Question

Keyboards clattered, papers rustled, and sighs swept across the room. It was "deadline day" at Houston's YES Prep North Central. It was the day that the school's seniors would take one step closer to college. Essays, personal statements, and forms needed to be slipped into envelopes, ready to mail at day's end. Much depended upon success. At stake was the reputation of a school that was built around the mission of sending every student to college. The students were:

a) Focused
b) Deceived
c) Offended
d) Relieved

Answer 1

The students at YES Prep North Central working on their college applications under high pressure and significant stakes are best described as focused.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage describes a high-pressure situation where students are diligently working to meet a crucial deadline for their college applications. The atmosphere is tense with focused activity, characterized by the sounds of keyboards clattering and papers rustling. This flurry of effort is driven by the high stakes of the day, which affects not only the individual futures of the students but also the reputation of the school, YES Prep North Central, dedicated to ensuring every student gets to college. Considering the context, the students are most accurately described as being focused on the tasks at hand to achieve success in their college application process.