Question
Brittany has been training for a gymnastics competition for several months. Her best friend Alix has been coming to every practice and cheering her on, but also critiquing Brittany’s performance—and with the competition only a week away, Brittany is tiring of Alix’s suggestions.
A Dose of Support
1 “Brittany, your routine looks great—the judges will be so impressed!” Alix shouted and greeted Brittany with a hug after an excruciating practice. “But tomorrow, it might help if you reduce the number of flips toward the end of the routine so that it can look a bit more polished—then you’re sure to get a perfect score.”
2 “Look, Alix,” Brittany interrupted, unable to hide her feelings. “I know what’s best for my routine—I’ve been perfecting it for months—and I can figure out what needs to be fixed, if anything. I’ve got it from here.”
3 Alix frowned, clearly perturbed by Brittany’s response.
4 “I’m sorry, Brittany, I know you’re great at gymnastics, but I was just trying to offer some advice. I just thought . . . never mind. I’ll give you some space.” With that, Alix turned and headed toward the exit.
5 Brittany felt a dark cloud above her, realizing she had driven her friend away, but she refused to let her feelings distract her. It’ll be easier to focus without the constant critiquing, Brittany convinced herself.
6 Five days had passed since Brittany had confronted Alix—and just two days were left until the competition.
7 “Come on, Brittany—watch that somersault!” Coach Jen yelled from the sidelines as Brittany rehearsed her routine. Brittany grunted with pain and frustration; her muscles were strained, and sweat
from her brow stung her eyes. Brittany looked into the stands and saw the empty seat beside Coach Jen and tried to ignore the pang she felt from her friend’s absence.
8 Coach Jen approached Brittany after practice. “You seem off your game, Brit—and you need to get it together by Saturday morning.
I’d hate to see all your hard work go to waste.” Coach Jen walked off with a look of disappointment, leaving Brittany feeling alone.
9 Brittany sat on the tumbling mat, her hands holding her head as if it were a weighty boulder. Alix always nitpicked her performance too, but she always had something supportive to say as well. Brittany missed the encouragement Alix gave her when she was doubting herself—like now. Brittany stared at the empty stands, imagining how she must have made Alix feel.
10 When the day of the competition finally arrived, Brittany was plagued with nerves. Her parents were in the stands, and Coach Jen was in the front row beside other coaches. Brittany practiced her moves and, although she had memorized the routine, she felt clumsy and insecure. Brittany stood with a solemn expression, concerned that this was about to be a disaster.
11 “You’re going to be great!” Brittany heard suddenly. She turned toward the familiar voice and was stunned to see Alix walking toward her.
12 Brittany stood with her mouth hanging open. “I really didn’t think you were going to show up. I’m sorry—you were just trying to help me, and I didn’t want to take the time to listen to what you had to say.”
13 Alix enveloped Brittany in a hug. “I know how important this competition is to you, Brit. There’s no way I was going to miss this— you’re my best friend! I know you needed your space, but that doesn’t mean I was going to abandon you.”
14 Alix placed her hands on Brittany’s shoulders and gave her a little shake. “You’ve got this, Brit; and no matter what happens, I’ll be cheering you on.” Brittany gave Alix a warm embrace before Alix went to sit in the stands beside Brittany’s parents.
15 After a few moments, the judges announced the beginning of the event and called Brittany’s name first. Brittany approached the edge of the mat with her head held high. She saw Alix, giving two thumbs up, and Brittany envisioned the judges giving her the same gesture after her routine. She felt a weight lift from her shoulders, now buoyed by a dose of support from her friend.
Q1: Based on paragraphs 1 and 2, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s feelings toward her routine?
Q2: Which sentence from the selection best supports the idea that Alix was perturbed by Brittany’s dismissal?
Q3: How does the confrontation between Brittany and Alix impact the events in the story?
Q4: How does Coach Jen’s comment about Brittany’s somersault in paragraph 7 reflect her expectations for Brittany’s performance?
Q5: In paragraph 7, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s physical condition based on the word “strained”?
Q6: Which detail from paragraph 9 supports the idea that Brittany now values Alix’s nitpicking?
Q7: In paragraph 10, what does the phrase plagued with nerves suggest about Brittany’s emotions before the competition?
Q8: How does the author contrast Brittany’s solemn expression in paragraph 10 with her emotions at the end of the story?
Q9: What can the reader infer about Alix’s character based on her acknowledging that she would never abandon Brittany?
Q10: What does Brittany envision that helps boost her confidence?
