Show:
Summary & Supporting Events
Central Idea & Theme
Character Analysis & Development
Word Choice & Author's Craft
100

Which sentence best summarizes the first three paragraphs of the text?

  • A. Mrs. Kowalski is an elderly woman who has lived in an apartment building for many years.
  • B. An apartment building on Maple Street has residents who barely know each other, including Mrs. Kowalski who has lived there for decades.
  • C. Mrs. Kowalski lives on the eighth floor and watches an empty lot fill with weeds and trash.
  • D. The neighborhood has transformed over the years, and Mrs. Kowalski spends her time looking out the window.
  • B. An apartment building on Maple Street has residents who barely know each other, including Mrs. Kowalski who has lived there for decades. (The exposition of the story)
100

Which statement best summarizes the central idea of the text?

  • A. Gardening is a rewarding hobby that elderly people enjoy.
  • B. Empty lots in cities should be used for gardens instead of being filled with trash.
  • C. A community garden can transform both a physical space and the relationships between neighbors.
  • D. Mrs. Kowalski is a determined woman who doesn't give up easily.
  • C. A community garden can transform both a physical space and the relationships between neighbors.
100

How does Marcus's attitude change from the beginning to the end of the story?

  • A. He goes from being rude to being polite to Mrs. Kowalski.
  • B. He changes from doubting the garden would grow to recognizing that things did grow there.
  • C. He starts as a basketball player and becomes a gardener.
  • D. He begins shy and becomes confident and outgoing.
  • B. He changes from doubting the garden would grow to recognizing that things did grow there.
100

(MULTI-SELECT) In the first paragraph, the author writes that residents "rushed past each other in the hallways with quick nods and polite smiles that never quite reached their eyes." Select TWO the reasons the author uses the phrase "never quite reached their eyes."

  • □ A. To show that people were physically tired
  • □ B. To suggest that the smiles were not genuine or meaningful
  • □ C. To emphasize the lack of real connection between neighbors
  • □ D. To indicate that people had poor vision
  • □ E. To show that people were being polite and welcoming
  • □ B. To suggest that the smiles were not genuine or meaningful
  • □ C. To emphasize the lack of real connection between neighbors
200

A key event is missing from this summary: "Mrs. Kowalski starts a garden in an empty lot. Marcus initially doubts her efforts. Eventually, the garden transforms the lot and brings neighbors together for garden parties." Click on the paragraph that includes the missing event.

Paragraph Options:

  1. "But Mrs. Kowalski came back the next day..."
  2. "Then one evening, Mr. Patel from the third floor appeared..."
  3. "The next week, Marcus showed up with his little sister..."
  4. "By June, the lot had transformed..."

Paragraph 2 - "Then one evening, Mr. Patel from the third floor appeared..." 


This shows when other neighbors began joining the effort, which is the missing link between Marcus doubting and the community coming together.

200

How does the author develop the theme that "small actions can create meaningful change" throughout the text?

  • A. By showing Mrs. Kowalski planting seeds that grow into large plants
  • B. By having Marcus change from doubting to helping with the garden
  • C. By describing how Mrs. Kowalski's single action of planting inspires others to join, eventually transforming both the lot and the community
  • D. By explaining that gardens require patience and hard work
  • C. By describing how Mrs. Kowalski's single action of planting inspires others to join, eventually transforming both the lot and the community
200

What does Mrs. Kowalski's action of planting the garden reveal about her character?

  • A. She is bored and needs something to occupy her time.
  • B. She is stubborn and refuses to listen to others' opinions.
  • C. She is an expert gardener who wants to show off her skills.
  • D. She is hopeful and willing to take action to improve her community.
  • D. She is hopeful and willing to take action to improve her community.
200

The author describes the apartment building as "nothing special—twelve floors of faded brick with rusty fire escapes zigzagging down the sides." What is the author's purpose in choosing these specific details?

  • A. To create a negative, depressing mood
  • B. To criticize the building's maintenance
  • C. To show that the neighborhood is dangerous
  • D. To establish the ordinary, worn-down setting that will later transform
300

Which statement accurately summarizes the events between Mr. Patel joining the garden and the start of garden parties?

