Hidden Talent

Which excerpt from the story uses a simile to compare two unlike things?

• “The early autumn air was crisply chilled and spicy with fragrant wafts of earth and leaves.”

• “Adam was a blur of legs as he orbited around the last lap of the track to the seismic thunder of cheers.”

• “As Adam burst across the finish line, the spectators rose to their feet like a mighty ocean wave”

• “Corey felt an unspoken quiver of longing to be the one”

Which word best describes Corey’s grandfather?

• compassionate, because he understands Corey's concerns

• generous, because he allows Corey to assist him in the garden

• insightful, because he recognizes the impact of Corey's help on others

• motivated, because he asks for Corey's help in the garden every weekend

Which statement from the passage best captures the problem in the story?

• “Corey's sister had just finished performing an amazing rendition of a top-of-the-charts song, and it seemed to Corey that she sang it better than anyone in the entire universe could have.”

• “He wondered what it would be like to be up on stage in the beam of the spotlight, the recipient of bravos and accolades, but could think of no special talent he had to offer.”

• “The next week Corey sat in the bleachers with his mother and Emma cheering on his older brother, Adam, at the All-City Race.”

• “As he did most Saturdays, Corey was to help his grandfather at the community gardens, an acre of tilled soil the city had reserved on the outskirts of town for use by citizens who did not have yards and wanted to grow their own vegetables.”

Which event in the passage leads to Corey’s change of attitude about himself?

• Corey helps the others in the garden.

• Grandfather says the carrots are ready.

• Grandfather tells Corey he is proud of him.

• The neighbors wave goodbye when Corey leaves.

. Read this sentence from the story.

Adam was a blur of legs as he orbited around the last lap of the track to the seismic thunder of cheers.

Which effect do the underlined words have on the meaning of the sentence?

• They exaggerate the reaction of the spectators to Adam’s performance.

• They foreshadow a storm that will interrupt the race.

• They describe the rumblings of a nearby volcano

• They compare Adam’s speed to an eruption.

Which sentence from the story best represents the theme?

• It made him feel special when his grandfather patted his shoulder and said, ‘Thank you, Son. I really appreciate your help

• “A beautiful orange carrot emerged, almost magically, from the dirt, like some kind of edible buried treasure.”

• “A glow of warmth spread inside Corey, and for some reason he found himself thinking of the carrots they had harvested, whose true bounty lay hidden beneath the surface of the earth.”

• “Then he thought of his sister’s acclaimed performance and his brother’s winning run, and deep down inside he could almost hear applause and cheers.”

Which sentence best expresses a theme in the passage?

• Not all talents are obvious, but all are valuable.

• Time and effort are necessary to develop talents.

• Not everyone is created equal, but everyone is loved.

• Serving and helping create more happiness than competing.

How is the garden relevant to Corey’s problem?

• Corey shows his talent is his knowledge about gardens.

• Corey realizes that he prefers to be in the garden where it is quiet.

• Corey volunteers to help others with their gardens before anyone asks.

• Corey shares with his grandfather why helping in the garden feels good.