📘
🗓 Project Due: Friday, April 11th
🎤 Presentations: In class on Monday
👥
You will work with your group to:
the story
about the story using to support your ideas.
to share your answers with the class.
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions:
1.
Read together as a group.
Use to:
Highlight important or
Circle or underline that show emotions, changes, or conflict.
Write notes or questions in the margins.
2.
Your teacher will give your group one specific question about the passage.
In your group:
together.
Find to support your answers.
Write clear answers in complete sentences.
Make sure to from the text and explain what they mean.
3.
You will on Monday. Your presentation should:
Be about long.
Include your answers and the you found.
Show that your group worked together.
You can choose how to present:
📄 Poster, 🗣 Group speech, 📚 Skit, 🎨 Visual aid, or 👩🏫 Google Slides
✅ What You’ll Be Graded On:
💬 Answers: Clear, complete, and accurate answers to both questions
🔎 Text Evidence: Specific quotes or examples from the story
✏️ Annotations: Neatly marked-up text with helpful notes or highlights
🎤 Presentation: Group participation, creativity, and understanding of the story
💡 Tips for Success:
Everyone should help! Share ideas and take turns.
Be respectful—listen to your group members.
Double check that your answers make sense and use text evidence.
Practice your presentation before Monday!
Make it sound like a 6th grader
A Dose of Support
1 “Brittany, your routine looks great—the judges will be so impressed!” Alix shouted and greeted Brittany with a hug after an excruciating practice. “But tomorrow, it might help if you reduce the number of flips toward the end of the routine so that it can look a bit more polished—then you’re sure to get a perfect score.”
2 “Look, Alix,” Brittany interrupted, unable to hide her feelings. “I know what’s best for my routine—I’ve been perfecting it for months—and I can figure out what needs to be fixed, if anything. I’ve got it from here.”
3 Alix frowned, clearly perturbed by Brittany’s response.
4 “I’m sorry, Brittany, I know you’re great at gymnastics, but I was just trying to offer some advice. I just thought . . . never mind. I’ll give you some space.” With that, Alix turned and headed toward the exit.
5 Brittany felt a dark cloud above her, realizing she had driven her friend away, but she refused to let her feelings distract her. It’ll be easier to focus without the constant critiquing, Brittany convinced herself.
6 Five days had passed since Brittany had confronted Alix—and just two days were left until the competition.
7 “Come on, Brittany—watch that somersault!” Coach Jen yelled from the sidelines as Brittany rehearsed her routine. Brittany grunted with pain and frustration; her muscles were strained, and sweat
from her brow stung her eyes. Brittany looked into the stands and saw the empty seat beside Coach Jen and tried to ignore the pang she felt from her friend’s absence.
8 Coach Jen approached Brittany after practice. “You seem off your game, Brit—and you need to get it together by Saturday morning.
I’d hate to see all your hard work go to waste.” Coach Jen walked off with a look of disappointment, leaving Brittany feeling alone.
9 Brittany sat on the tumbling mat, her hands holding her head as if it were a weighty boulder. Alix always nitpicked her performance too, but she always had something supportive to say as well. Brittany missed the encouragement Alix gave her when she was doubting herself—like now. Brittany stared at the empty stands, imagining how she must have made Alix feel.
10 When the day of the competition finally arrived, Brittany was plagued with nerves. Her parents were in the stands, and Coach Jen was in the front row beside other coaches. Brittany practiced her moves and, although she had memorized the routine, she felt clumsy and insecure. Brittany stood with a solemn expression, concerned that this was about to be a disaster.
11 “You’re going to be great!” Brittany heard suddenly. She turned toward the familiar voice and was stunned to see Alix walking toward her.
12 Brittany stood with her mouth hanging open. “I really didn’t think you were going to show up. I’m sorry—you were just trying to help me, and I didn’t want to take the time to listen to what you had to say.”
13 Alix enveloped Brittany in a hug. “I know how important this competition is to you, Brit. There’s no way I was going to miss this— you’re my best friend! I know you needed your space, but that doesn’t mean I was going to abandon you.”
14 Alix placed her hands on Brittany’s shoulders and gave her a little shake. “You’ve got this, Brit; and no matter what happens, I’ll be cheering you on.” Brittany gave Alix a warm embrace before Alix went to sit in the stands beside Brittany’s parents.
15 After a few moments, the judges announced the beginning of the event and called Brittany’s name first. Brittany approached the edge of the mat with her head held high. She saw Alix, giving two thumbs up, and Brittany envisioned the judges giving her the same gesture after her routine. She felt a weight lift from her shoulders, now buoyed by a dose of support from her friend.
