by B. McSwain
I don't like keeping secrets. I would never betray a friend's confidence, but keeping secrets—even noble ones—seems to maneuver me to disaster every time. And this week's secret keeping resulted in no small catastrophe that I'm certain my friends will still be rehearsing even at graduation three years from now. It all started when Garrison and Ty had the bright idea to throw a surprise retirement party for our English teacher, who has been teaching English since "judgment" was spelled "judgement," I'm pretty sure. I told them not to drag me into the secret, but they needed me to keep Mr. Grayson out of the room long enough to set everything up. On the appointed day, I ventured into the hallway outside the teachers' lounge so I could ambush Mr. Grayson with questions the guys provided me. Mr. Grayson looks a lot like Einstein with white hair that sticks out everywhere like a cartoon character after he incurs an electrical shock. I can depend on him having a stack of hardback "classics" under his arm, which serendipitously came in handy when I accidentally bumped into him as he exited the lounge. Suddenly, the floor was tiled in a mosaic of classics, and this was a good thing because I couldn't remember one question I was supposed to ask him. As I helped him pick up the books, it occurred to me to ask about his favorite reads.
"Oh, Cayden, my boy," he began, "these are not just good reads, they are good friends who should be read again and again." He began to hand me one book after another as we walked to class. "Stand with Scout on Boo's porch and learn to see things from someone else's perspective. Laugh and grieve and laugh again with Anne Shirley at Green Gables. Accompany Tom along his mischievous and dangerous escapades as his Aunt Polly worries."
By the time we entered the classroom and everyone yelled "Surprise!", I was loaded with six hefty novels to read. What started as a mere diversion to surprise a beloved teacher resulted in a long, but enjoyable, summer reading program for me!
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What is the best objective summary of the passage?
A.
Cayden and his friends try to surprise their retiring English teacher with a party, but when Cayden is assigned to detain the teacher, he accidentally causes him to drop an armload of books. Before the party begins, Cayden is given a summer reading program.
B.
Cayden doesn't like to keep secrets nor does he read good books, but he has to prevent his English teacher from walking into the classroom too early and spoiling a surprise. Instead, he ends up with a long, boring summer reading list.
C.
Garrison and Ty force their friend Cayden into keeping a big secret and keeping their English teacher out of the classroom while they set up for a surprise retirement party. The surprise is on Cayden when the teacher gives him a long summer reading list.
D.
Cayden, who doesn't like to keep secrets, has to divert his English teacher's attention, while his classmates set up a surprise retirement party for their English teacher. In so doing, Cayden receives a ridiculously long summer reading program.
1 answer
The best objective summary of the passage is:
A. Cayden and his friends try to surprise their retiring English teacher with a party, but when Cayden is assigned to detain the teacher, he accidentally causes him to drop an armload of books. Before the party begins, Cayden is given a summer reading program.
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1 answer
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1 answer