"Hope" Is the Thing with Feathers
by Emily Dickinson
"Hope" is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
5 And sweetest - in the Gale1 - is heard –
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash2 the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
10 I've heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
1. a very strong wind
2. to be in a state of distress
Passage 2
The Basketball Tryouts
"I am sorry, Liam. Maybe you can try again next year," said Coach Higgins.
Liam left the gym disappointed for the third year in a row. In that moment, Liam thought that the next year wasn't going to be any different and he would never be able to fulfill his dream.
From a very young age, Liam wished to be a basketball player. But no matter how many training camps he attended or how often he practiced his moves, he was never selected at the school tryouts.
As a freshman in high school, he wasn't tall enough, while as a sophomore, he didn't have the accuracy. Now, in his junior year, his foot speed wasn't quick enough.
When Liam told his parents about what had happened this time, even though they felt sorry for him, they insisted he abandon his basketball dream and instead focus on his college application.
Liam's older sister Missy, who was home from college, also felt sorry for him and wanted to make him feel better.
She sat him down and told him, "There are many basketball players who never gave up and overcame all odds. You should also follow your passion and remain hopeful."
After talking to Missy, Liam felt confident and decided to continue his basketball training so that he could try again in his senior year.
After a few months, the school's basketball team needed a center when a student transferred school mid-year. Coach Higgins approached Liam to join the team, and Liam gladly agreed. He was thankful to his sister: it was because of her he had not missed a single session of his basketball training.
With hope, nothing is ever lost, thought Liam.
4
Which summary best combines both passages?
A.
To some people, birds represent hope because they will sing no matter what.
B.
Never give up hope because you may need it one day.
C.
Hope only exists if you believe in it.
D.
Hope cannot be seen or touched, but it can be felt from within and never goes away.
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