Question
Sarah had rushed out of the front door that morning, letting the wood slam against its frame. She just couldn’t face looking at her best friend anymore. Jessie had mouth sores, skin rashes, and weakness. If her illness continued, she might die, and Sarah worried about that more than anything else in her young life. She continued running until she finally reached the soothing stream that ran through the woods at the edge of the orphanage’s property. She plunged her face in the cool, clear water trying to erase the image of her friend’s suffering. Soon she would have to return to join the older children as they left to go to work at a nearby farm, but for now, all she wanted to do was listen to the sounds of the woods and escape her reality.
An hour later, all of the older children gathered on the front porch for the walk to the nearby fields. They would spend the day weeding the precise rows of crops and gathering the corn, onions, beans, and peas that had already ripened. Sarah silently joined them without returning inside to her sleeping area. Her dripping hair and wet shirt would dry soon enough in the heat of the day. She knew Jessie and five other younger children would still be upstairs, lying on their small cots, staring at the ceiling, too weak to get up. The older children were fine, and the tiny ones seemed well, but the middle ones, the five- to ten-year-olds, were slowly slipping away. They ate their breakfast, lunch, and dinner of cornmeal mush and cornbread with little interest, barely able to finish half of it, and washing it all down with a cup of water. The rash was spreading up their thin bodies at an alarming rate. Sarah whispered an unheard goodbye to Jessie as the children dutifully walked to the field to begin their day’s work. She hoped that Jessie would still be there when she returned from the fields.
By noon, Sarah was covered in dirt and exhausted. She hated working the farm. It was hot and demanding work, but it was expected of her. Her summers were spent helping the orphanage by laboring in the sun. She wished that she could be back by Jessie’s side reading to her, telling her stories, making certain that she knew her numbers and letters, but it was required of her that she spend her day helping to ensure that the crop was healthy and fruitful.
The children stopped their labor at noon to eat a chunk of cornbread and a few raw vegetables from the ground. The wife of the owner of the farm came around and offered each of them a small cup of milk, which was gratefully accepted. Lunch was the only time that they had a chance to taste the delicious and sweet whiteness. Except for the tiny ones, the children at the orphanage only had water with each meal, pulled up through the pump from the underground well. Jessie would enjoy some milk, Sarah thought, but Jessie would have to be able to work the farm for the treat, and she might never be well enough to be of any help. Sarah wiped her mouth and returned to the field to gather more beans. As the children worked through the heat of the afternoon, they called to each other and sang. Knowing that others were there sharing in the chore made the work easier. Occasionally, one of them would leave the plant that was being worked and dart down a row to start a game of tag. Diversions made the time go by more quickly, but they were careful not to be caught by the owner of the farm.
During their afternoon break under the welcoming shade from the branches of a poplar tree, the children chatted and laughed while once again snacking on some of the fresh vegetables that they had harvested. Before going back to work, they judged the angle of the sun and estimated how much longer they would work before returning home. Sarah didn’t participate much in the discussion. Jessie weighed heavily on her mind, and she wasn’t certain that she wanted to return home and face the children who were suffering from the mysterious illness.
A buggy sat in the gravel next to the front door of the orphanage as the children returned from the fields. The horse shook its head and swung its tail to clear the flies from its back. The summer of 1920 had been a hot one, and the flies and gnats were everywhere, buzzing and biting everyone and everything. The director of the orphanage, Mrs. Alder, stood on the porch and gathered the returning children. They were not to go inside.
“A very important man, Dr. Joseph Goldberger, is here to examine the sick ones,” she began. “You will need to eat your dinner out here on the porch as he works inside. I’ve already brought your cornbread out here. You can go around the house to the pump to wash up, but please keep your voices down. The little ones might be infectious. We don’t want you getting sick,” Mrs. Alder flatly stated as she looked at the floorboards of the porch. As the children worked through the heat of the afternoon, they called to each other and sang. Knowing that others were there sharing in the chore made the work easier. Occasionally, one of them would leave the plant that was being worked and dart down a row to start a game of tag. Diversions made the time go by more quickly, but they were careful not to be caught by the owner of the farm.
