Question

Sally crossed her arms and put on her best pout. It just wasn't fair! Ellie got to go to a sock hop, and she even got to wear nylons and lipstick! Sally felt like a little girl in her bobby socks and saddle shoes. 'Cheer up,' her mother said kindly. 'While Ellie is at the dance, we can go see a movie at the new drive-in theater.'

Ahuli was not sure he was ready. He had spent time in the woods before, but he had never been alone. Now he would live off the land for two days. He would provide his own food, shelter, and protection from animals. When he returned to his home, he would no longer be considered a boy. He would be a man.
Which statement best compares the two passages?
a) Both passages share the theme of the struggle of growing up.
b) Passage 1 is about friendship, whereas passage 2 is about adventure.
c) Passage 1 has a rural setting, whereas passage 2 has an urban setting.
d) Both passages include family relationships as a main conflict.

Answer 1

a) Both passages share the theme of the struggle of growing up because Both passages depict characters facing the challenges and rites of passage associated with growing up.

Step-by-step explanation:

In both passages, the central theme revolves around the challenges and rites of passage associated with growing up. Passage 1 depicts Sally's dissatisfaction with her current stage of adolescence, symbolized by her bobby socks and saddle shoes, as she yearns for the more mature experiences her friend Ellie is enjoying at the sock hop. This highlights the internal struggle of wanting to transition into adulthood but feeling restrained by one's current circumstances.

Similarly, Passage 2 follows Ahuli's journey into the wilderness, emphasizing his transition from boyhood to manhood. The challenges of living off the land, providing for himself, and facing the unknown dangers of the wilderness serve as metaphors for the difficulties and responsibilities that come with growing up. Both passages capture the essence of the internal and external struggles associated with the inevitable process of maturation.

While the specific details and contexts differ between the passages, the underlying theme of the characters grappling with the transition from youth to adulthood unifies them. This shared thematic element makes option (a) the most accurate comparison between the two passages.