In the following excerpt, what does the word fragile mean?

Sitting on her couch was a man who had insulted her, lied to her mother, and risked destroying their fragile family

The following words were said by

“Back in my day, all the teachers took time out to sit down with students and talk, just like parents

would. Nowadays, everything has changed so. It’s a shame. Seems like too many teachers today just

sit back and let the kids run wild.”

The following words were said by

“Whoa, you got some mouth on you, girl. . . . You best watch that mouth, or you might be picking your teeth out of your lap. You get my meaning?”

The main idea of the excerpt below is that Cindy

Cindy sat in the old recliner and watched her mother rush down the hallway. The apartment was silent except for the occasional thud of her mother opening and closing drawers in her bedroom. Cindy knew what the sounds meant; her mother was trying to find something pretty to wear for Raffie. Everything she does anymore is for Raffie, Cindy thought bitterly. Leaning back into the chair, Cindy wondered if her mother would be happier without her.

The main idea of the excerpt below is that

Cindy turned to Harold as soon as they stepped into the hallway. “I love your grandma,” she said. “Yeah, she’s great,” he said. “Sometimes I think she’s a little nosy, but that’s because she’s always watching out for people, making sure everybody’s okay. Every day, she looks out the window to keep an eye on what’s going on in the neighborhood. She thinks it’s her job or something.”

The main idea of the excerpt below is that

Cindy was grateful to hear Bobby’s words. She needed someone to talk to, someone to trust, and Bobby seemed to understand that. Enveloped in his arms, she felt safe. This was the side of Bobby that Harold did not know about, she thought. Cindy put her arms on Bobby’s back and pulled him closer. For a second, buried in Bobby’s arms, she did not worry about anything. Then thoughts of her mother flooded her mind. “Bobby, I’m so scared Raffie will get my mom in trouble.”

You can conclude from the following excerpt that

“Raffie’s mean, Mom. He’s got a mean streak,” Cindy insisted.

“Oh, he does not! He just likes to tease,” Mom snapped.

“He has a way of figuring out what really bothers somebody, and then he shoves it in your face,” Cindy said. “That’s mean”

“You’re not fair, Cindy. You never give Raffie a chance. He’s a sweetheart. He just likes to kid around, that’s all,” she said. “Well, I gotta go. Thanks for making dinner.”

You can conclude from the following excerpt that Cindy

On the way to school, Cindy wondered what she should do. Her mother would not listen to her, and she could think of no one who could help her. Then, as she approached Bluford, Cindy saw Bobby arriving at school in his Nissan. Maybe he would be able to help, she thought. Yet as she walked up to his car, she thought of him leaving the Chinese restaurant to talk to the mysterious man in the Mercedes. Was there a connection? she wondered.

From the following excerpt, you can infer that

Cindy made it to the Nissan before Bobby did. As she waited for him, she saw a smoke-silver Mercedes cruising down the street and then stop near the school parking lot. Looking closely, she

recognized the driver—it was Raffie. An attractive female student from Bluford ran to the car, and Raffie smiled and talked to her. Cindy shuddered. She wondered what Mom would say if she were watching him now.