Question

Getting Together
1
Twelve-year-old Marco Diaz pressed his elderly neighbor’s doorbell, wishing he could escape this horrible chore. He couldn’t believe his parents had volunteered him to help Mrs. Washington repair her bathroom toilet. His father had returned from the hardware store yesterday, relating how he’d encountered Mrs. Washington. She had purchased a new fill valve for her toilet, but she confessed she might have difficulty with all the bending and twisting she’d have to do to install it—so his father had said Marco could help.

2
Marco protested that he was ignorant about toilets, but his father simply responded that Mrs. Washington would teach him and, besides, “neighbors helped neighbors.”

3
Marcus focused on the present as the door opened and a grey-haired woman in a jersey and jeans exclaimed, “Welcome, you must be Marco!”

4
She strode into the bathroom and removed the toilet tank lid. “We need to replace that faulty fill valve, and I can instruct you, but I can’t squash this 70-year-old body into that cramped area anymore.”

5
Marco gazed at the mechanism in bewilderment. “What should I do?”

6
“Down behind the toilet, locate the shut-off valve, then turn it clockwise to switch off the water supply.”

7
Marco peered between the vanity and the toilet and discovered the valve. He squatted and rotated the valve until it was rigid.

image

8
“Now flush the toilet, sponge the liquid into this bucket, and disconnect the supply tube.”

9
She continued to issue directions, and Marco was astonished at her knowledge.

10
“So, Marco, what activities would you be pursuing if you weren’t repairing my plumbing fixtures?”

11
He tried not to think about the fact he had his hands inside a toilet tank. “I’d be playing Castle Creation with my friends, attempting to conquer level 3. Have you ever tried it?”

12
“I’m ignorant about computer games. I have various health problems that keep me almost housebound, so I don’t have any friends to teach me.”

13
Marco tightened the nut below the tank, thinking that he’d be terribly lonely without his friends. “Maybe you can connect with people online, join a literature discussion group or something.”

14
“What a fascinating idea.”

15
Marco grinned, glad he could share his knowledge, too.

16
“After we finish here, I can also show you how to compete against other participants, like on Castle Creation, if you want.”

17
“Absolutely!” she declared.

18
The toilet flushed with effortless efficiency now that it had its new fill valve installed. A sense of pride filled Marco—with Mrs. Washington’s knowledge and his hands, they’d repaired it.

19
Marco followed Mrs. Washington to the kitchen, where she deposited an enormous glass of lemonade. “Enjoy this while I retrieve my laptop.”

20
By the time she returned, Marco had polished off the lemonade.

21
“I’d like to learn about Castle Creation, if you don’t mind,” Mrs. Washington said enthusiastically.

22
“I definitely don’t mind,” Marco said, realizing he was actually excited about teaching her. “Once you’re on Castle Creation, we can connect up and play together sometimes.”

23
“Awesome, Marco, I can’t wait,” she exclaimed.

In the story, what are two reasons why Marco suggests Mrs. Washington join an online literature discussion group?

A.
He wants to teach her.

B.
He is astonished at her knowledge.

C.
He learns she is almost housebound.

D.
He discovers she does not have any friends.

E.
He does not want to think about having his hands inside a toilet tank.

Answer 1

C and D

- She says health problems keep her almost housebound (C).
- She also says she doesn’t have any friends to teach her (D).