Q1: Based on paragraphs 1 and 2, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s feelings toward her routine?
Q2: Which sentence from the selection best supports the idea that Alix was perturbed by Brittany’s dismissal?
Q3: How does the confrontation between Brittany and Alix impact the events in the story?
Q4: How does Coach Jen’s comment about Brittany’s somersault in paragraph 7 reflect her expectations for Brittany’s performance?
Q5: In paragraph 7, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s physical condition based on the word “strained”?
Q6: Which detail from paragraph 9 supports the idea that Brittany now values Alix’s nitpicking?
Q7: In paragraph 10, what does the phrase plagued with nerves suggest about Brittany’s emotions before the competition?
Q8: How does the author contrast Brittany’s solemn expression in paragraph 10 with her emotions at the end of the story?
Q9: What can the reader infer about Alix’s character based on her acknowledging that she would never abandon Brittany?
Q10: What does Brittany envision that helps boost her confidence?
📘
🗓 Project Due: Friday, April 11th
🎤 Presentations: In class on Monday
👥
You will work with your group to:
the story
about the story using to support your ideas.
to share your answers with the class.
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions:
1.
Read together as a group.
Use to:
Highlight important or
Circle or underline that show emotions, changes, or conflict.
Write notes or questions in the margins.
2.
Your teacher will give your group one specific question about the passage.
In your group:
together.
Find to support your answers.
Write clear answers in complete sentences.
Make sure to from the text and explain what they mean.
3.
You will on Monday. Your presentation should:
Be about long.
Include your answers and the you found.
Show that your group worked together.
You can choose how to present:
📄 Poster, 🗣 Group speech, 📚 Skit, 🎨 Visual aid, or 👩🏫 Google Slides
✅ What You’ll Be Graded On:
💬 Answers: Clear, complete, and accurate answers to both questions
🔎 Text Evidence: Specific quotes or examples from the story
✏️ Annotations: Neatly marked-up text with helpful notes or highlights
🎤 Presentation: Group participation, creativity, and understanding of the story
💡 Tips for Success:
Everyone should help! Share ideas and take turns.
Be respectful—listen to your group members.
Double check that your answers make sense and use text evidence.
Practice your presentation before Monday!
Make it sound like a 6th grader
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Sure! Here’s how you might answer the questions based on the story in a clear and simple manner, as a 6th grader would do.
### Q1: Based on paragraphs 1 and 2, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s feelings toward her routine?
**Answer:** The reader can infer that Brittany feels confident about her routine because she has been working on it for several months. However, she is also frustrated by Alix’s constant suggestions and believes she knows what is best without needing Alix's input.
### Q2: Which sentence from the selection best supports the idea that Alix was perturbed by Brittany’s dismissal?
**Answer:** The sentence that best supports this idea is, “Alix frowned, clearly perturbed by Brittany’s response.” This shows that Alix was hurt and upset by how Brittany reacted to her suggestion.
### Q3: How does the confrontation between Brittany and Alix impact the events in the story?
**Answer:** The confrontation caused Alix to feel hurt and distance herself from Brittany, which left Brittany feeling lonely and missing Alix’s support during a crucial time before the competition. This affects Brittany’s performance and confidence leading up to the event.
### Q4: How does Coach Jen’s comment about Brittany’s somersault in paragraph 7 reflect her expectations for Brittany’s performance?
**Answer:** Coach Jen's comment shows that she has high expectations for Brittany. She believes Brittany is capable of doing well, so she points out the need to improve her somersault. This indicates Coach Jen cares about Brittany's success and wants her to perform at her best.
### Q5: In paragraph 7, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s physical condition based on the word “strained”?
**Answer:** The reader can infer that Brittany is physically exhausted and possibly overworked. The word “strained” suggests she is feeling pain and fatigue in her muscles from practicing, which affects her performance.
### Q6: Which detail from paragraph 9 supports the idea that Brittany now values Alix’s nitpicking?
**Answer:** The detail that supports this idea is, “Brittany missed the encouragement Alix gave her when she was doubting herself—like now.” This shows that Brittany realizes Alix's critiques were meant to help her and that she appreciated having Alix’s support back.
### Q7: In paragraph 10, what does the phrase plagued with nerves suggest about Brittany’s emotions before the competition?
**Answer:** The phrase "plagued with nerves" suggests that Brittany is very anxious and worried about the competition. It means she is feeling a lot of pressure and fear about how she will perform.
### Q8: How does the author contrast Brittany’s solemn expression in paragraph 10 with her emotions at the end of the story?
