator

  internally

• by showing how a change of setting throughout the passage influenced the relationships

  between characters

Which statement best explains the narrator’s conflicting viewpoints?

• The narrator prefers luxury over simplicity, but he does not enjoy being employed in the business world.

• The narrator enjoyed his experience on the trail, but he does not recommend that other people attempt to hike it.

• The narrator’s time on the trail was extremely challenging, but the experience was valuable to his personal development.

• The narrator’s life was transformed by his time on the trail, but he still wishes he had not faced the challenges he encountered on the trail.

Which meaning is conveyed by the author’s use of the phrase “still so green” in paragraph 7?

• The narrator is inexperienced.

• The narrator is eager to learn.

• The narrator is jealous of others.

• The narrator is interested in plants.

What does the use of the phrase worldly comforts reveal about the narrator?

• He is eager to live with minimal provisions.

• He is accustomed to living a pleasurable life.

• He prefers to do things completely independently.

• He enjoys having power and influence over others.

Which quotation portrays the narrator's shift in his view of himself?

• “I was in total awe of the sights I’d seen and the challenges I’d endured.” (paragraph 9)

• “When it snowed in the mountains so hard I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face, I was able

  to find a cave to shelter in.” (paragraph 10)

• “Being in the woods for that long is a bit of a spiritual experience as well as a physical one, some

  would say.” (paragraph 11)

• “I finally knew I could survive on my own, both in terms of survival skills and in my understanding

  of the world and my place within it.” (paragraph 12)

In these passages, “The Appalachian Trail: An Adventure of a Lifetime” ​ (a)   , while "The Trail" ​ (b)  

• describes the experiences of several different peo
• is a first-person account by an unnamed author
• is structured as a narrative
• inspires people to become trail angels
• is meant to persuade all readers to hike the trail
• is written to inform
• intends to dissuade people from hiking it
• emphasizes how trail angels help to keep hikers al