During their afternoon break under the welcoming shade from the branches of a poplar tree, the children chatted and laughed while once again snacking on some of the fresh vegetables that they had harvested. Before going back to work, they judged the angle of the sun and estimated how much longer they would work before returning home. Sarah didn’t participate much in the discussion. Jessie weighed heavily on her mind, and she wasn’t certain that she wanted to return home and face the children who were suffering from the mysterious illness.
A buggy sat in the gravel next to the front door of the orphanage as the children returned from the fields. The horse shook its head and swung its tail to clear the flies from its back. The summer of 1920 had been a hot one, and the flies and gnats were everywhere, buzzing and biting everyone and everything. The director of the orphanage, Mrs. Alder, stood on the porch and gathered the returning children. They were not to go inside. “A very important man, Dr. Joseph Goldberger, is here to examine the sick ones,” she began. “You will need to eat your dinner out here on the porch as he works inside. I’ve already brought your cornbread out here. You can go around the house to the pump to wash up, but please keep your voices down. The little ones might be infectious. We don’t want you getting sick,” Mrs. Alder flatly stated as she looked at the floorboards of the porch.
Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. Was it too late for Jessie and the others? Couldn’t this important doctor save them? He might have a special medicine that could make all the little ones better! Sarah ate quickly, thinking of her friend and hoping for a possible cure that would make her smile again.
Twilight brought a hush to the still air of Georgia. Leaning against the old porch rails, Sarah began to nod off. Suddenly, Dr. Goldberger appeared. He spoke in hushed tones to the adults as their anxious demeanor gave way to thankful smiles. Sarah knew that Jessie would be stronger soon.
Dr. Goldberger turned to the children sitting on the porch. “Your friends have pellagra,” he explained wearily. “It’s not a disease that you can catch. They are lacking an important vitamin, niacin, in their diet. They will be just fine once they eat food other than corn. They need green vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs if they are to be cured.” Dr. Goldberger patted Ms. Alder’s hand. You’ll see a change in a few days. They will come out of this very quickly. You should see improvement in just a few days.”
Sarah would remember this day for the rest of her life. She turned on her cot to listen to Jessie’s quiet breathing as her friend finally settled down into a deep sleep. Sarah’s smile turned into thankful tears that streamed down her face. Tomorrow, she would ask the farmer if she could have a few green vegetables and an egg or two to bring back to the orphanage for the little ones. As Sarah drifted off to sleep, she realized that her work in the fields could help bring an end to Jessie’s pain. Instead of hating her work, she would rejoice in it. Tomorrow, she would be grateful for her chance to harvest and gather food that would cure them all. After Sarah learns that a few green vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs could cure her best friend, Jessie, she decides she would ask the farmer for a few vegetables and an egg to bring back to the orphanage.
Write a narrative describing the next day's events from Sarah's perspective.
Be sure to:
Establish a context and point of view and introduce a narrator and/or characters.
Organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
Use ideas and details from the passage.
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and to signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects the experiences or events.
An hour later, all of the older children gathered on the front porch for the walk to the nearby fields. They would spend the day weeding the precise rows of crops and gathering the corn, onions, beans, and peas that had already ripened. Sarah silently joined them without returning inside to her sleeping area. Her dripping hair and wet shirt would dry soon enough in the heat of the day. She knew Jessie and five other younger children would still be upstairs, lying on their small cots, staring at the ceiling, too weak to get up. The older children were fine, and the tiny ones seemed well, but the middle ones, the five- to ten-year-olds, were slowly slipping away. They ate their breakfast, lunch, and dinner of cornmeal mush and cornbread with little interest, barely able to finish half of it, and washing it all down with a cup of water. The rash was spreading up their thin bodies at an alarming rate. Sarah whispered an unheard goodbye to Jessie as the children dutifully walked to the field to begin their day’s work. She hoped that Jessie would still be there when she returned from the fields.
