Question

Why did the author choose to use the word "rickety" rather than "unsteady"?

a) Because the fort is steady and just needs some new walls.
b) Because the fort was built by their friend Ricky, and they all just helped.
c) So the writer could show off his advanced vocabulary.
d) Because he wanted to use a more negative word to show Ethan's disapproval of the fort.

What caused the fort to fall?
a) Ethan's weight
b) Noah hitting it in anger
c) The fort's age and poor construction
d) An earthquake

Which of the following sentences uses correct subject-verb agreement?
a) Ethan, like all his friends, like basketball.
b) Ethan and all his friends likes basketball.
c) Ethan, like all his friends, likes basketball.
d) Ethan and Noah, like all their friends, likes basketball.

Answer 1

The author likely chose the word 'rickety' to convey Ethan's disapproval of the fort. The fort falls due to its age and poor construction. The sentence 'Ethan, like all his friends, likes basketball' (option c) uses correct subject-verb agreement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author likely chose to use the word 'rickety' rather than 'unsteady' in order to convey Ethan's disapproval of the fort. By using the word 'rickety', the author suggests that the fort is not only unsteady but also poorly constructed and likely to fall apart. This choice of word adds a negative connotation and emphasizes Ethan's dissatisfaction with the fort's condition.

The fort falls due to its age and poor construction. The passage describes the fort as having waited ages to fall, indicating that it was already unstable and on the verge of collapsing. When Ethan leans against it, the fort finally gives way and crumbles. The sentence that uses correct subject-verb agreement is: 'Ethan, like all his friends, likes basketball.' In this sentence, the singular subject 'Ethan' is properly matched with the singular verb 'likes', while the clause 'like all his friends' is set off by commas and does not affect the subject-verb agreement.