KID.1 Making Inferences
Which inference best explains why the narrator feels “decades away” from Natalie despite being only two years apart?
A. Natalie is physically much taller than the narrator.
B. Natalie is emotionally distancing herself as she grows more independent.
C. The narrator is exaggerating to make Natalie feel guilty.
D. Natalie spends most of her time with friends instead of family.
B. Natalie is emotionally distancing herself as she grows more independent.
1. Which statement best expresses a central idea of the passage?
A. Growing up always causes siblings to drift apart permanently.
B. Emotional distance between siblings can change when they learn to support one another.
C. Parents understand their children better than siblings do.
D. Friendships are more important than family relationships.
B. Emotional distance between siblings can change when they learn to support one another.
1. How does the author use Natalie’s dialogue, “You didn’t see anything,” to reveal her character?
A. It shows Natalie is angry at the narrator for interrupting her.
B. It suggests Natalie wants to control the narrator’s actions.
C. It reveals Natalie’s discomfort with showing vulnerability.
D. It proves Natalie does not trust her sister.
C. It reveals Natalie’s discomfort with showing vulnerability.
1. In the sentence “I also felt decades away from her,” what does the word decades most nearly mean as it is used in the passage?
A. A short moment of time
B. A feeling of emotional distance
C. A specific number of calendar years
D. A period of childhood memories
B. A feeling of emotional distance
1. How does the author structure the opening paragraph of the passage?
A. By listing events in chronological order to show the sisters growing up together
B. By comparing the narrator’s emotions to Natalie’s to highlight their differences
C. By explaining a problem and then providing a solution
D. By describing the setting in detail before introducing the characters
B. By comparing the narrator’s emotions to Natalie’s to highlight their differences
What can the reader infer about Natalie’s feelings when she tells the narrator, “You didn’t see anything,” after crying?
A. She is angry that the narrator entered the hallway.
B. She is embarrassed and wants to hide her vulnerability.
C. She believes the narrator caused her sadness.
D. She is trying to play a joke on the narrator.
B. She is embarrassed and wants to hide her vulnerability.
2. Which detail from the passage best supports the central idea that sibling relationships can evolve through empathy?
A. Natalie wants privacy and personal space at a young age.
B. The narrator worries about their parents growing older.
C. The narrator invites Natalie to watch a movie without talking.
D. Natalie keeps her room neat and organized.
C. The narrator invites Natalie to watch a movie without talking.
2. What does the narrator’s action of sitting on the edge of the bed “to take up the smallest possible space” reveal about her character?
A. She is afraid of Natalie’s reaction.
B. She is trying to avoid getting in trouble.
C. She is respectful and sensitive to Natalie’s feelings.
D. She is unsure whether she is allowed in the room.
C. She is respectful and sensitive to Natalie’s feelings.
2. In the sentence “I longed for her cuddles, which she only dispensed when she had upset me,” the word dispensed most nearly means—
A. Refused
B. Gave out sparingly
C. Took away suddenly
D. Forgot completely
B. Gave out sparingly
2. Why does the author include the mother’s dialogue in the middle of the passage?
A. To interrupt the story and shift to a new setting
B. To provide background information that foreshadows future responsibilities
C. To summarize the main conflict between the sisters
D. To explain why Natalie prefers privacy
B. To provide background information that foreshadows future responsibilities
3. Based on the description of Natalie’s room and the broken friendship bracelet, what can the reader infer about Natalie’s situation?
A. She is worried about keeping her room clean.
B. She has lost interest in her belongings.
C. She is struggling with the end of an important friendship.
D. She wants to redecorate her room.
C. She is struggling with the end of an important friendship.
3. Which sentence should be included in an objective summary of the passage?
A. Natalie’s room sounds beautiful and perfectly decorated.
B. The narrator feels jealous of Natalie’s independence.
C. The narrator realizes Natalie is lonely after noticing signs of a broken friendship.
D. The mother’s popcorn looks like heaps of comfort.
C. The narrator realizes Natalie is lonely after noticing signs of a broken friendship.
3. How does the author reveal Natalie’s emotional state through her actions when she “lunged” at the narrator and cried?
A. Natalie is surprised by the narrator’s offer.
B. Natalie is overwhelmed and in need of comfort.
C. Natalie is angry about her broken friendship.
D. Natalie is pretending to be upset.
B. Natalie is overwhelmed and in need of comfort.
3. What does the word frail most nearly mean in the sentence “I wasn’t ready to think about that—my beautiful mother being frail”?
