The Run: Part 2-Refueling

RL 7.1: Which of the following sentences best supports the inference that the "plague" has caused significant societal breakdown beyond just illness?

• a) "Mac turned the keys in the truck’s ignition. The engine sputtered but refused to turn on."

• b) "Dennis could hear the angry roar of the mob as they grew closer to the stalled truck."

• c) "One of the glass refrigerator doors had been torn off its hinges inside the dark gas station."

• d) "Mac grabbed a few plastic bags from the counter. He filled them with enough supplies for a few more weeks."

Answer explanation

The damaged refrigerator suggests a chaotic event or struggle, implying a breakdown of order and normal behavior beyond just people getting sick and staying home.

RL 7.1: Which two of the following sentences best support the inference that the plague has led to a breakdown of societal norms and the potential for danger from other survivors?

• a) "Dennis and Mac had been driving for almost a week, and they hadn’t seen a single soul."

• b) "Mac wondered if he should pay for these things. He wasn’t sure if the owner of the gas station was even alive..."

• c) "Dennis could hear the angry roar of the mob as they grew closer to the stalled truck."

• d) "Mac grabbed a few plastic bags from the counter. He filled them with enough supplies for a few more weeks..."

• e) "There were signs of a struggle. Bags of chips and candy were trampled on the floor. One of the glass refrigerator doors had been torn off its hinges." ¹

Answer explanation

The "angry roar of the mob" (c) suggests a breakdown of rational behavior and potential violence, while the "signs of a struggle" and damaged store (e) imply chaos and a lack of order or respect for property.

RL 7.2: Which two of the following sentences should be included in a brief summary of the events in the second part of the text?

• a) Dennis bravely exited the truck to push-start it while Mac frantically tried the ignition, allowing them to narrowly escape the dangerous crowd.

• b) Mac’s old truck sputtered and nearly failed to start as a large group of crazed people rapidly approached their vehicle on the open road.

• c) Inside the gas station, Mac heard a noise indicating he was not alone, and simultaneously, Dennis heard a distressed voice on the radio calling for other survivors.

• d) After their harrowing escape, Dennis and Mac debated their next course of action, considering returning to the ranch or venturing into the wilderness.

• e) While Dennis filled up the truck with gasoline at an abandoned gas station, Mac went inside to gather essential food and medical supplies for their journey.

Answer explanation

Sentence (a) captures the central conflict and immediate danger of their escape, while sentence (c) highlights the separate but equally significant events at the gas station that introduce new potential conflicts and connections.

RL 7.2: Which statement best describes a central theme explored in the second part of the text?

• a) The importance of quick thinking and decisive action when faced with sudden and overwhelming threats to survival.

• b) The enduring power of human connection and the hope that even in a desolate world, individuals can still find each other.

• c) The struggle to maintain one's moral compass and remember past values in a world where societal rules have seemingly collapsed.

• d) The contrast between the immediate dangers posed by the infected and the potential risks of encountering other unknown survivors.

Answer explanation

Part 2 highlights the clear and present danger of the crazed mob while simultaneously introducing the uncertainty and potential risk associated with the unknown voice on the radio and the lingering threat inside the gas station.

RL 7.3: Which two of the following statements best describe what the dialogue in the second part of the text reveals about the relationship between Dennis and Mac?

• a) Their discussion about their next move demonstrates a collaborative approach to problem-solving in a dangerous and uncertain world.

• b) Mac’s question about whether the running people were zombies indicates a scientific curiosity that Dennis does not share.

• c) Their brief, urgent exchanges during the escape highlight a reliance on each other and a shared focus on immediate survival.

• d) Dennis’s warning to Mac to "be careful" in the gas station reveals a sense of concern and protectiveness for his friend's safety.

• e) Mac’s decision to go into the gas station alone shows a willingness to take independent risks without fully considering Dennis’s feelings.

Answer explanation

The short, action-oriented dialogue during the escape emphasizes their dependence on each other, and Dennis's explicit warning shows his care for Mac's well-being.

RL 7.3: Which of the following statements best describes a key interaction between an event and the characters' subsequent actions or thoughts in Part 2?