  • A. Mr. Patel plants cucumbers, then Marcus immediately brings his sister, and parties begin.
  • B. The garden grows quickly, and Mr. Patel organizes garden parties for all the neighbors.
  • C. Mr. Patel teaches Marcus about composting, which inspires the whole building to join the garden.
  • D. After Mr. Patel joins, Marcus and his sister plant sunflowers, the lot transforms by June with everyone helping, and then Mrs. Kim accidentally starts the garden parties.
  • D. After Mr. Patel joins, Marcus and his sister plant sunflowers, the lot transforms by June with everyone helping, and then Mrs. Kim accidentally starts the garden parties.
300

Which sentence from the text best supports the theme that small actions bring people together and build a community?

A. "She wore her gardening gloves—the ones with flowers printed on them—and carried a small trowel and a packet of tomato seeds."

B. "Most residents barely knew their neighbors, rushing past each other in the hallways with quick nods and polite smiles that never quite reached their eyes."

C. "Gardens have a way of doing that. You just have to plant the first seed."

D. "Tomato plants climbed wooden stakes. Sunflowers stretched toward the sky."

  • C. "Gardens have a way of doing that. You just have to plant the first seed."
300

 The author provides Mrs. Kowalski's background in the second paragraph: "She'd raised three children there, buried her husband, and watched the neighborhood transform around her." What is the author's purpose in including these details?

  • A. To establish that Mrs. Kowalski has deep roots in the community and has experienced both connection and loss, making her garden project more meaningful 
  • B. To show that Mrs. Kowalski is old and has lived in the building a long time
  • C. To explain why Mrs. Kowalski is lonely and bored
  • D. To provide background information about her family

A. To establish that Mrs. Kowalski has deep roots in the community and has experienced both connection and loss, making her garden project more meaningful

300

(MULTI-SELECT) In the sentence "Marcus laughed. 'In this dump? Nothing's gonna grow here,'" the author chooses to have Marcus use the word "dump." Select TWO reasons for this word choice.

  • □ A. To emphasize Marcus's strong negative perception of the lot 
  • □ B. To show that Marcus is a rude character
  • □ C. To show his disbelief that anything good could happen there
  • □ D. To indicate that the lot is actually a garbage dump
  • □ E. To foreshadow the beautiful transformation that might occur 
  • □ F. To show that Marcus doesn't know proper vocabulary
  • □ A. To emphasize Marcus's strong negative perception of the lot
  • □ C. To show his disbelief that anything good could happen there
400

Select the three sentences that should be included in a summary of the text.

  • 1. Mrs. Kowalski had lived in the apartment for forty-three years.
  • 2. Mrs. Kowalski starts a garden in an empty lot that most people think is foolish.
  • 3. Marcus initially doubts the garden will succeed but eventually helps with his sister.
  • 4. Other neighbors join the gardening effort, and the community begins connecting through the shared space.
  • 5. Mrs. Kim brings dumplings to share one evening.
  • 6. The garden becomes a place where neighbors share food, stories, and build relationships.

2. Mrs. Kowalski starts a garden in an empty lot that most people think is foolish.

4. Other neighbors join the gardening effort, and the community begins connecting through the shared space.

6. The garden becomes a place where neighbors share food, stories, and build relationships.

400

Which statement best describes the central idea of the paragraph beginning "By June, the lot had transformed"?

  • A. The garden grew many different types of plants by June.
  • B. People from the building learned gardening skills from each other.
  • C. The garden had vegetables, flowers, and decorative string lights.
  • D. The physical transformation of the lot led to neighbors gathering and connecting. 

D. The physical transformation of the lot led to neighbors gathering and connecting.

400

What do Marcus's actions of "not quite meeting Mrs. Kowalski's eyes" and saying "I guess I could help dig or whatever" reveal about him?

  • A. He is disrespectful and doesn't care about the garden.
  • B. He is shy and has trouble talking to adults.
  • C. He is interested in helping but feels awkward admitting he was wrong about the garden.
  • D. He is being forced by his sister to help and doesn't want to be there.
  • C. He is interested in helping but feels awkward admitting he was wrong about the garden.
400

The author writes, "Gardens have a way of doing that. You just have to plant the first seed." What two meanings does "plant the first seed" have in the context of this story?

  • A. Literally planting seeds in soil / Figuratively taking the first step to create change
  • B. Starting a garden / Teaching others to garden
  • C. Planting tomatoes / Planting friendships
  • D. Beginning in spring / Continuing through summer


  • A. Literally planting seeds in soil / Figuratively taking the first step to create change