By noon, Sarah was covered in dirt and exhausted. She hated working the farm. It was hot and demanding work, but it was expected of her. Her summers were spent helping the orphanage by laboring in the sun. She wished that she could be back by Jessie’s side reading to her, telling her stories, making certain that she knew her numbers and letters, but it was required of her that she spend her day helping to ensure that the crop was healthy and fruitful.
The children stopped their labor at noon to eat a chunk of cornbread and a few raw vegetables from the ground. The wife of the owner of the farm came around and offered each of them a small cup of milk, which was gratefully accepted. Lunch was the only time that they had a chance to taste the delicious and sweet whiteness. Except for the tiny ones, the children at the orphanage only had water with each meal, pulled up through the pump from the underground well. Jessie would enjoy some milk, Sarah thought, but Jessie would have to be able to work the farm for the treat, and she might never be well enough to be of any help. Sarah wiped her mouth and returned to the field to gather more beans. As the children worked through the heat of the afternoon, they called to each other and sang. Knowing that others were there sharing in the chore made the work easier. Occasionally, one of them would leave the plant that was being worked and dart down a row to start a game of tag. Diversions made the time go by more quickly, but they were careful not to be caught by the owner of the farm.
During their afternoon break under the welcoming shade from the branches of a poplar tree, the children chatted and laughed while once again snacking on some of the fresh vegetables that they had harvested. Before going back to work, they judged the angle of the sun and estimated how much longer they would work before returning home. Sarah didn’t participate much in the discussion. Jessie weighed heavily on her mind, and she wasn’t certain that she wanted to return home and face the children who were suffering from the mysterious illness.
A buggy sat in the gravel next to the front door of the orphanage as the children returned from the fields. The horse shook its head and swung its tail to clear the flies from its back. The summer of 1920 had been a hot one, and the flies and gnats were everywhere, buzzing and biting everyone and everything. The director of the orphanage, Mrs. Alder, stood on the porch and gathered the returning children. They were not to go inside.
“A very important man, Dr. Joseph Goldberger, is here to examine the sick ones,” she began. “You will need to eat your dinner out here on the porch as he works inside. I’ve already brought your cornbread out here. You can go around the house to the pump to wash up, but please keep your voices down. The little ones might be infectious. We don’t want you getting sick,” Mrs. Alder flatly stated as she looked at the floorboards of the porch. As the children worked through the heat of the afternoon, they called to each other and sang. Knowing that others were there sharing in the chore made the work easier. Occasionally, one of them would leave the plant that was being worked and dart down a row to start a game of tag. Diversions made the time go by more quickly, but they were careful not to be caught by the owner of the farm.
During their afternoon break under the welcoming shade from the branches of a poplar tree, the children chatted and laughed while once again snacking on some of the fresh vegetables that they had harvested. Before going back to work, they judged the angle of the sun and estimated how much longer they would work before returning home. Sarah didn’t participate much in the discussion. Jessie weighed heavily on her mind, and she wasn’t certain that she wanted to return home and face the children who were suffering from the mysterious illness.
A buggy sat in the gravel next to the front door of the orphanage as the children returned from the fields. The horse shook its head and swung its tail to clear the flies from its back. The summer of 1920 had been a hot one, and the flies and gnats were everywhere, buzzing and biting everyone and everything. The director of the orphanage, Mrs. Alder, stood on the porch and gathered the returning children. They were not to go inside. “A very important man, Dr. Joseph Goldberger, is here to examine the sick ones,” she began. “You will need to eat your dinner out here on the porch as he works inside. I’ve already brought your cornbread out here. You can go around the house to the pump to wash up, but please keep your voices down. The little ones might be infectious. We don’t want you getting sick,” Mrs. Alder flatly stated as she looked at the floorboards of the porch.
Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. Was it too late for Jessie and the others? Couldn’t this important doctor save them? He might have a special medicine that could make all the little ones better! Sarah ate quickly, thinking of her friend and hoping for a possible cure that would make her smile again.
Twilight brought a hush to the still air of Georgia. Leaning against the old porch rails, Sarah began to nod off. Suddenly, Dr. Goldberger appeared. He spoke in hushed tones to the adults as their anxious demeanor gave way to thankful smiles. Sarah knew that Jessie would be stronger soon.
