The Roller Coaster Ride

Question

The Roller Coaster Ride

1 Henry had begged, pleaded, and promised to do all the household chores for a month if his parents would free him from captivity long enough to go to the state fair with his squad. He had commenced his campaign weeks earlier, knowing it would take time and persuasive arguments to convince his parents to relent. A humid summer of slaving in his family’s restaurant stretched out before him. His destiny had been sealed the minute his parents marched him down the block and revealed their secret; they had purchased an abandoned space that had once housed a restaurant. He’d been toiling in that now sparkling storefront since he was old enough to hand out plastic-coated menus. His parents practically lived there; they couldn’t loosen their grip even though they had hired a manager after many stressful days.

2 His sister, Sylvie, the favored child born eight years after Henry, had been more fortunate. By that time, his parents had determined that they could split their time between the restaurant and watching their daughter, so Sylvie got more attention and was not expected to work. Henry picked up the slack after school and they rotated through on weekends so that at least two of them were minding the dinner rush. He wasn’t usually bothered; Sylvie was his sister and her adoring brown eyes were really cute. Every now and then, though, he had a lingering feeling of jealousy when his friends were at parties or school football games, and he was at home with Sylvie pretending to have a grand time.

3 All Henry desired was just one day without a kid sister and a busy dining establishment on his agenda. At last, after ceremoniously exhibiting his final grades (five A’s, three B’s), they yielded, but on one condition. He would have to take Sylvie with him.

4 “Come on,” Henry urged, “please, Mom, Dad?” But they wouldn’t budge. Henry had to take Sylvie along or watch her at home.
Which quote from the story best supports the inference that Henry’s parents are determined to make their restaurant successful?
“His destiny had been sealed the minute his parents marched him down the block and revealed their secret; they had purchased an abandoned space that had once housed a restaurant.” (paragraph 1)
“His parents practically lived there; they couldn’t loosen their grip even though they had hired a manager after many stressful days.” (paragraph 1)
“By that time, his parents had determined that they could split time between the restaurant and watching their daughter, so Sylvie got more attention and was not expected to work.” (paragraph 2)
“At last, after ceremoniously exhibiting his final grades (five A’s, three B’s), they yielded, but on one condition.” (paragraph 3)

Answer 1

The quote that best supports the inference that Henry’s parents are determined to make their restaurant successful is:

“His parents practically lived there; they couldn’t loosen their grip even though they had hired a manager after many stressful days.” (paragraph 1)

This quote indicates the extent to which Henry's parents are committed to the restaurant, as it suggests that they spend nearly all their time there and are deeply involved in its operations, illustrating their determination to make it successful.