Sylvia found her Aunt Caroline especially aggravating. So when Sylvia was told she would have to spend Thursday afternoon with her aunt, she was peeved. She had wanted to go skating. Sylvia had been looking forward to it all week, yearning to glide and spin around the rink, hearing only the sound of the blades of her skates over the ice. “But Aunt Caroline never has visitors,” Sylvia’s mother reminded her, and Sylvia supposed this was true. Aunt Caroline’s house was large and drafty with a big, overgrown garden at the edge of town.

Question

“She doesn’t have any visitors because she doesn’t want them,” Sylvia told her mother.

“Sylvia, don’t be rude,” her mother said.

But it was true: Caroline discouraged most visitors. Besides Sylvia and her mother, the only person who visited Aunt Caroline was the mailman. “The worst part,” Sylvia grumbled to herself, “is Blinkers.” Blinkers was Aunt Caroline’s very old and very crabby cat. When Sylvia visited, she wasn’t even allowed to play in the garden. She had to quietly sit in the living room, watching Blinkers nap. “And I don’t even like cats!” Sylvia groaned.

Which of the following best describes the conflict in this passage?

A
Aunt Caroline is often lonely.

B
Sylvia’s mother wants to visit her Aunt Caroline.

C
Sylvia would like to go ice skating but has to visit Aunt Caroline.

D
Blinkers the cat wants to escape from Aunt Caroline’s house.

Answer 1

C. Sylvia would like to go ice skating but has to visit Aunt Caroline.

This option best captures the main conflict in the passage, as it highlights Sylvia's desire to go skating and her frustration at being required to spend the afternoon with her aunt instead.