Question
Sarah’s Decision
Sarah stretched out on her narrow cot sensing the stifling heat of the day slowly being replaced by the cooling breezes of the night as they swept through the open window. The darkened room contained the night sounds of the other children as they drifted off to sleep or entered their dreams. In the cot next to her, Jessie tossed fitfully in her sleep, still not well, but Sarah knew that soon she would be better. Reliving the events of the day, Sarah smiled to herself.
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.
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.
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.
Which BEST explains how paragraph 2 contributes to the plot of “Sarah’s Decision”?
In a filmed version of “Sarah’s Decision”, which scene would BEST capture the circumstances of the orphaned children in 1920?
Which theme is BEST represented in the text “Sarah’s Decision”?
A.
One must be careful when working outside to not get too hot.
B.
Hard work can bring personal satisfaction.
C.
Eating healthy is better than eating only what tastes good.
D.
What one views as hard work can bring another person life.
Sarah stretched out on her narrow cot sensing the stifling heat of the day slowly being replaced by the cooling breezes of the night as they swept through the open window. The darkened room contained the night sounds of the other children as they drifted off to sleep or entered their dreams. In the cot next to her, Jessie tossed fitfully in her sleep, still not well, but Sarah knew that soon she would be better. Reliving the events of the day, Sarah smiled to herself.
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.
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.
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.
Which BEST explains how paragraph 2 contributes to the plot of “Sarah’s Decision”?
In a filmed version of “Sarah’s Decision”, which scene would BEST capture the circumstances of the orphaned children in 1920?
Which theme is BEST represented in the text “Sarah’s Decision”?
A.
One must be careful when working outside to not get too hot.
B.
Hard work can bring personal satisfaction.
C.
Eating healthy is better than eating only what tastes good.
D.
What one views as hard work can bring another person life.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here's how to approach the questions about "Sarah's Decision":
1. **How paragraph 2 contributes to the plot**:
- **Explanation**: Paragraph 2 captures Sarah's emotional turmoil regarding Jessie’s illness, which is a pivotal part of the story. Sarah's reluctance to confront her friend reflects her deep-seated fears about loss and her desire to escape from the harsh realities of their lives. This sets the stage for her determination later in the narrative to take action for Jessie’s benefit, highlighting her growth and commitment to helping her friends.
2. **Scene for a filmed version**:
- **Best Scene**: A scene that depicts the children working tirelessly under the sun while being mindful of their sick peers, contrasted with shots of Jessie and the other younger children lying on their cots, would effectively visualize the struggles faced by orphaned children in 1920. This could include the contrast between hard labor in the fields and the vulnerability of those who are sick, emphasizing the harsh conditions of the time.
3. **Best represented theme**:
- **Theme Selection**: D. **What one views as hard work can bring another person life.**
- **Explanation**: This theme captures the essence of Sarah's transformation. Initially viewing her labor as a burden, she comes to understand that her hard work in the fields has the potential to provide food that could cure Jessie and the other sick children. It illustrates how personal sacrifice and perseverance can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of others.
Hence, the analysis of the questions clearly points toward Sarah's evolving sense of purpose through her labor, connected deeply to the welfare of her friend and the other children in the orphanage.
1. **How paragraph 2 contributes to the plot**:
- **Explanation**: Paragraph 2 captures Sarah's emotional turmoil regarding Jessie’s illness, which is a pivotal part of the story. Sarah's reluctance to confront her friend reflects her deep-seated fears about loss and her desire to escape from the harsh realities of their lives. This sets the stage for her determination later in the narrative to take action for Jessie’s benefit, highlighting her growth and commitment to helping her friends.
2. **Scene for a filmed version**:
- **Best Scene**: A scene that depicts the children working tirelessly under the sun while being mindful of their sick peers, contrasted with shots of Jessie and the other younger children lying on their cots, would effectively visualize the struggles faced by orphaned children in 1920. This could include the contrast between hard labor in the fields and the vulnerability of those who are sick, emphasizing the harsh conditions of the time.
3. **Best represented theme**:
- **Theme Selection**: D. **What one views as hard work can bring another person life.**
- **Explanation**: This theme captures the essence of Sarah's transformation. Initially viewing her labor as a burden, she comes to understand that her hard work in the fields has the potential to provide food that could cure Jessie and the other sick children. It illustrates how personal sacrifice and perseverance can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of others.
Hence, the analysis of the questions clearly points toward Sarah's evolving sense of purpose through her labor, connected deeply to the welfare of her friend and the other children in the orphanage.