Question

Highlight vivid verbs in this passage.

Between history and math, Alfonso saw Sandra and her girlfriend huddling at their lockers. He hurried by without being seen.

During lunch Alfonso hid in metal shop so he wouldn't run into Sandra. What would he say to her? If he weren't mad at his brother, he could ask Ernie what girls and guys talk about. But he was mad, and anyway, Ernie was pitching nickels with his friends.

—“Broken Chain,”
Gary Soto

Which conclusion can you draw about the passage based on the verbs you highlighted?

Alfonso is uncomfortable around girls.
Alfonso thinks that his brother does not know about girls.
Alfonso thinks that girls and boys are similar.
Alfonso is not worried, because he believes he is cool.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. Alfonso is uncomfortable around girls.

Answer 2

Highlighted verbs:

• Saw
• Huddling
• Hurried
• Hid
• Mad
• Pitching

The conclusion that we can draw about the passage based on the verbs is the first one: Alfonso is uncomfortable around girls.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to this excerpt, and the vivid verbs in it, we can infer that Alfonso doesn't know anything about girls and that he wouldn't know what to say to them if he had the opportunity of speaking with them. I think the key line to understand the reason why I chose the first conclusion is: "What would he say to her? If he weren't mad at his brother, he could ask Ernie what girls and guys talk about." Alfonso would rather hide from Sandra than step into her, although he liked her, because he didn't know what to say and he felt uncomfortable.