Question

Select the correct text in the passage.

Which figurative phrase in the passage means that Tater Bug will ultimately save Conner from his boredom?
Afternoon of the Luddites

"Why don't you send your grandpa a postcard?" Mom suggested. "You know that stack he sent you is already addressed and stamped just waiting for you to write a short note. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you."
Conner stared blankly at the blank TV screen. He was not afraid of technology, but his parent's ridiculous decision to reduce the family's "screen time" was turning him into a reluctant Luddite. He meandered down the hall past his little brother's room. Tater Bug, clad in a knight's helmet and red cape from the treasure chest that held costumes from years of Halloween escapades, wielded a foam sword over his head, yelling "death to tyrants!" as he charged a pile of stuffed animals. Conner sighed and turned down the hall, jealous that his little brother could still play with such imaginative abandon. Tater Bug wasn't even aware of the TV dilemma plaguing the family. Finally, Conner went out the backdoor and saw Tater Bug's soccer ball on the patio. He nudged it with his foot, and it began a slow roll into the yard. With a couple of quick steps, Conner drew back his foot and gave the ball an angry kick that sent it bouncing off the fence with a loud bang into mom's flowerbed. Conner considered that writing postcards might be safer, but it felt good to attack the ball.
"I want to play!" Tater Bug yelled, running out the back door with his arms outstretched like a champion soaring above tall buildings with the red cape flying behind him. The boy grabbed the ball, spun around, and kicked it back to Conner. Before he knew it, Conner was demonstrating how to bend the ball into the goal to score an unexpected point and win the game in the final quarter.
"Goal!" the brothers yelled when the ball disappeared into the hollyhocks.
Mom and Dad appeared on the patio holding some cold drinks, and Mom swallowed back a warning not to hurt the flowers.
"At least they're doing something," she muttered.
"They can always replant whatever they destroy," Dad laughed.

Answer 1

The phrase indicating Tater Bug saving Conner from his boredom is when Conner teaches Tater Bug how to bend the ball into the goal, symbolizing a pivot to engaging play.

The figurative phrase that indicates Tater Bug will ultimately save Conner from his boredom can be found in the sentence where Conner begins to teach his brother how to bend the ball into the goal.

This phrase symbolizes the moment Conner finds a reprieve from his boredom through the unexpected joy of playing with his little brother.

It is the turning point where the mundane task of postcard writing is abandoned for the lively interaction with Tater Bug, pulling Conner into an active engagement and alleviating his boredom.