Question

Which passage most likely intends to create suspense?

A. When spring comes to a small midwestern city like Waldum, a sense of celebration takes over as everyone gratefully says good-bye to the cold weather and begins planning picnics and other outdoor activities.
B. The six-year-old girl gathered her three favorite stuffed animals and arranged them among the blankets and pillows. Chewy the alligator always slept on the left, while Bandit and Spot, the two bulldogs, were on the right.
C. Above the closed classroom door, the clock was ticking down the last 60 seconds of the science quiz. Hannah's heart beat faster as she attempted to scribble in answers and finish in time.
D. The afternoon sun was still visible above the trees as it came time for the farmers' market to close for the day. The sellers loaded their vegetables back into bins and worked together to break down the tables and tents.

Answer 1

C. Above the closed classroom door, the clock was ticking down the last 60 seconds of the science quiz. Hannah's heart beat faster as she attempted to scribble in answers and finish in time.

Option C is the best answer. Suspense is created when the author gives a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about what will come next. In this option, the pace of Hannah's increasing heart beat and the clicking of the clock's seconds create a feeling of anxiety. The reader can sense the pressure for Hannah to finish the quiz in time and can hear the seconds tick as Hannah slowly runs out of time.

Option A is a beautiful description but there is no sense of urgency or apprehension about what comes next. Option B is also a description of a girl arranging stuffed animals on her bed. There is no apprehension or concern about what might happen next. Option D tells of a farmer's market closing down for day without any anxiety.