Question

The Invisibility Suit
1
Matt watched as his best friend, Reid, struggled to pull on what looked like a shiny astronaut costume over his clothes. Reid was the smartest kid Matt knew, to be sure, but an invisibility suit? Even though it was the year 2056 and invisibility technology had been a dream of scientists for decades, Matt never imagined he’d see the real thing in his lifetime, let alone see it invented by a twelve-year-old boy genius who just happened to be his best friend.

2
“Ta-da!” said Reid. He was fully visible, and he looked ridiculous. Matt responded by laughing hysterically.

3
“I hate to tell you this, but if anything, you look incredibly visible. If you walked into a room full of people, you would be the most noticeable person there!” Matt couldn’t stop laughing.

4
Reid had anticipated this reaction and waited patiently for Matt to finish his mocking critique before very dramatically pulling a pair of safety goggles from his backpack and instructing Matt to put them on. Matt took the glasses, put them on his face, and looked at Reid—but Reid seemed to have completely disappeared.

5
“How did you . . . what is . . . I can’t believe . . .” Matt sputtered to make sense.

6
Reid smiled and reached over to remove the safety goggles from his friend’s face. Matt shook his head as Reid suddenly re-appeared and began speaking. “I began doing research last year,” he said. “I learned that scientists are creating lenses that can bend light and make an object covered in material such as this,” he gestured to the shiny material of the suit he was wearing, “appear to be invisible. This technology will make it so that surgeons can see past their hands, truck drivers will be able to see past obstacles in front of their trucks and be safer on the roads. This technology is going to be incredibly beneficial!”

7
Matt was impressed. Reid went on. “OK, so, as you know, everyone in my family wears glasses. I created a lens from extremely thin film and have secretly placed it in each of their frames. When I walk around my house in this reflection suit this afternoon, no one will know I’m there!” Reid looked triumphant.

8
Matt’s expression clouded. “Hmmm . . . but how will that be “beneficial” like the stuff scientists are developing for surgeons and truck drivers? What you’re talking about just sounds like, well, spying. It doesn’t sound like you, Reid.”

9
“You say that now,” said Reid, “but when you hear about all I am able to accomplish while invisible, you will beg me to make a suit for you.” Matt shrugged reluctantly at his friend, wondering if Reid understood what he was getting himself into.

10
Later that day, Reid was pleased to see that his parents and both sisters were home. Alone in his room, he unpacked his suit and put it on. He walked quickly into his sisters’ bedroom and stood by the window. When the girls walked in, they were chatting excitedly and looking at a list his sister Meg had in her hand.

11
“OK, so all of the kids we invited to Reid’s surprise party have said they can come,” said Meg, checking off items on the list. “That’s great!” replied his younger sister Cora.

12
“Grandma and Grandpa are going to be able to drive in from Chicago, too! Reid is going to be SO surprised!” Reid put both hands up to his invisible face, feeling the shock of learning information he was not supposed to hear.

13
He snuck out of the room as quickly and quietly as he could, but as he stepped out into the hall, he overheard his parents having their own secret conversation by the stairs. Reid’s dad was telling Reid’s mom that he had found the perfect birthday gift for Reid that morning, and Reid’s mom listened excitedly before revealing another surprise for the party.

14
Reid ran as fast as he could to his bedroom and quickly removed the suit. He pulled up his communicator and typed a text message to Matt: “You were right about everything. Am retiring the suit. Will explain everything at school tomorrow.”

What does the word reluctantly mean in paragraph 9?

A.
hesitantly

B.
angrily

C.
suspiciously

D.
uninterestedly

Answer 1

A. hesitantly