Passage 1: The Frozen Lake The lake was a mirror of ice, glinting under a gray winter sky. Snow fell like whispers, cloaking the world in silence. Mia, a shy girl, skated across the frozen surface, her legs wobbly as a newborn fawn. She wanted to join the village skating race, but the slippery ice made her doubt herself. Her grandfather had said, “The lake tests your heart.” When a crack split the ice, Mia’s fear surged, but she glided to safety, her confidence blooming like a winter rose. Question 1: How does the frozen lake setting impact Mia’s character development? 1 point It makes her abandon skating. It helps her overcome doubt and gain confidence. It causes her to ignore her grandfather’s advice. It leaves her unchanged. Question 2: What role does the lake’s crack play in the plot? 1 point It resolves the story peacefully. It creates a conflict that tests Mia’s courage. It distracts Mia from skating. It symbolizes her success. Part 2: Comparing Themes and Their Development (ELA.7.R.1.2) Key Skill: Identifying and Comparing Themes A theme is a universal idea (e.g., courage, hope). A text develops multiple themes through characters, events, or symbols. Focus on finding themes and asking, “How are they shown?” Strategy Identify key events or symbols and ask, “What lesson do they suggest?” List two themes (e.g., bravery, trust) and their evidence (e.g., actions, objects). Compare how themes connect or differ (e.g., bravery builds trust). Passage 2: The Starlit Cave The cave was a dark maze, its walls dripping like tears in the flickering torchlight. Jamal, a cautious boy, ventured inside to find a lost family heirloom. Shadows danced like doubts, urging him to turn back. His sister’s words echoed: “Trust yourself, and the stars will guide you.” A bat swooped, startling him, but he clutched a star-shaped pendant, a symbol of hope. Deeper in, a glowing crystal revealed the heirloom. Jamal emerged, no longer cautious but bold, trusting his instincts. Question 3: What is one theme in the passage? 1 point Overcoming fear through trust The dangers of caves Avoiding family responsibilities The beauty of shadows Question 4: How is the theme of hope developed? 1 point Through Jamal’s decision to give up. Through the star-shaped pendant and crystal. Through the bat scaring Jamal. Through the cave’s darkness. Question 5: How do the themes of trust and hope connect? 1 point Hope makes trust unnecessary. Hope supports Jamal’s trust in himself. Trust prevents hope from developing. Both themes are unrelated. Part 3: Comparing Central Ideas and Their Development (ELA.7.R.2.2) Key Skill: Identifying and Comparing Central Ideas A central idea is the main point of a nonfiction text (e.g., technology improves learning). A text develops multiple ideas through facts, examples, or anecdotes. Focus on summarizing ideas and their support. Strategy Summarize each section’s main point. Find evidence (e.g., statistics, stories) for each idea. Compare how ideas are developed (e.g., one uses facts, another uses examples).

1 answer

Part 1: Understanding Character Development and Plot

Question 1: How does the frozen lake setting impact Mia’s character development?
Answer: It helps her overcome doubt and gain confidence.
The frozen lake serves as both a physical and metaphorical challenge for Mia, testing her courage and ultimately aiding her growth.

Question 2: What role does the lake’s crack play in the plot?
Answer: It creates a conflict that tests Mia’s courage.
The crack in the ice symbolizes a moment of danger that forces Mia to confront her fears and subsequently boosts her confidence when she successfully navigates the situation.


Part 2: Comparing Themes and Their Development

Themes Identified:

  1. Theme 1: Overcoming fear through trust.
    Evidence: Jamal’s sister encourages him to trust himself, providing a crucial lesson as he faces his fears in the cave.

  2. Theme 2: Hope.
    Evidence: The star-shaped pendant symbolizes hope, and the glowing crystal represents Jamal finding what he thought was lost, reinforcing this theme.

Comparing Themes:
Both themes of trust and hope are interconnected; trust in himself allows Jamal to embrace hope, enabling him to venture deeper into the cave to find the heirloom. Therefore, trust is integral for the realization of hope.


Part 3: Comparing Central Ideas and Their Development

Summarized Central Ideas:

  • Passage 1: The Frozen Lake

    • Main Idea: The struggle against fear can lead to personal growth and newfound confidence.
    • Evidence: Mia’s journey on the ice demonstrates how overcoming her initial fear allows her to gain confidence, as shown when she manages to glide to safety after encountering the crack.
  • Passage 2: The Starlit Cave

    • Main Idea: Trusting oneself can lead to discovery and transformation.
    • Evidence: Jamal’s venture into the cave represents his journey from caution to courage, exemplified by his ability to trust his instincts and ultimately uncover the heirloom.

Comparative Development:
The first passage uses Mia’s interactions with the cold, slippery ice to illustrate her internal struggle and transformation, while the second passage showcases Jamal’s journey through a dark cave, highlighting external fears like darkness and bats. Both passages emphasize a character's challenge and growth, albeit in different environments, reinforcing their respective themes through the characters' actions and decisions.