**Answer:** At the beginning, Brittany has a solemn expression, showing she feels serious and scared about the competition. But by the end of the story, she feels uplifted and confident after seeing Alix cheering for her, which is a big change from her earlier feelings of doubt.
### Q9: What can the reader infer about Alix’s character based on her acknowledging that she would never abandon Brittany?
**Answer:** The reader can infer that Alix is a loyal and supportive friend. She cares deeply about Brittany and wants to be there for her, even when things get tough. This shows that their friendship is strong.
### Q10: What does Brittany envision that helps boost her confidence?
**Answer:** Brittany envisions Alix giving her two thumbs up, which symbolizes support and encouragement. This positive image helps her feel more confident as she prepares to perform in front of the judges.
---
### Tips for Your Group Presentation:
1. **Assemble Your Answers:** Make sure everyone knows the answers and understands them well.
2. **Use Text Evidence:** Choose quotes from the story to back up your answers.
3. **Practice Together:** Go through the presentation as a group to ensure everyone participates and feels comfortable.
4. **Choose a Fun Format:** You could make a poster or do a skit to keep it engaging for the class.
Good luck on your project!
### Q1: Based on paragraphs 1 and 2, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s feelings toward her routine?
**Answer:** The reader can infer that Brittany feels confident about her routine because she has been working on it for several months. However, she is also frustrated by Alix’s constant suggestions and believes she knows what is best without needing Alix's input.
### Q2: Which sentence from the selection best supports the idea that Alix was perturbed by Brittany’s dismissal?
**Answer:** The sentence that best supports this idea is, “Alix frowned, clearly perturbed by Brittany’s response.” This shows that Alix was hurt and upset by how Brittany reacted to her suggestion.
### Q3: How does the confrontation between Brittany and Alix impact the events in the story?
**Answer:** The confrontation caused Alix to feel hurt and distance herself from Brittany, which left Brittany feeling lonely and missing Alix’s support during a crucial time before the competition. This affects Brittany’s performance and confidence leading up to the event.
### Q4: How does Coach Jen’s comment about Brittany’s somersault in paragraph 7 reflect her expectations for Brittany’s performance?
**Answer:** Coach Jen's comment shows that she has high expectations for Brittany. She believes Brittany is capable of doing well, so she points out the need to improve her somersault. This indicates Coach Jen cares about Brittany's success and wants her to perform at her best.
### Q5: In paragraph 7, what can the reader infer about Brittany’s physical condition based on the word “strained”?
**Answer:** The reader can infer that Brittany is physically exhausted and possibly overworked. The word “strained” suggests she is feeling pain and fatigue in her muscles from practicing, which affects her performance.
### Q6: Which detail from paragraph 9 supports the idea that Brittany now values Alix’s nitpicking?
**Answer:** The detail that supports this idea is, “Brittany missed the encouragement Alix gave her when she was doubting herself—like now.” This shows that Brittany realizes Alix's critiques were meant to help her and that she appreciated having Alix’s support back.
### Q7: In paragraph 10, what does the phrase plagued with nerves suggest about Brittany’s emotions before the competition?
**Answer:** The phrase "plagued with nerves" suggests that Brittany is very anxious and worried about the competition. It means she is feeling a lot of pressure and fear about how she will perform.
### Q8: How does the author contrast Brittany’s solemn expression in paragraph 10 with her emotions at the end of the story?
**Answer:** At the beginning, Brittany has a solemn expression, showing she feels serious and scared about the competition. But by the end of the story, she feels uplifted and confident after seeing Alix cheering for her, which is a big change from her earlier feelings of doubt.
### Q9: What can the reader infer about Alix’s character based on her acknowledging that she would never abandon Brittany?
**Answer:** The reader can infer that Alix is a loyal and supportive friend. She cares deeply about Brittany and wants to be there for her, even when things get tough. This shows that their friendship is strong.
### Q10: What does Brittany envision that helps boost her confidence?
**Answer:** Brittany envisions Alix giving her two thumbs up, which symbolizes support and encouragement. This positive image helps her feel more confident as she prepares to perform in front of the judges.
---
### Tips for Your Group Presentation:
1. **Assemble Your Answers:** Make sure everyone knows the answers and understands them well.
2. **Use Text Evidence:** Choose quotes from the story to back up your answers.
3. **Practice Together:** Go through the presentation as a group to ensure everyone participates and feels comfortable.
4. **Choose a Fun Format:** You could make a poster or do a skit to keep it engaging for the class.
Good luck on your project!