Casey is a lighthearted character who likes to joke around. In this scene, she is telling her mother there is a mouse in the house.

Question

Scene Excerpt:

“Mom, I’m pretty sure we have a mouse,” Casey said.

“We thought so last month, and it turned out to be the cats getting into the cabinets,” her mom said. “Why do you think it’s a mouse this time?”

Based on the character description, which piece of dialogue would best help develop the character for readers?

(1 point)
Responses

“I saw it myself,” Casey said. “Plus, it’s been tearing things up in the kitchen and making sounds in the wall.”
“I saw it myself,” Casey said. “Plus, it’s been tearing things up in the kitchen and making sounds in the wall.”

“I know I like to joke around a lot, but I’m not joking this time,” Casey said. “I saw the mouse myself, and it’s been eating things and running around in the walls.”
“I know I like to joke around a lot, but I’m not joking this time,” Casey said. “I saw the mouse myself, and it’s been eating things and running around in the walls.”

“At first, I wasn’t sure,” Casey admitted. “The torn food box could have been the cat again. But I heard sounds in the wall, and then I saw the actual mouse in the kitchen this morning.”
“At first, I wasn’t sure,” Casey admitted. “The torn food box could have been the cat again. But I heard sounds in the wall, and then I saw the actual mouse in the kitchen this morning.”

“Lots of reasons. There were nibbled food boxes, the scratching sounds in the wall—oh!” Casey grinned. “And I saw a mouse in the kitchen this morning.”
“Lots of reasons. There were nibbled food boxes, the scratching sounds in the wall—oh!” Casey grinned. “And I saw a mouse in the kitchen this morning.”

Answer 1

The dialogue that would best help develop Casey's character for readers is:

“I know I like to joke around a lot, but I’m not joking this time,” Casey said. “I saw the mouse myself, and it’s been eating things and running around in the walls.”

This response captures her lighthearted nature while also revealing a moment of seriousness. It shows the contrast between her usual joking demeanor and the genuine concern she has in this situation, allowing readers to see both sides of her character.