Dr. Goldberger turned to the children sitting on the porch. “Your friends have pellagra,” he explained wearily. “It’s not a disease that you can catch. They are lacking an important vitamin, niacin, in their diet. They will be just fine once they eat food other than corn. They need green vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs if they are to be cured.” Dr. Goldberger patted Ms. Alder’s hand. You’ll see a change in a few days. They will come out of this very quickly. You should see improvement in just a few days.”
Sarah would remember this day for the rest of her life. She turned on her cot to listen to Jessie’s quiet breathing as her friend finally settled down into a deep sleep. Sarah’s smile turned into thankful tears that streamed down her face. Tomorrow, she would ask the farmer if she could have a few green vegetables and an egg or two to bring back to the orphanage for the little ones. As Sarah drifted off to sleep, she realized that her work in the fields could help bring an end to Jessie’s pain. Instead of hating her work, she would rejoice in it. Tomorrow, she would be grateful for her chance to harvest and gather food that would cure them all. After Sarah learns that a few green vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs could cure her best friend, Jessie, she decides she would ask the farmer for a few vegetables and an egg to bring back to the orphanage.
Write a narrative describing the next day's events from Sarah's perspective.
Be sure to:
Establish a context and point of view and introduce a narrator and/or characters.
Organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
Use ideas and details from the passage.
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and to signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects the experiences or events.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Sarah’s eyelids fluttered open as dawn light seeped into the orphanage room, filtering through the creaky wooden shutters. She sat up slowly, her heart racing with excitement and purpose. The events of yesterday were a vibrant tapestry woven into her mind, each thread colorful with the hope Dr. Goldberger had gifted them. Jessie, her sweet friend, was going to be okay. They were going to fight this together.
After a quick wash at the pump, Sarah hurriedly dressed in her work clothes—patchy but clean enough for the day ahead. As she tied the frayed laces of her boots, she couldn’t help but glance at Jessie’s cot. Her friend was still asleep, but the rise and fall of her chest was a comforting sight. She wanted to cherish this moment before dashing to the fields. Today wasn’t just about work; it was about empowerment. She would bring back sustenance and hope.
Gathering her courage, Sarah tiptoed out of the sleeping area and joined the older kids outside where Mrs. Alder was rounding them up for the day’s labor. The sun hovered low above the horizon, promising another sweltering day, but Sarah didn’t mind the heat. She felt buoyed by determination.
As they walked to the fields, the excitement bubbled inside her, battling against the fatigue from the previous day’s labor. Each step felt like a beat of a drum, echoing her intention. “Hey, are you okay?” called out Thom, one of her fellow workers, noticing her distracted expression.
“Yeah, I just have something I need to do today,” Sarah replied, a smile breaking across her face.
A knot formed in Sarah's stomach as the rows of the farm stretched before her. The land was generous, with green stalks and glistening soil; this was where she would sow seeds of hope. She picked her spot and began with the usual tasks—pulling weeds, loosening the soil, and carefully gathering fresh vegetables. The physical labor was demanding, but the thrill of purpose turned every tug at the earth into an effort that felt light and fulfilling.
Soon, lunchtime approached. Sarah's stomach howled with hunger, but today her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Jessie. Once they lined up for their mid-day meal, Sarah hurriedly ate her cornbread, the familiar taste almost lost on her as she thought of the bounty she needed to procure.
“Sarah? Are you all right? You’ve barely touched your food,” Jenna asked, concern creasing her brow.
“I’m fine! Just… thinking. I need to speak to the farmer after lunch,” Sarah said, her voice tinged with urgency.
Finally, with lunch finished, another wave of determination washed over Sarah. She had to approach Mr. Jenkins, the farmer, before the rest of the children returned to work. She spotted him not far off, tending to a cart of freshly harvested produce. Heart pounding, Sarah walked over, her hands clenching and unclenching as she wrestled with her nerves.
“Mr. Jenkins!” she called, and he turned, wiping the sweat from his brow. He seemed surprised to see her approaching rather than the other kids.
