GENRE
Last Friday, my little brother tried to microwave a slice of pizza with the foil still on. The microwave made a sound like a fire-breathing dragon, sparks flew, and the kitchen smelled like burnt cheese and poor life choices. Mom rushed in, yelled, and declared a lifetime ban on "unsupervised snack science." My brother just shrugged and said, “Well, the crust was too chewy anyway.”
What is to entertain?
When I opened my backpack and saw the empty lunchbox, I groaned. I had left my sandwich on the kitchen counter again. My stomach started growling like a bear, and I knew it was going to be a long, hungry day.
What does groaned mean?
What is made a complaining or unhappy sound.?
Encanto
A. Magic doors are cool.
B. Family members can be annoying.
C. Everyone has a gift that matters.
D. Houses shouldn't move.
Everyone has a gift that matters.
Jacquelyn stared at the cracked phone screen in her hand. Her eyes widened, and she slowly turned to her younger brother, who was now frozen in place, holding a basketball.
“I told you not to play in the house,” she whispered, more shocked than angry.
What likely happened right before this moment?
Her brother accidentally broke her phone with the basketball.
Scientists have long wondered why zebras have black and white stripes. Recent research suggests that the stripes may help keep flies away. The pattern confuses insects, making it harder for them to land. So, not only do zebras look cool, but their stripes actually protect them—like nature’s own bug-repellent suit
What is to inform?
I opened the dryer and found one lonely sock. Again. My brother claims he has no idea where the others go, but I remain skeptical. I’ve seen him wearing mismatched socks with suspicious confidence.
What is skeptical?
What is doubtful or not easily convinced?
SpongeBob SquarePants
A. Sponges can wear pants.
B. Be happy with simple things.
C. Life under the sea is interesting.
D. Cartoons don't need logic.
Be happy with simple things.
Ahmed posted a photo of his new sneakers, tagged the brand, and added “#blessed” and a fire emoji. He checked his phone every few minutes, waiting. By the end of the day, he had over 200 likes and a comment from the brand itself: “🔥 Looking fresh!” Ahmed screenshot the comment and sent it to all his friends.
Why was the brand’s comment important to Ahmed?
B. He wanted attention and validation from the brand
Tired of your homework staring at you with judgmental energy? Get a pet rock! It never talks back, doesn’t need to be fed, and listens patiently while you complain about math. Studies have shown* that pet rocks reduce stress and increase coolness by 300%. So go outside, find your rocky soulmate, and embrace the calm.
*Okay, not actual studies, but still… pet rocks are awesome.
What is to persuade?
When Fuku balanced a tray of spaghetti, three juice boxes, and a slice of cake while walking backward and still didn’t spill a drop, he became a sensation. Kids from other tables clapped. Someone even asked for his autograph using a ketchup packet.
What is sensation?
What is someone or something that causes great interest or excitement?
Coco
A. Skeletons know how to party.
B. Following your passion is worth the risk.
C. Guitars solve family problems.
D. Never eat glowing fruit.
Following your passion is worth the risk.
The hallway buzzed with students, but Maya stayed tucked into a corner, her hood up and eyes down. Every time footsteps passed, her shoulders tensed. She clutched her tablet tightly to her chest, the cracked screen still displaying last night’s group chat — the one where her so-called best friends roasted her outfit in private.
How is Maya likely feeling, and why?
Hurt and anxious, because her friends were talking behind her back
I agreed to babysit my neighbor’s twin toddlers for two hours. Two. Hours. I figured it would be a breeze. Five minutes in, one was using spaghetti as hair gel while the other was teaching the dog how to dance. I tried to distract them with cartoons, but somehow they found the remote’s self-destruct button. When the parents returned, I handed them the kids, a sticky couch cushion, and my resignation letter scribbled in crayon.
What is to entertain?
Mr. Lopez attempted to show us a video, but the screen froze, the audio glitched, and his frustration was palpable. You could practically see the steam coming out of his ears.
What does palpable mean?
What is strong and obvious; able to be felt or noticed?
Stranger Things
A. Don’t trust Christmas lights.
B. ’80s music defeats monsters.
C. Loyalty helps overcome fear.
D. Bikes are still cool.
C. Loyalty helps overcome fear.
Maya sat in front of her laptop, a blank Google Doc open. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but no words came. In the background, she could hear the soft ping of notifications from her friends planning a beach trip. She minimized the doc and opened a new tab: “How to tell your parents you don't want to go to university.”
What internal conflict is Zara experiencing?
She wants to change her future path but is afraid to tell her parents
Bionic limbs are transforming prosthetics by connecting directly with a person’s nervous system. These advanced devices interpret brain signals, allowing users to move artificial hands and arms with impressive precision—sometimes even enough to play music or type quickly.
Behind these breakthroughs are teams of engineers and scientists working to make the technology more natural and widely available. Although challenges like cost and durability remain, bionic limbs are helping many regain independence and a stronger sense of self.
What is to inform?
Everyone was supposed to bring something for our presentation. I brought the poster. Myuju made the slides. But Liam? He arrived empty-handed and offered only a lackluster thumbs-up. The teacher raised one eyebrow. The rest of us gave him the side-eye of betrayal.
What is lackluster?
What is dull, uninspired, or without effort or enthusiasm?
Black Panther
A. A leader must choose between protecting tradition and creating change.
B. Strength and technology are what truly define a great nation.
C. True heroes always act alone, even when it's difficult.
D. Staying loyal to family matters more than doing what is right.
A leader must choose between protecting tradition and creating change.
Andy scrolled past the news headlines: “Climate March Draws Thousands,” “AI to Replace Jobs?” “Coral Reefs at Risk.” He closed the app and looked out the window at the cloudy sky. Pulling his hoodie tighter, he grabbed his sketchbook and began drawing trees — thick, healthy, full of life.
Later, he uploaded the sketch to his art account with the caption, “What if we actually tried?”
What message is Andy trying to send with his drawing and caption?
He’s encouraging people to take action to protect the environment