Analyzing Text Structure and Effects

Read the passage below and answer the question.

*"As the clock struck midnight, Sarah remembered the day her brother disappeared. The memory flashed before her eyes, making her shiver. She wondered if the strange noises she heard earlier were connected to that night."*

Imagine you’re teaming up with Charlotte, Noah, and Samuel to crack the spooky mystery in this story! Why do you think the author uses a flashback here, and how does it make the adventure even more thrilling?

• It provides background information about Sarah’s family.

• It creates a sense of mystery about her brother’s disappearance.

• It explains why Sarah is afraid of the dark.

• It describes the setting in detail.

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Abigail, Michael, and Maya discover a mysterious, shattered mirror hidden in their attic. Suddenly, spooky and unexplainable things start happening to them! Which of the following is an example of foreshadowing in a story?

• The main characters find a broken mirror and later experience bad luck.

• The author describes the weather in detail.

• The characters eat breakfast before going to school.

• The story begins with a description of the city.

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Benjamin, Michael, and Samuel are gathered around, eagerly flipping through a mystery novel that begins: "Little did anyone know, the old house on Maple Street would soon become the center of attention." What effect does this mysterious opening sentence have on readers?

• It reveals the main character’s feelings.

• It builds suspense about future events.

• It explains the history of the house.

• It describes the neighborhood.

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Imagine you’re right there with Aiden, Elijah, and Ethan, watching Zoe as she reaches for the basement door. Suddenly, Zoe remembers her father’s warning: 'Never go into the basement after dark.' Her hand shakes, and everyone holds their breath. Why do you think the author chose to remind Zoe of her father’s warning at this exact moment? How does it make things more thrilling and suspenseful for Aiden, Elijah, and Ethan as they watch?

• It makes the story more confusing.

• It increases suspense about what might happen next.

• It explains the layout of the house.

• It introduces a new character.

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James, Sophia, and Jackson are huddled together, reading a super thrilling story! Each short chapter ends with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that makes them gasp, giggle, and race to see what happens next. What effect does this exciting structure have on readers like them?

• It slows down the pace of the story.

• It creates suspense and keeps readers engaged.

• It makes the story difficult to follow.

• It provides detailed background information.

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Rohan, Hannah, and Nora are huddled under blankets, telling spooky stories by flashlight at their sleepover. Which author’s storytelling style would keep them wide-eyed, whispering wild guesses, and jumping at every twist?

• Revealing all information at the beginning.

• Using flashbacks and leaving clues throughout the story.

• Writing in chronological order without surprises.

• Describing every character in detail.

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Aiden, Ethan, and Daniel are sitting together, totally absorbed in a nail-biting mystery story. Just as the detective is about to reveal the culprit, he suddenly pauses—remembering a spine-chilling phone call from earlier that day. The caller’s voice was so creepy, it sent shivers down his spine!

How does the author’s use of a flashback make the story even more thrilling for Aiden, Ethan, and Daniel?

• It clarifies the detective’s current actions.

• It adds suspense by hinting at a possible threat.

• It describes the detective’s appearance.

• It explains the setting of the story.

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It’s way past midnight, and Mia, Charlotte, and Oliver are tiptoeing through a creaky, shadowy mansion when Mia suddenly discovers a mysterious note tucked inside her backpack. The author slyly hints that this note will be super important later in their wild adventure. Which literary device is being used here, and what effect does it have?

• Flashback; it explains the character’s past.

• Foreshadowing; it creates suspense about future events.

• Dialogue; it reveals character relationships.

• Imagery; it describes the setting.

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Isla, Zoe, and Scarlett are gathered around, totally hooked on a thrilling mystery book! Suddenly, they realize the author has jumbled up the order of events. What do you think the author was trying to do by mixing things up?

• To make the story longer.

• To create mystery or suspense for the reader.

• To introduce more characters.

• To provide more setting details.

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Emma, Abigail, and Isla are on a reading adventure! They’ve just picked up a book where—surprise!—the author spills the ending right at the very beginning. As they turn each page, they’re determined to uncover how the characters ended up in that wild finale. What effect does this playful storytelling trick have?

• It removes all suspense from the story.

• It encourages readers to focus on how events unfold.

• It confuses the reader.

• It makes the story less interesting.

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