Trigger Lines
Scenario:
The wind was sharp that morning. Kiri stood atop the ridge, staring at the horizon. The plains had grown quiet—too quiet. The game was gone. Her brother pointed to a faint trail of smoke rising in the distance.
“We should go there,” he said.
Kiri frowned. “We don’t know who lives there.”
Then their grandmother whispered, “I saw that smoke once before. That’s where the river bends, and the fish are plenty.”
Question:
Which line most likely caused Kiri to decide to move toward the smoke?
A. “We don’t know who lives there.”
B. “The plains had grown quiet—too quiet.”
C. “That’s where the river bends, and the fish are plenty.”
C. “That’s where the river bends, and the fish are plenty.” ✅
Scenario:
Tari had always followed the rules. Fire was the elder’s tool — not hers. But when the cave grew colder, and her younger brother coughed through the night, she stared at the stones in her hand.
She struck them.
Question:
How does Tari change during this moment?
A. From cautious to courageous after breaking a rule
B. From confident to confused when the fire doesn’t start
C. From angry to peaceful after using fire
A. From cautious to courageous after breaking a rule ✅
Dialogue:
Rika: “We should move north. The snow is too heavy here.”
Dama: “But look — the river is still flowing. That means the ground is warm enough to plant.”
Question:
Why is Dama’s last line persuasive?
A. It uses a command to tell Rika what to do
B. It explains why snow is better for hunting
C. It connects a visible sign (the river) to a new idea (farming)
✅ C. It connects a visible sign (the river) to a new idea (farming)
Janu looked at the stick in his hand. It was smooth, but useless against the tough hide of the wild boar. His sister handed him a stone. “Maybe if we tie this on.”
Janu hesitated. The others laughed at the idea of changing tools.
But then he saw the dried blood on her hand.
“I missed yesterday,” she said. “It was too fast.”
Question:
Which line most influences Janu’s decision to try using the stone tool?
A. “Janu looked at the stick in his hand.”
B. “The others laughed at the idea of changing tools.”
C. “Maybe if we tie this on.”
✅ B. “The others laughed at the idea of changing tools.”
cenario:
Dren had always hunted alone. He trusted his own feet, his own aim. But when he slipped crossing the stream, it was Mala who pulled him out.
“We hunt together,” she said simply.
The next day, he called her to join.
Question:
What change happens in Dren, and what causes it?
A. He becomes more cautious after slipping in the stream
B. He becomes more cooperative after Mala helps him
C. He becomes a better hunter after learning from Mala
✅ B. He becomes more cooperative after Mala helps him
Dialogue:
Kanu: “My spear broke. I can’t hunt.”
Mala: “Then try this net. It’s lighter, and I caught two rabbits yesterday.”
Question:
Why is Mala’s line persuasive?
A. It brags about her skills
B. It changes the subject
C. It provides evidence that the new tool works
✅ C. It provides evidence that the new tool works
✅ Question 3: “The Ice Path”
Scenario:
The ice had started to crack beneath their feet. The mammoth herd was nowhere in sight. One of the elders muttered, “We were never meant to cross this far.”
Luna gripped her mother’s coat.
Then her mother said, “If we stay, we starve. If we move, we have a chance.”
Question:
Which line most influences Luna’s next action?
A. “The ice had started to crack beneath their feet.”
B. “We were never meant to cross this far.”
C. “Luna gripped her mother’s coat.”
✅ A. “The ice had started to crack beneath their feet.”
Scenario:
Kanu’s spear broke just before the hunt. He felt shame flood his chest. “I have nothing to offer,” he muttered.
But his cousin handed him a woven net. “Try this,” she said.
He returned that night with two hares.
Question:
How did Kanu change — and what triggered it?
A. He changed from weak to strong after lifting the net
B. He changed from doubtful to resourceful after trying a new tool
C. He changed from lazy to hardworking after being embarrassed
✅ B. He changed from doubtful to resourceful after trying a new tool
Dialogue:
Tovi: “Why do we need fire if we’re leaving tomorrow?”
Leena: “Because the night still comes — even if we don’t stay.”
Question:
Why is Leena’s line persuasive?
A. It shows she doesn’t want to leave
B. It presents a truth that applies no matter what they decide
C. It repeats what Tovi already said
✅ B. It presents a truth that applies no matter what they decide
Scenario:
The cave was dark, and the cold was setting in. Niko held the two rocks tightly, unsure if it would work.
“This is foolish,” his cousin muttered.
Niko remembered the day the saber-tooth took their brother — the fire had kept it away.
He struck the rocks.
Question:
Which line most directly causes Niko to try to make fire?
A. “The cave was dark, and the cold was setting in.”
B. “This is foolish,” his cousin muttered.
C. “Niko remembered the day the saber-tooth took their brother…”
A. “The cave was dark, and the cold was setting in.”
Scenario:
Mira stood over the first planted seeds. She missed the freedom of following herds, swimming in rivers, climbing trees.
But she thought of the grain they'd grow, of her sister's thin frame, and whispered, “Just one season. We’ll try.”
Question:
Which best describes Mira’s change?
A. From explorer to warrior
B. From traveler to settler
C. From leader to follower
✅ B. From traveler to settler
Dialogue:
Elder: “We’ve always followed the herds.”
Sari: “Yes — and we’ve always starved when the herds vanish.”
Question:
Why is Sari’s line persuasive?
A. It uses a story from her childhood
B. It praises the elder’s decision
C. It uses the elder’s logic to prove a different point
✅ C. It uses the elder’s logic to prove a different point
🔥 Double or Nothing Bonus – Question 5: “Settle or Go”
Scenario:
Sela looked out at the empty fields. “If we plant now, we’ll have to protect it,” she said.
Toma replied, “But we’ll finally stop moving.”
Their father added, “We left the highlands for this. If we go back, we go back to hunger.”
Sela thought of her baby sister’s tiny ribs. She turned and grabbed a stick.
Question:
Which line most likely triggered Sela’s final decision to stay and farm?
A. “If we plant now, we’ll have to protect it.”
B. “But we’ll finally stop moving.”
C. “If we go back, we go back to hunger.”
✅ A. “If we plant now, we’ll have to protect it.”
Scenario:
A stranger approached the edge of the group’s fire. Everyone froze. Raku stepped forward, ready to chase him away.
Then the stranger spoke: “I know where the snow geese sleep.”
Raku lowered his weapon.
Question:
What change happens in Raku — and why?
A. He becomes braver because others are afraid
B. He becomes more suspicious because the stranger talks
C. He becomes more powerful because of his weapon
D. He becomes more open-minded because of what the stranger says
✅ D. He becomes more open-minded because of what the stranger says
🔥 Double or Nothing – Question 5 (Revised): “First Seeds”
Dialogue:
Mina: “We’ve never farmed before.”
Jari: “That’s true. But we also used to not know how to make fire. Now we carry it with us.”
Question:
Why is Jari’s line persuasive?
A. It uses past success with change to support trying something new
B. It warns Mina that fire is dangerous
C. It says that learning takes too long
✅A. It uses past success with change to support trying