The Clay Dragon - Making Predictions in Literary Texts (Grade 7)

Based on Carson's vague note, what can the reader predict about his feelings?

• He is confident he can fix the sculpture later.

• He feels guilty and is trying to avoid confessing.

• He is angry at Leandro for not being more careful.

• He is excited about basketball practice.

Answer explanation

The note, 'Had to run. See you tomorrow,' avoids mentioning the accident. This allows the reader to predict that Carson is not ready to face the consequences and is hiding the truth out of guilt and panic.

What warning does Leandro give Carson that hints something bad might happen?

• "I'm adding the last scale."

• "The wings are still soft."

• "I found it like this."

• "Basketball practice starts in ten minutes."

Answer explanation

Leandro's warning that 'The wings are still soft' is a direct clue that the sculpture is fragile and could be easily damaged, foreshadowing the accident.

After hearing the crack, Carson freezes and his heart pounds. Based on these immediate reactions, what is the most likely prediction about his next action?

• He will immediately confess to Leandro.

• He will try to avoid facing Leandro.

• He will calmly try to fix the dragon.

• He will blame Leandro for the soft clay.

Answer explanation

Carson's physical reactions of freezing and a pounding heart indicate panic and fear, not readiness to confess or fix the problem. These reactions strongly predict he will try to escape the situation, which he does by writing a vague note and leaving.

When Carson says he has to leave for basketball practice and starts 'moving too quickly,' what does this detail lead the reader to predict?

• He will be late for his practice.

• He might cause an accident in the small studio.

• Leandro will get annoyed with him for leaving.

• He will decide to quit the art project.

Answer explanation

The author includes the details of Carson being in a hurry and moving too quickly around a delicate object to foreshadow a problem. This makes it predictable that his haste will lead to an accident.

Felix's questions to Carson, "You seem jumpy... You left in a hurry yesterday, right?", make it more likely that what will happen next?

• Carson will blame Felix for the accident.

• Felix will tell Leandro that Carson broke the sculpture.

• Carson will continue to hide the truth from everyone.

• Carson will be pushed to confess to Leandro.

Answer explanation

Felix's pointed questions show that someone else is noticing Carson's strange behavior and connecting it to the event. This pressure makes it predictable that Carson's secret is about to be revealed, likely by himself.

Categorize the following items into two groups: 'Clues Predicting the Accident' and 'Clues Predicting the Confession'.

Groups:

(a) Clues Predicting the Accident

,

(b) Clues Predicting the Confession

• Carson moving too quickly

• The guilt felt like a heavy weight

• The dragon's wings were thin and delicate

• Leandro's warning to be careful

• Carson couldn't meet Leandro's eyes

• Felix's comment that Leandro blames himself

Answer explanation

The first category includes details from the beginning of the story that foreshadow the physical accident. The second category includes details about Carson's internal guilt and external pressure that foreshadow his eventual decision to tell the truth.

Match each event from the story with the outcome it helps predict.

• He is about to confess.

• Carson thinks, 'The lie was worse than the accident.'

• He will avoid immediate confrontation.

• Felix reveals that Leandro blames himself.

• His guilt will increase significantly.

• Leandro says, 'I guess it just...fell.'

• He will not initially suspect his friend.

• Carson writes the note, 'Had to run.'

Answer explanation

Carson's note is an avoidance tactic, predicting he won't confess right away. Leandro's innocent assumption predicts he won't be suspicious at first. Felix's news is a catalyst that predicts Carson's guilt will worsen. Carson's final thought directly predicts his imminent confession.

Based on how Carson's guilt affects him, predict how his friendship with Leandro might have changed if he had never confessed. Explain your prediction using at least two pieces of evidence from the text.

Answer explanation