• a) The failure of the truck to start immediately forces Dennis to risk his safety by getting out to push, while Mac experiences intense panic.

• b) The sight of the abandoned gas station prompts Mac to recall Ann Greerson's advice about manners, influencing his decision to leave money.

• c) The sound of Anna's voice on the radio gives Dennis hope, leading him to immediately try and respond to her broadcast.

• d) Mac's discovery of trampled goods in the gas station leads him to believe that other survivors have recently been there and might still be nearby.

Answer explanation

The event of the truck not starting directly causes Dennis to take a dangerous action (pushing) and triggers a strong emotional reaction (panic) in Mac, demonstrating a clear interaction between an event and the characters' responses.

RL 7.4: Which of the following statements best explains how the phrase "angry roar of the mob" helps the reader understand the nature of the approaching group?

• a) It suggests the crowd was likely composed of vehicles with loud engines speeding down the highway towards Dennis and Mac.

• b) It implies the people were shouting for help and desperately trying to get the attention of Dennis and Mac in the truck.

• c) It creates an auditory image of a large, agitated group, implying a loss of rational behavior and a potential for violence.

• d) It conveys the idea that the wind was strong and howling, creating a frightening atmosphere as the crowd approached.

Answer explanation

The phrase "angry roar" evokes a sound associated with intense emotion and a lack of control, suggesting the approaching people were not acting rationally and posed a significant threat.

RL 7.4: Which two of the following statements best explain the figurative language used to describe the passage of time or the atmosphere in the text?

• a) The phrase "it felt like another lifetime" emphasizes how significantly the Muskrat's broadcast altered Dennis and Mac's perception of their recent past.

• b) The comparison of the "swarm of people" to a natural phenomenon suggests their chaotic and overwhelming numbers in the open landscape.

• c) The description of the big cities becoming "like ghost towns" creates a simile that highlights their eerie emptiness and lack of human presence.

• d) The phrase "a wave of cold panic" uses a metaphor to convey the sudden and intense feeling of fear that Mac experienced.

• e) The truck being described as a "sputtering old pickup" uses personification to imply its unreliability and the challenges of their journey.

Answer explanation

identifies the simile "like ghost towns" and explains its effect on conveying the emptiness of the cities. and accurately identifies the metaphor "a wave of cold panic" and explains how it communicates the sudden intensity of Mac's fear.

RL 7.5: Which of the following statements best explains how the pacing of the narrative contributes to the reader's understanding of the immediate danger at the gas station?

• a) The extended descriptions of the abandoned towns earlier in the excerpt create a sense of foreboding that foreshadows the danger Mac faces.

• b) The quick succession of Mac hearing a sound, freezing, and then crying out for Dennis builds a feeling of sudden and imminent threat.

• c) The detailed inventory of the supplies Mac gathers emphasizes his resourcefulness despite the potential danger he is in.

• d) The parallel descriptions of Dennis filling the gas and Mac searching inside create a sense of calm before the sudden outburst of fear.

Answer explanation

The rapid progression of these events in the narrative creates a sense of urgency and immediately conveys to the reader that Mac has encountered a sudden and dangerous situation.

RL 7.5: Which two of the following statements best describe how the structure and pacing of the ending of Part 2 contribute to the reader's understanding of the immediate and future dangers faced by Dennis and Mac?

• a) Leaving Mac's situation unresolved while introducing a potential new contact, emphasizes the constant presence of both immediate and future uncertainties.

• b) The simultaneous introduction of Mac's cry for help and Anna's radio broadcast creates a sense of overwhelming chaos and multiple immediate threats.

• c) The abrupt shift from the external threat of the running crowd to the internal threat Mac faces in the gas station highlights the unpredictable nature of danger in their new reality.

• d) The image of Dennis running towards the gas station creates a sense of closure for the immediate danger Mac is in, suggesting a resolution is imminent.

• e) The detailed description of Dennis's reaction to Anna's voice slows the pacing, allowing the reader to fully process the potential for connection in this desolate world.

Answer explanation

The unresolved cliffhanger with Mac and the simultaneous introduction of a potential new contact emphasize ongoing uncertainty. The shift from the external mob to the internal gas station threat highlights the unpredictable nature of danger in their world.