Central Idea & Theme
Which statement best explains how the power outage helps develop the central idea of the passage?
A. It exposes the town’s dependence on technology for safety
B. It creates conflict that forces characters to confront fear
C. It reveals how shared disruption can momentarily unite individuals
D. It demonstrates that isolation is unavoidable in modern society
C. It reveals how shared disruption can momentarily unite individuals
How does the third-person limited point of view affect the reader’s understanding of the events?
A. It allows insight into the motivations of all town residents
B. It limits the passage to observable actions rather than emotions
C. It emphasizes Marcus’s personal reflection on the community’s behavior
D. It distances the reader from the emotional impact of the outage
C. It emphasizes Marcus’s personal reflection on the community’s behavior
Which inference about the town before the outage is most strongly supported by the passage?
A. Residents distrusted one another
B. Social interaction was limited by routine and convenience
C. The town was unprepared for emergencies
D. People preferred isolation to community
B. Social interaction was limited by routine and convenience
The author’s repeated references to light and darkness primarily function as a symbol for —
A. Knowledge and ignorance
B. Safety and danger
C. Technology and progress
D. Connection and isolation
D. Connection and isolation
Which detail best supports the idea that the power outage altered typical social behavior?
A. “Streetlights flickered once before surrendering to the dark”
B. “Neighbors emerged from their houses with candles and flashlights”
C. “People…shared batteries and matches without hesitation”
D. “The crowd slowly dispersed”
C. “People…shared batteries and matches without hesitation”
Which theme is most fully developed across the passage?
A. Communities function best without modern technology
B. Temporary hardship can reveal overlooked human connections
C. Fear often prevents individuals from acting compassionately
D. Progress ultimately weakens relationships
B. Temporary hardship can reveal overlooked human connections
Which moment most clearly signals a shift in Marcus’s perspective?
A. When the streetlights stop working
B. When his grandmother speaks to him
C. When anxiety gives way to laughter
D. When the crowd leaves after the power returns
D. When the crowd leaves after the power returns
What does the town’s reaction to the outage suggest about human behavior?
A. People act rationally only in crisis
B. Shared uncertainty can encourage cooperation
C. Fear leads to poor decision-making
D. Emergencies expose leadership weaknesses
B. Shared uncertainty can encourage cooperation
What effect does the opening description of silence have on the reader?
A. It creates suspense
B. It emphasizes loss
C. It establishes contrast with later interaction
D. It suggests danger
C. It establishes contrast with later interaction
Which sentence most strongly reinforces the author’s message about community?
A. “For the first time in years, the town was quiet.”
B. “Someone started a fire in a metal barrel.”
C. “Laughter replaced anxiety.”
D. “The square, already empty.”
C. “Laughter replaced anxiety.”
Which statement best captures a complex theme supported by the passage?
A. Technology inevitably isolates people from one another
B. Community bonds are strongest during times of crisis but fragile afterward
C. Fear encourages people to work together
D. Isolation is preferable to social obligation
B. Community bonds are strongest during times of crisis but fragile afterward
Why is Marcus’s reaction to the night more significant than the grandmother’s comment?
A. Marcus experiences internal change, while the grandmother already understands the lesson
B. The grandmother causes the outage
C. Marcus disagrees with her interpretation
D. The grandmother is unaware of the town’s behavior
A. Marcus experiences internal change, while the grandmother already understands the lesson
Which statement best explains why the gathering feels unusual to Marcus?
A. He has never experienced a power outage
B. The town rarely gathers without a planned event
C. The darkness forces people into public spaces
D. He dislikes crowds
B. The town rarely gathers without a planned event
How does the author’s word choice contribute to the tone in the middle of the passage?
A. It reinforces panic
B. It shifts from uncertainty to warmth
C. It becomes more formal
D. It grows sarcastic
B. It shifts from uncertainty to warmth
Which piece of evidence best supports the claim that connection is temporary?
A. The gathering in the square
B. The return of electricity
C. The crowd dispersing at dawn
D. The grandmother’s comment
C. The crowd dispersing at dawn
Which interpretation of the ending is most consistent with the development of the theme?
A. The town has permanently changed because of the outage
B. Marcus rejects community in favor of independence
C. The outage proves the town does not need technology
D. The return of power restores comfort but weakens connection
D. The return of power restores comfort but weakens connection
Which detail best illustrates indirect characterization of Marcus?
A. He stands beside his grandmother
B. He notices neighbors sharing supplies
C. He listens quietly to the stories
D. He wonders how long people will remember
D. He wonders how long people will remember
Which conclusion about the ending is most justified by the text?
A. The town will become more unified
B. The town’s behavior will return to normal
C. Marcus will try to recreate the gathering
D. Technology will be abandoned
B. The town’s behavior will return to normal
Why does the author describe the square as “already empty” at the end?
A. To show physical setting
B. To highlight the temporary nature of the connection
C. To emphasize safety concerns
D. To signal a new beginning
B. To highlight the temporary nature of the connection
Which evidence would best support an analysis of contrast in the passage?
A. The flickering lights vs. the fire in the barrel
B. Marcus and his grandmother
C. The moon and the streetlights
D. Silence and laughter
D. Silence and laughter
Which explanation best accounts for the author’s decision not to resolve Marcus’s final reflection?
A. To suggest the town’s future depends on individual choice
B. To emphasize suspense over meaning
C. To criticize the town’s leadership indirectly
D. To indicate that the outage was insignificant
A. To suggest the town’s future depends on individual choice
How would the passage most likely change if told from an omniscient point of view?
A. The theme would become less clear
B. The focus on Marcus’s internal realization would be diluted
C. The story would include more dialogue
D. The tone would become more critical
B. The focus on Marcus’s internal realization would be diluted
Which inference best explains the author’s message about lasting change?
A. Change is impossible without fear
B. Community requires intentional effort beyond crisis
C. Progress prevents unity
D. Isolation is inevitable
B. Community requires intentional effort beyond crisis
Which structural choice most strengthens the passage’s message?
A. Placing reflection after the power returns
B. Introducing conflict early
C. Limiting dialogue
D. Ending with description instead of action
A. Placing reflection after the power returns
Which quotation best supports the interpretation that the passage offers a subtle critique of modern routine?
A. “The town gathered at the edge of the square”
B. “No buzzing signs, no humming appliances”
C. “Someone started a fire”
D. “The lights finally returned”
B. “No buzzing signs, no humming appliances”