Creative Cuisine by Marie Dever

Question

Levi grated lemon zest into the whipped cream cheese and jabbed his pinky in the sweet icing for a sample. He suspected his latest creation required powdered sugar, so he located the canister and sprinkled raw sugar into his concoction. His second taste test revealed that his lemon cream pies were developing perfectly. The recipe had appeared in a simpler form on a teen cooking Web site, but Levi contemplated the recipe for days before attempting it. When he was satisfied that he could make it unique with final touches like lemon zest, he proceeded to the kitchen.

After his family finished Levi's supper—chicken and vegetable stir-fry— Levi placed a miniature pastry before each family member and enjoyed their praise. Levi knew that everyone loved having a creative chef in the family, especially one who volunteered for dinner duty almost every night of the week.

As his relatives dipped their spoons into the cool cream, Levi's grandma spoke up about a flyer she’d noticed in the grocery store. A local gourmet restaurant sought student interns. Before Levi could add his thoughts on the opportunity, his family buzzed with excitement—they unanimously agreed that Levi was the perfect person for the job. Levi's family wouldn't let him neglect the chance to be a chef in an esteemed restaurant.

His sister drove him to the audition—an obstacle course of cooking tests to help the owners of the restaurant select an assistant. At the audition, the head chef explained that an intern's job was to mimic the head chef's menu—not to create a new one; therefore, the students must recreate the restaurant's dishes to earn the job. Levi looked around at the other candidates. He didn't know about them, but trying not to be creative would be difficult for him.

First, the potential chefs had to make an appetizer that consisted of a hardboiled egg drizzled with cheese and herbs. As soon as Levi smelled the finished dish, he knew some salsa would add kick, but he held back—he assembled the dish as the chef had ordered. Next, Levi prepared the main dish—zucchini pasta. Levi wanted to add sausage. His mother made this exact recipe, but with sausage, and it was Levi's favorite meal; however, he held back again. This time he noticed that other applicants jazzed up their recipes, and the chef even complimented them on their creative takes!

When the chef explained the final dish, Levi created it just as the chef directed—a simple whipped cream with strawberries. Levi knew that adding lemon zest and sugar could make the cream phenomenal, but he prepared the dessert and sat silently while the chef tasted his dish. After the final taste test, the chef announced a bonus round where the candidates could create whatever dish they wanted.

"Now," chef said, "is your chance to be inventive."

Levi made the egg appetizer with salsa, the zucchini pasta with sausage, and the strawberries with lemon cream. When the chef arrived at Levi's workstation, he smiled at the buffet of choices.

"Seems like you have innovative ideas about everything," the chef said.

Finally, the chef announced his decision.

"For knowing when to be creative and when to follow my lead, I nominate Levi for the position."

The rest of the owners' comments were a blur. Levi had impressed the chef with his dishes and his creativity! He was on his way to becoming a real chef!
Question 1
Which of these topics provides the basis for the theme in the passage "Creative Cuisine"?(1 point)
Responses

Competition
Competition

Achieving big dreams
Achieving big dreams

Family relationships
Family relationships

Employment Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
Question 2
In "Creative Cuisine," what kind of person is Levi's grandmother?(1 point)
Responses

quiet and mean
quiet and mean

regretful and sad
regretful and sad

fearful and silent
fearful and silent

helpful and inspiring
helpful and inspiring
Question 3
In "Creative Cuisine," which character trait BEST describes Levi's behavior in his interaction with the head chef?(1 point)
Responses

arrogant
arrogant

fearful
fearful

restrained
restrained

impatient
impatient
Question 4
Which sentence from "Creative Cuisine" does NOT support the idea that Levi's family was supportive of his dream?(1 point)
Responses

“When he was satisfied that he could make it unique with final touches like lemon zest, he proceeded to the kitchen.”
“When he was satisfied that he could make it unique with final touches like lemon zest, he proceeded to the kitchen.”

“Before Levi could add his thoughts on the opportunity, his family buzzed with excitement.”
“Before Levi could add his thoughts on the opportunity, his family buzzed with excitement.”

“Levi's family wouldn't let him neglect the chance to be a chef in an esteemed restaurant.”
“Levi's family wouldn't let him neglect the chance to be a chef in an esteemed restaurant.”

“His sister drove him to the audition—an obstacle course of cooking tests to help the owners of the restaurant select an assistant.”
“His sister drove him to the audition—an obstacle course of cooking tests to help the owners of the restaurant select an assistant.”
Question 5
What is the mood in the following paragraph from “Creative Cuisine”?



His sister drove him to the audition—an obstacle course of cooking tests to help the owners of the restaurant select an assistant. At the audition, the head chef explained that an intern's job was to mimic the head chef's menu—not to create a new one; therefore, the students must recreate the restaurant's dishes to earn the job. Levi looked around at the other candidates. He didn't know about them, but trying not to be creative would be difficult for him.

(1 point)
Responses

Joyful and excited
Joyful and excited

Calm and cheerful
Calm and cheerful

Anxious and uncertain
Anxious and uncertain

Sentimental and reflective
Sentimental and reflective

Answer 1

Here are the answers to your questions based on the passage "Creative Cuisine":

Question 1: Which of these topics provides the basis for the theme in the passage "Creative Cuisine"?

• Achieving big dreams (This reflects Levi's aspiration to pursue his dream of becoming a chef.)

Question 2: In "Creative Cuisine," what kind of person is Levi's grandmother?

• helpful and inspiring (She points out the internship opportunity, showing her support for Levi.)

Question 3: In "Creative Cuisine," which character trait BEST describes Levi's behavior in his interaction with the head chef?

• restrained (Levi holds back his creativity while following the head chef’s orders before the bonus round.)

Question 4: Which sentence from "Creative Cuisine" does NOT support the idea that Levi's family was supportive of his dream?

• “His sister drove him to the audition—an obstacle course of cooking tests to help the owners of the restaurant select an assistant.” (This sentence describes an action but does not explicitly show support for Levi's dream compared to the others.)

Question 5: What is the mood in the following paragraph from “Creative Cuisine”?

• Anxious and uncertain (Levi feels tension about having to suppress his creativity at the audition while looking at the other candidates.)

Feel free to ask if you need further clarification or assistance!