Question

Passage 2: Home Is Far Away


6 “It’s exceedingly small,” I said.

7 “Why, yes, Louisa, yes it is,” my mother whispered, looking around the tiny, empty apartment with melancholy eyes. “We’ve moved to an expensive city,” she sighed, “and since this is our only option, we’re going to make the best of it. Why don’t you go outside on such a beautiful day and explore the neighborhood while I get the kitchen set up and make us something delicious?”

8 I groaned, but not loud enough that she could hear it, because too often, I found her untiring optimism to be exhausting. It wouldn’t bother me so much if I didn’t know it was all a performance; her eyes always gave it away.

9 It was a cloudless, warm day, and a lot of beaming, shouting kids were racing up and down the sunlit street, but they just made me feel trapped and tired. Still, the sidewalk was wide and lined with trees, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to take a walk and listen to music, since music always lifted my mood and made me feel less isolated.

10 I had just begun my stroll when a tap on my shoulder drew such a loud shriek out of me that I was probably more startled than the person who had done the tapping. After taking a few seconds to catch my breath, I pulled off my headphones and stared into the dark eyes of the girl standing before me, smiling broadly.

11 “Yes?” I asked, not trying very hard to conceal my annoyance.

12 “Sorry!” she said with a tone so sugary that I could feel the insincerity oozing off her cloying smile. “I noticed you walking alone, and since I’ve never seen you before, I thought I might welcome you to the neighborhood!”

13 “Yes, I just moved in and it’s nice to meet you,” I mumbled as I turned away and began to put my headphones back on. But she grabbed my arm. Great, I thought. She’s not finished.

14 “I don’t want to keep you because you seem so busy, but I just want to let you know you can stop over at my place anytime! It’s that really big stone house, right over there on the corner,” she beamed while pointing down the street to what looked like a mansion. “We have an enormous backyard with a pool, and we’re always hosting super-fun neighborhood parties! You should come!”

15 I stared at her hand, which was still grasping my arm, until, finally realizing she should stop, she let go. I replied icily, “Thank you, but, as you said, I am incredibly busy, and I need to be going.” Putting on my headphones, pulling up my hood, and turning around quickly to keep her from detaining me any longer, I drifted into the comforting, solitary world of lyrics and beats.

“Home Is Far Away” written for educational purposes.

Now answer the questions. Base your answers on the passages “from My Antonia” and “Home Is Far Away.
What is the best summary of Passage 2?
A. Unhappy about the small apartment she and her mother have moved into, the narrator is out walking to feel better. She becomes annoyed when she is startled by someone tapping on her shoulder.
B. The narrator and her mother have moved to a small apartment in an expensive city. It is a nice day, so the narrator takes a walk. She is startled by a very friendly neighbor who tries to be nice to her.
C. The narrator is walking in a new city when someone taps her on the shoulder and startles her. It turns out to be a friendly new neighbor who invites her to a party at her big house. The narrator listens politely to her new neighbor and then continues her walk.
D. The narrator and her mother have moved to a new city, and neither one is very happy to be there. An overly friendly neighbor tries to start a conversation, but the narrator takes an immediate dislike to her. The narrator makes it clear that she would rather be alone.

Answer 1

B. The narrator and her mother have moved to a small apartment in an expensive city. It is a nice day, so the narrator takes a walk. She is startled by a very friendly neighbor who tries to be nice to her.