“Hello, Sarah! What brings you over?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting.
“Sir, um…” she started, finding the right words stuck in her throat. “We need help at the orphanage. Jessie, my friend, and some of the others are really sick. Dr. Goldberger said they need vegetables and eggs to get better. Could you spare a few?” Her voice trembled with hope, and she searched his face for understanding.
Mr. Jenkins paused, and his expression shifted from surprise to contemplation. “You’re a good friend, Sarah. I must say, it’s rare to see one so dedicated to others. Of course, I’ll help. Here, let’s see what I can spare.”
Gratefulness washed over Sarah like a cool breeze. Together, they began gathering the freshest vegetables: crisp green beans, bright orange carrots, and a few shiny cucumbers. “I’ll even throw in a dozen eggs,” Mr. Jenkins said with a smile, filling a sack full of the small treasures. Sarah’s heart swelled, a smile blooming on her lips as she could barely contain her excitement.
“Thank you, Mr. Jenkins! This will help them so much!” she exclaimed, her spirit soaring.
As they finished loading her up, she realized her work in the fields had dual purpose today. She was not just laboring for her own sustenance; she was bringing nourishment and hope back home—supporting her friend who had faced darkness with the promise of healing.
The sun began to hang low in the sky as she walked back towards the orphanage, the weight of the sack heavy in her hands but light against the buoyancy of her spirit. The porch was quiet as she approached, but her heart raced with anticipation. Inside, Jessie would be waking soon, and Sarah could already picture the smile on her friend’s face upon hearing the news.
When Sarah entered the orphanage, the smell of the vegetables filled the air and a wave of relief surged through her. She couldn’t wait to share this joy with Jessie and the others.
“Sarah!” one of the younger children exclaimed, rushing toward her. “What did you bring back?”
Her voice trembled as she replied, “Something very special.”
As she moved to Jessie’s cot, Sarah’s excitement erupted. “Wake up, Jessie! I have something incredible for you!” Her friend stirred, the slow blink of her eyes brightening as they met Sarah’s engaged gaze.
“What is it?” Jessie mumbled, still caught in the remnants of sleep.
“Food, Jessie! Fresh food! We’re going to make you better!” Sarah declared, her voice soaring with enthusiasm.
Jessie’s eyes widened in surprise as Sarah shared the news. Joy and urgency filled the room; Jessie’s spirit ignited from the hope flowering in Sarah’s heart. Immediately, they set to work chopping and mixing the vegetables, with Sarah leading the charge.
As twilight settled over Georgia, the promise of restoration flickered like the fireflies outside. The laughter and chatter from the little ones filled the orphanage, drowning out fears that had settled too long in their hearts. Sarah felt a warm glow in her chest, knowing that her simple act of determination had brought them all a step closer to healing.
Tomorrow would come with new challenges, but in that moment, with her friend close by and hope in abundance, all she could feel was the power of friendship and the promise of brighter days ahead.
After a quick wash at the pump, Sarah hurriedly dressed in her work clothes—patchy but clean enough for the day ahead. As she tied the frayed laces of her boots, she couldn’t help but glance at Jessie’s cot. Her friend was still asleep, but the rise and fall of her chest was a comforting sight. She wanted to cherish this moment before dashing to the fields. Today wasn’t just about work; it was about empowerment. She would bring back sustenance and hope.
Gathering her courage, Sarah tiptoed out of the sleeping area and joined the older kids outside where Mrs. Alder was rounding them up for the day’s labor. The sun hovered low above the horizon, promising another sweltering day, but Sarah didn’t mind the heat. She felt buoyed by determination.
As they walked to the fields, the excitement bubbled inside her, battling against the fatigue from the previous day’s labor. Each step felt like a beat of a drum, echoing her intention. “Hey, are you okay?” called out Thom, one of her fellow workers, noticing her distracted expression.
“Yeah, I just have something I need to do today,” Sarah replied, a smile breaking across her face.
