Details That Reveal Setting: Fiction/Drama Practice Test

Read the excerpt from an original drama.

Stage directions: A small theater lobby. A donation thermometer poster shows the red line far below “GOAL.” A stack of programs is reused; the date is crossed out and replaced with pen. A jar labeled “CHANGE FOR TICKETS” contains only pennies.

USHER: Welcome.

PATRON: Is it still ten dollars?

USHER: It’s whatever you can.

What do the bolded details most strongly suggest about the setting?

Read the excerpt from an original drama.

Stage directions: A small clinic’s billing office. A sign reads: “PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE—ASK.” A shredder bin overflows with torn insurance letters. A sticky note on the phone says: “HOLD MUSIC—NEW RECORD: 2 HOURS.”

BILLER: We can set up installments.

PATIENT: I can’t even set up groceries.

BILLER: Then we start small.

What do the bolded details most strongly suggest about the setting?