Question

In It Together

1

Upstairs, their parents' bedroom door creaked closed, and Michael and Zachary flopped onto the couch. Zachary grabbed the remote and started flipping through channels.

2

"Let's find something good," he said, skipping past cartoons and a boring news show.

3

Suddenly, he stopped, his attention snared by a flashlight beam flickering on-screen as a detective crept through a dark, abandoned factory. Ominous music played in the background as a loud crash blasted from the speakers.

4

"Oh, this is Conundrum 2!" Zachary said excitedly.

5

Michael tensed. They'd watched the first Conundrum with their parents in the middle of the afternoon, and afterward, they'd played board games to help him take his mind off the scary parts.

6

"Maybe we should watch something else," Michael suggested.

7

"Come on, the first one wasn't that bad," Zachary said, eyes glued to the screen. "Besides, we already started it."

8

"Can we at least play checkers after?" pleaded Michael.

9

Distractedly, Zachary said, "Sure, no problem, whatever you want."

10

Michael sighed and pulled a blanket up to his eyes. He didn't want to watch, but turning it off now would be admitting he was scared, and he really didn't want that.

11

The detective had to solve a bunch of puzzles to escape from the building before dawn, and while the movie never said what would happen if he didn't, Michael assumed neither he nor the detective would like the results. In the end, the detective escaped with seconds to spare—but that didn't ease the tension in Michael's entire body.

12

After it was over, Michael and Zachary moved on to checkers, but Michael couldn't take his mind off the movie, especially since Zachary was winning every round. Finally, Zachary pushed the board toward him, causing Michael to jump.

13

"Come on, are you really still scared—want to use my night-light?" teased Zachary. "I'm going to bed, and you should too."

14

Michael attempted to suppress his rising panic, but it was pitch-black outside, and shadows danced on the walls of the house. He put the checkers away, hesitantly climbed the stairs, keeping his back to the wall, and sprinted into his bed. The wind whistled outside, and the house creaked in ways that sounded as though he were in that abandoned factory. Maybe he could use that night-light. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore—he jumped out of bed and headed for Zachary's room, indifferent to how much Zachary might laugh at him.

15

When Michael opened his brother's bedroom door, Zachary was in bed, sitting completely upright with his night-light on. Zachary's voice quivered as he asked who was there.

16

Michael pointed to the night-light, grinning. "I was scared being all alone, and apparently, you were too."

17

Zachary glared at him. Then he relaxed and even smiled. "Maybe a little," he admitted.

18

Michael settled into Zachary's spare bed. All he heard was the quiet breathing of his brother as he fell asleep. Michael descended into sleep soon after, glad that he wasn't alone anymore.

5Question 5
How does the author develop Michael's perspective about scary movies?

A.
by sharing his relationships with his family members
B.
by detailing his anger with his brother
C.
by describing his thoughts and feelings
D.
by revealing his preference for family activities

Answer 1

C. by describing his thoughts and feelings

The passage shows Michael's internal reactions—tensing, pleading to play checkers, pulling a blanket over his eyes, panicking in the dark—which develops his perspective on scary movies.