The Shifting Walls - Third person narrative (he, she, they) (Grade 7)

What tool does the narrator state Marcus is using to try and map the shifting walls of the maze?

• A paper map and a pencil

• A small digital tablet

• A handheld compass

• A high-powered flashlight

Answer explanation

The first paragraph explicitly states, 'Marcus held up a small digital tablet, its light illuminating his focused face.' The narrator describes him using this tool to track the maze's changes.

According to the narrator, what does Marcus believe is the 'real trap' in the maze?

• The monster at the center

• The shifting walls

• Panic

• Getting lost

Answer explanation

In the fifth paragraph, Marcus directly tells Giselle, 'Panic is the real trap here.' This shows his belief that emotional control is key to solving the puzzle.

Giselle's dialogue, "It feels like this place is alive, Marcus. It's playing with us," primarily shows that her point of view is shaped by...

• her excitement for a challenge.

• her anger at Marcus for getting them lost.

• her feeling of being powerless and scared.

• her boredom with the slow pace.

Answer explanation

This dialogue, along with the narrator's description of her 'voice trembling,' indicates she feels the maze is a living, hostile entity she cannot control, which is a source of fear.

How does the narrator develop the contrast between Marcus's and Giselle's points of view?

• By showing Marcus is brave and Giselle is not.

• By describing how Marcus wants to escape but Giselle wants to explore.

• By having Giselle focus on a monster while Marcus focuses on the exit.

• By contrasting Marcus's logical approach with Giselle's emotional and intuitive one.

Answer explanation

The narrator consistently shows Marcus relying on his tablet and logic ('Machines follow rules'), while Giselle relies on her feelings and senses ('It feels like this place is alive,' 'Can't you hear that?'). This contrast is central to their characters.

What sound does the narrator say Giselle hears that she believes is not machinery?

• A giant heartbeat

• The scraping of metal walls

• Her own footsteps echoing

• The hum of electricity

Answer explanation

The passage states, 'It sounds like… a giant heartbeat.' This is what she points out to Marcus as evidence that something other than machinery is at work.

Categorize the following details from the passage based on whether they reflect Marcus's logical point of view or Giselle's fearful point of view.

Groups:

(a) Marcus's Logical Viewpoint

,

(b) Giselle's Fearful Viewpoint

• Believing the maze is a machine with rules

• Using a digital tablet to find a pattern

• Feeling like the maze is 'playing with us'

• Worrying about a monster at the center

• Insisting that 'Panic is the real trap'

• Hearing a 'giant heartbeat' in the walls

Answer explanation

The narrator develops Marcus's character through his focus on logic, rules, and tools (the tablet). Giselle's character is developed through her focus on unknown threats (the monster), sensory details (the heartbeat), and emotional responses (feeling played with).

Match each character's line of dialogue to the point of view it reveals.

• Shows a shift toward accepting another's point of view.

• "Your charts and patterns won't help us..."

• Shows a belief in order and predictability.

• "Okay... Which way?"

• Expresses a fear of a potential, unknown threat.

• "There has to be a logical sequence."

• Shows a loss of faith in a purely logical approach.

• "What if something is really waiting for us?"

Answer explanation

Marcus's first line shows his faith in logic. Giselle's question reveals her fear of the myth being real. Her later statement shows her rejection of Marcus's method. Marcus's final question shows he is abandoning his own strategy and is now open to Giselle's.

At the end of the passage, the narrator describes Marcus hesitating and lowering his tablet. Analyze how the narrator uses Marcus's actions and his final question, 'Okay... Which way?', to show a shift in his point of view. Use at least two specific details from the text to support your answer.

Answer explanation