Read the following story to answer these TWO questions: What is the theme (moral or lesson of a story) of this passage? And, How do you know? (Provide details from the passage that helped you determine this.) Write 2-5 full sentences answering the question.

Question

George loved video games. He bought every video game that came out, and he prided himself on being the first person to try out new games. George's Aunt Rachel sent him a hundred dollars for his birthday every year, and this year, about two weeks before his birthday, Nintendo released a brand new game. George just had to have it! The game cost a hundred dollars. He just knew he would have the money in a few weeks, but he wanted the game right now! In order to get the game, George borrowed money from everyone he knew: five dollars here, ten dollars there, confident that when he received his birthday card from his aunt that he would be able to repay his debts. Finally, a day after his birthday, a box arrived for George. Inside was a very nice shirt, a birthday gift from his aunt. "I thought I would do something different this year," she wrote inside of a card in which there was no money. "I hope you like the shirt," she wrote.

Answer 1

The theme of this passage is the consequences of impulsivity and greed. George's impulsive desire to have the new video game led him to borrow money that he couldn't repay, showing that his greed for instant gratification caused him financial trouble. This is evident in how George borrowed money from everyone he knew without considering the consequences, only to end up with a gift that he did not want. Ultimately, the passage teaches the importance of patience, responsibility, and considering the consequences of one's actions.