A knot formed in Sarah's stomach as the rows of the farm stretched before her. The land was generous, with green stalks and glistening soil; this was where she would sow seeds of hope. She picked her spot and began with the usual tasks—pulling weeds, loosening the soil, and carefully gathering fresh vegetables. The physical labor was demanding, but the thrill of purpose turned every tug at the earth into an effort that felt light and fulfilling.
Soon, lunchtime approached. Sarah's stomach howled with hunger, but today her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Jessie. Once they lined up for their mid-day meal, Sarah hurriedly ate her cornbread, the familiar taste almost lost on her as she thought of the bounty she needed to procure.
“Sarah? Are you all right? You’ve barely touched your food,” Jenna asked, concern creasing her brow.
“I’m fine! Just… thinking. I need to speak to the farmer after lunch,” Sarah said, her voice tinged with urgency.
Finally, with lunch finished, another wave of determination washed over Sarah. She had to approach Mr. Jenkins, the farmer, before the rest of the children returned to work. She spotted him not far off, tending to a cart of freshly harvested produce. Heart pounding, Sarah walked over, her hands clenching and unclenching as she wrestled with her nerves.
“Mr. Jenkins!” she called, and he turned, wiping the sweat from his brow. He seemed surprised to see her approaching rather than the other kids.
“Hello, Sarah! What brings you over?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting.
“Sir, um…” she started, finding the right words stuck in her throat. “We need help at the orphanage. Jessie, my friend, and some of the others are really sick. Dr. Goldberger said they need vegetables and eggs to get better. Could you spare a few?” Her voice trembled with hope, and she searched his face for understanding.
Mr. Jenkins paused, and his expression shifted from surprise to contemplation. “You’re a good friend, Sarah. I must say, it’s rare to see one so dedicated to others. Of course, I’ll help. Here, let’s see what I can spare.”
Gratefulness washed over Sarah like a cool breeze. Together, they began gathering the freshest vegetables: crisp green beans, bright orange carrots, and a few shiny cucumbers. “I’ll even throw in a dozen eggs,” Mr. Jenkins said with a smile, filling a sack full of the small treasures. Sarah’s heart swelled, a smile blooming on her lips as she could barely contain her excitement.
“Thank you, Mr. Jenkins! This will help them so much!” she exclaimed, her spirit soaring.
As they finished loading her up, she realized her work in the fields had dual purpose today. She was not just laboring for her own sustenance; she was bringing nourishment and hope back home—supporting her friend who had faced darkness with the promise of healing.
The sun began to hang low in the sky as she walked back towards the orphanage, the weight of the sack heavy in her hands but light against the buoyancy of her spirit. The porch was quiet as she approached, but her heart raced with anticipation. Inside, Jessie would be waking soon, and Sarah could already picture the smile on her friend’s face upon hearing the news.
When Sarah entered the orphanage, the smell of the vegetables filled the air and a wave of relief surged through her. She couldn’t wait to share this joy with Jessie and the others.
“Sarah!” one of the younger children exclaimed, rushing toward her. “What did you bring back?”
Her voice trembled as she replied, “Something very special.”
As she moved to Jessie’s cot, Sarah’s excitement erupted. “Wake up, Jessie! I have something incredible for you!” Her friend stirred, the slow blink of her eyes brightening as they met Sarah’s engaged gaze.
“What is it?” Jessie mumbled, still caught in the remnants of sleep.
“Food, Jessie! Fresh food! We’re going to make you better!” Sarah declared, her voice soaring with enthusiasm.
Jessie’s eyes widened in surprise as Sarah shared the news. Joy and urgency filled the room; Jessie’s spirit ignited from the hope flowering in Sarah’s heart. Immediately, they set to work chopping and mixing the vegetables, with Sarah leading the charge.
As twilight settled over Georgia, the promise of restoration flickered like the fireflies outside. The laughter and chatter from the little ones filled the orphanage, drowning out fears that had settled too long in their hearts. Sarah felt a warm glow in her chest, knowing that her simple act of determination had brought them all a step closer to healing.
Tomorrow would come with new challenges, but in that moment, with her friend close by and hope in abundance, all she could feel was the power of friendship and the promise of brighter days ahead.