Question

The Floral Games
A. Gautam

Nehari couldn’t believe it when she found the purple kamalonium in her compost bin. Thursdays were trash night, so Nehari was in the backyard when she thought something smelled incredibly pleasant. She looked for the source everywhere and found the purple kamalonium.

But only the master heir can grow it, and I'm the only one making compost in the bin, Nehari thought. She closed the lid, looked around to see if anyone else saw her, and sat on the grass. Only when she was on the ground did she see the light in the attic of her neighbor’s house.

Surely, the figure behind the small window was Olam. What did he see? Is he going to steal it? Nehari’s heart pounded like a drum in her school marching band. Olam turned the light in the attic on and off three times in a row. That was his way of saying “Better Watch Out.” I’m not ready to be a protector, Nehari thought as she panicked. Olam, the school bully and the football team captain, could easily overpower her.

Nehari knew it was a school night and past bedtime and that her mother would holler if she didn’t come inside soon. She knew from her botany for wizard books that once it has bloomed, kamalonium needs to be in a glass jar. As if a wizard had heard her, she saw her little sister Sheeri with a glass jar.

“Do I recycle or throw in trash?” Sheeri asked, holding out the jar.

“Come here,” Nehari pulled her sister to her lap and buried her in kisses. “You’re always my helper.”

“Eww. Too many kisses,” Sheeri said, adjusting herself so she would be more comfortable on her big sister’s lap. “Why are you here so late? Mom wants to tell us a story. Hurry.”

“I will come in a minute. Will you give me your scarf? I will bring it right back,” Nehari said, satisfied that she had found the perfect way to conceal the kamalonium in the jar.

After Sheeri ran inside, Nehari gently put the magic plant in the glass jar and covered the glow with the scarf. The jar vibrated and a muffled and soft voice said to Nehari, “I think you’re ready. You are a protector.”
Question
What does the point of view help the reader understand?
Responses
A Sheeri’s thoughts about her sister’s needsSheeri’s thoughts about her sister’s needs
B Olam’s expectations from Nehari and the plant Olam’s expectations from Nehari and the plant
C Nehari’s complex feelings about discovering the plant Nehari’s complex feelings about discovering the plant
D The reasons Nehari has to fight the school bully

Answer 1

C

The third-person limited point of view focuses on Nehari’s thoughts and feelings (her surprise, worry about Olam, and doubts about being a protector), so it helps the reader understand Nehari’s complex feelings about discovering the plant.