A. Angry and impatient
B. Weak or delicate
C. Confused and forgetful
D. Lonely and isolated
B. Weak or delicate
3. How does the shift from reflection to dialogue affect the structure of the passage?
A. It slows the pacing and removes emotional tension
B. It adds humor and lightens the mood
C. It deepens the emotional impact by revealing relationships through interaction
D. It repeats information already given in the narration
C. It deepens the emotional impact by revealing relationships through interaction
4. Why does the narrator invite Natalie to watch a movie “without talking”?
A. The narrator wants to avoid discussing difficult topics.
B. The narrator believes Natalie dislikes conversation.
C. The narrator understands Natalie needs quiet companionship rather than advice.
D. The narrator is more interested in the movie than Natalie’s feelings.
C. The narrator understands Natalie needs quiet companionship rather than advice.
4. Which statement best summarizes the passage objectively?
A. A younger sibling feels ignored by her perfect sister until a dramatic moment changes everything.
B. Two sisters struggle with growing apart until the younger sister recognizes her older sister’s loneliness and offers support.
C. Natalie is rude and distant, but the narrator proves she is the better sibling.
D. A family prepares for the future while dealing with broken friendships.
B. Two sisters struggle with growing apart until the younger sister recognizes her older sister’s loneliness and offers support.
4. Which detail best shows the narrator’s growth in understanding her sister?
A. The narrator describes Natalie’s room as perfectly organized.
B. The narrator notices the broken friendship bracelet.
C. The narrator compares herself to a shadow.
D. The narrator worries about caring for her parents in the future.
B. The narrator notices the broken friendship bracelet.
4. In the sentence “The veneer of the green curtains added a layer of beauty to the windows,” what does veneer most nearly mean?
A. A thin outer layer
B. A heavy decoration
C. A broken surface
D. A bright color
A. A thin outer layer
4. How does the author organize the scene in Natalie’s bedroom?
A. By presenting a series of cause-and-effect events
B. By using descriptive details to contrast order with emotional struggle
C. By listing objects in the room to establish the setting only
D. By explaining events in reverse chronological order
B. By using descriptive details to contrast order with emotional struggle
5. What can the reader most reasonably infer about the mother when she prepares popcorn before the sisters come to the living room?
A. She overheard their conversation and wants to distract them.
B. She anticipated they would need comfort and togetherness.
C. She planned a movie night earlier in the day.
D. She is unaware that Natalie was upset.
B. She anticipated they would need comfort and togetherness.
5. Which idea is emphasized throughout the passage?
A. Independence is more valuable than close relationships.
B. Parents are responsible for solving sibling conflicts.
C. Understanding another person’s hidden struggles can strengthen relationships.
D. Clean spaces reflect a person’s emotional state.
C. Understanding another person’s hidden struggles can strengthen relationships.
5. How does the author use the mother’s actions to reveal her character?
A. Preparing popcorn shows she prefers routines.
B. Setting up the living room shows she enjoys movie nights.
C. Having popcorn ready shows she is emotionally perceptive and supportive.
D. Waiting in the living room shows she avoids family conflict.
C. Having popcorn ready shows she is emotionally perceptive and supportive.
5. In the sentence “Except for crumbled tissues in the trashcan, nothing seemed unkempt,” the word unkempt most nearly means—
A. Crowded
B. Messy or untidy
C. Old-fashioned
D. Empty
B. Messy or untidy
5. How does the final paragraph contribute to the overall structure of the passage?
A. It introduces a new conflict between the sisters
B. It resolves the central tension by showing emotional connection and comfort
C. It shifts the focus to the parents’ concerns about aging
D. It explains the meaning of earlier events directly to the reader
B. It resolves the central tension by showing emotional connection and comfort