Question
Vanessa had only been away at college for a few months, but when she returned it felt like everything had changed. Her favorite diner with the waffle fries and the best burgers in town had turned into a build-your-own yogurt parfait shop. The little bookstore that used to stand at the end of the strip mall had closed down due to lack of business. She couldn’t even count how many hours she’d spent walking through the aisles and reading summaries of stories she’d never heard of. Even her high school looked different with the new sports building behind the football field.
She’d never imagined that so much could change in such a small amount of time. The town and its differences left her feeling wistful as she drove around. Already it felt like the sidewalks were forgetting her as she moved on to bigger things in her new city. Starting to feel overrun with sadness, she pulled into the park where she’d spent a lot of time with her best friend before they’d gone to their separate schools. Stepping out of her car, she whispered, “Thank goodness!’ to herself as she saw that the plastic flamingos on springs were still there. She poked at one of the birds and it sprang back into place.
Walking down to the water, the sun was setting and it made her feel a sense of comfort as the sky was still her sky. She settled down on the dock and let her feet dangle over the edge. Even with all of these changes, the water was the same and so was she. Letting herself sink into the comforts of nature for a moment, she took some deep breaths. She was home after all.
Which statement best describes the influence of the setting on Vanessa?
Unfamiliar people make her feel more at ease with her decision to move.
Familiar people allow her to realize her horizons continue to expand.
Unfamiliar aspects make her appreciate change.
Familiar aspects bring her a sense of belonging.
She’d never imagined that so much could change in such a small amount of time. The town and its differences left her feeling wistful as she drove around. Already it felt like the sidewalks were forgetting her as she moved on to bigger things in her new city. Starting to feel overrun with sadness, she pulled into the park where she’d spent a lot of time with her best friend before they’d gone to their separate schools. Stepping out of her car, she whispered, “Thank goodness!’ to herself as she saw that the plastic flamingos on springs were still there. She poked at one of the birds and it sprang back into place.
Walking down to the water, the sun was setting and it made her feel a sense of comfort as the sky was still her sky. She settled down on the dock and let her feet dangle over the edge. Even with all of these changes, the water was the same and so was she. Letting herself sink into the comforts of nature for a moment, she took some deep breaths. She was home after all.
Which statement best describes the influence of the setting on Vanessa?
Unfamiliar people make her feel more at ease with her decision to move.
Familiar people allow her to realize her horizons continue to expand.
Unfamiliar aspects make her appreciate change.
Familiar aspects bring her a sense of belonging.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The statement that best describes the influence of the setting on Vanessa is:
**Familiar aspects bring her a sense of belonging.**
Throughout the passage, Vanessa reflects on the changes in her hometown and feels a sense of loss. However, when she arrives at the park and sees the familiar plastic flamingos and experiences the serene setting by the water, she is comforted by this familiarity. It provides her with a sense of belonging and connection to her past, despite the changes occurring around her.
**Familiar aspects bring her a sense of belonging.**
Throughout the passage, Vanessa reflects on the changes in her hometown and feels a sense of loss. However, when she arrives at the park and sees the familiar plastic flamingos and experiences the serene setting by the water, she is comforted by this familiarity. It provides her with a sense of belonging and connection to her past, despite the changes occurring around her.