How We See Things

Part A
What can be inferred about the setting of the story?

• • It is a small, rural town.

• • It is a crowded urban area.

• • It is a coastal fishing village.

• • It is a growing industrial city.

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Part B
Which three sentences from the story best support the inference made in Part A?

• • "The road leading out of town stretched endlessly before her, the only road she had known since childhood." (Paragraph 3)

• • "The streets were empty, as if the town itself was still asleep, unaware that she was going." (Paragraph 4)

• • "Mr. Evans was already there, leaning against his car." (Paragraph 5)

• • "She thought of the quiet mornings, the familiar faces, the life she had always known." (Paragraph 8)

• • "The bus arrived, its brakes hissing as it slowed to a stop." (Paragraph 6)

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Read the excerpt from paragraph 4

“The streets were empty, as if the town itself was still asleep, unaware that she was going.”

What does the phrase "the town itself was still asleep" suggest about Clara’s feelings toward her town?

• • She feels anxious about leaving the town.

• • She believes the town is peaceful and welcoming.

• • She thinks the town will miss her when she leaves.

• • She feels the town is indifferent to her departure.

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Read the excerpt from paragraph 8:
“She thought of the quiet mornings, the familiar faces, the life she had always known.”

What is the connotative meaning of "the life she had always known" as it is used in this excerpt?

• exciting

• routine

• glamorous

• unpredictable

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What tone is established by the descriptions of the setting in paragraphs 1–4?

• tense

• reflective

• joyous

• bitter

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Which three sentences from the story best reveal Clara’s motivations?

• • She had packed her suitcase the night before, tucking in her favorite books and the small framed photograph of her family. (Paragraph 2)

• • When she reached the stop, Mr. Evans was already there, leaning against his car. (Paragraph 4)

• Clara hesitated, then climbed aboard. (Paragraph 6)

• She was no longer imagining—she was leaving. (Paragraph 4)

• • The world outside was still, except for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. (Paragraph 3)

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What can the reader infer from Clara’s thoughts and actions as she prepares to leave her town? Select two.

• • She feels excited about the opportunities that await her.

• • She is deeply connected to her hometown and will miss it greatly.

• • She believes leaving is a necessary step for her personal growth.

• • She is unsure if she is making the right decision to leave.

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Which quotation from the text best supports the inference that the story is set in the 20th century?

• • “The world outside was still, except for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.” (Paragraph 1)

• • “The familiar houses, the old grocery store with its chipped paint, the post office where she used to wave at Mr Bradley.” (Paragraph 4)

• • "She remembered walking it on cool autumn afternoons, crunching the leaves beneath her feet..." (Paragraph 3)

• “The bus arrived, its brakes hissing as it slowed to a stop.” (Paragraph 6)

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Which line of the poem best supports the theme that dreams can be both uplifting and burdensome?

• line 8

• line 10

• line 15

• line 25

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Read lines 3–5 of the poem.
For the bright, we reach high, sometimes they flicker like fireflies and leave not a mark but a glow.

The poet’s juxtaposition of contrasting images in line 5 emphasizes —

• the fleeting nature of dreams

• • the importance of pursuing dreams

• • the confusion that dreams can create

• the dual nature of dreams

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