Practice Test 12
•20 QuestionsRead the story, then answer the question.
Evan had trained for months to run the one-mile race at Field Day. He wasn’t the fastest kid in class, but he liked the steady rhythm of running and the feeling of improving. His goal was simple: finish without stopping.
On Monday, Coach Ramirez posted the running order. Evan’s name was listed in the second heat. “Perfect,” Evan thought. “I’ll watch the first heat and learn.”
That afternoon, Coach Ramirez pulled Evan aside. “We need you in the first heat,” he said. “One runner is sick.” Evan’s stomach dropped. The first heat had the strongest runners. Evan nodded anyway, because saying no felt like quitting before he started.
The next day, Evan tried to run extra laps after school. Halfway through, his side cramped. He bent over, hands on knees, breathing hard. “Great,” he muttered. “Now I’m falling apart.”
At home, his friend Marisol texted: Want to practice pacing together? Evan almost typed “no.” Practicing with someone meant she would see him struggle. But he remembered why he ran in the first place—to get better, not to look perfect. He typed: Sure.
Two days later at the track, Marisol ran beside him and counted steps. “Slow at the start,” she said. Evan wanted to sprint, but he forced himself to match her pace. The cramp didn’t come. When they finished, Evan was sweaty and surprised. “That actually worked,” he said.
On Field Day, the whistle blew, and Evan started in the first heat. The fastest runners shot ahead. Evan’s legs wanted to chase them, but he heard Marisol’s voice in his head: Slow at the start. He kept his pace steady.
Halfway through, another runner stumbled and stepped off the track. Evan’s chest tightened. He wanted to look away, but he focused on the curve ahead. His lungs burned, yet he didn’t stop. In the final stretch, he passed one runner who had started too fast.
Evan crossed the finish line and bent over, laughing between breaths. He hadn’t won, but he had finished without stopping. Coach Ramirez handed him water. “That’s smart running,” he said.
Question: Which option best explains how the episodes build toward the resolution of Evan meeting his goal?
Read the story, then answer the question.
Evan had trained for months to run the one-mile race at Field Day. He wasn’t the fastest kid in class, but he liked the steady rhythm of running and the feeling of improving. His goal was simple: finish without stopping.
On Monday, Coach Ramirez posted the running order. Evan’s name was listed in the second heat. “Perfect,” Evan thought. “I’ll watch the first heat and learn.”
That afternoon, Coach Ramirez pulled Evan aside. “We need you in the first heat,” he said. “One runner is sick.” Evan’s stomach dropped. The first heat had the strongest runners. Evan nodded anyway, because saying no felt like quitting before he started.
The next day, Evan tried to run extra laps after school. Halfway through, his side cramped. He bent over, hands on knees, breathing hard. “Great,” he muttered. “Now I’m falling apart.”
At home, his friend Marisol texted: Want to practice pacing together? Evan almost typed “no.” Practicing with someone meant she would see him struggle. But he remembered why he ran in the first place—to get better, not to look perfect. He typed: Sure.
Two days later at the track, Marisol ran beside him and counted steps. “Slow at the start,” she said. Evan wanted to sprint, but he forced himself to match her pace. The cramp didn’t come. When they finished, Evan was sweaty and surprised. “That actually worked,” he said.
On Field Day, the whistle blew, and Evan started in the first heat. The fastest runners shot ahead. Evan’s legs wanted to chase them, but he heard Marisol’s voice in his head: Slow at the start. He kept his pace steady.
Halfway through, another runner stumbled and stepped off the track. Evan’s chest tightened. He wanted to look away, but he focused on the curve ahead. His lungs burned, yet he didn’t stop. In the final stretch, he passed one runner who had started too fast.
Evan crossed the finish line and bent over, laughing between breaths. He hadn’t won, but he had finished without stopping. Coach Ramirez handed him water. “That’s smart running,” he said.
Question: Which option best explains how the episodes build toward the resolution of Evan meeting his goal?