Question

Tommy wanted a skateboard badly. Sometimes he would stay after school just to watch the older boys do tricks on the stairs. Tommy thought that it looked like so much fun to grind down rails and kickflip over gaps. He imagined performing jaw-dropping tricks on the various landmarks he passed on his way home. After months of saving money and begging his grandma, Tommy finally got a skateboard. With a beaming grin across his face, Tommy ran out to his driveway and attempted one of the tricks that he had often imagined himself performing. As Tommy put his first foot on his skateboard, the skateboard slid out from under him and Tommy fell on his butt. He broke out into tears. That was the last time that Tommy rode a skateboard.

Select the best theme.
A. Get it right the first time.
B. What defines us is how well we rise after falling.
C. Tommy failed repeatedly when attempting a skateboard trick.
D. Nothing beats success.

Answer 1

The best theme for Tommy's story is 'What defines us is how well we rise after falling,' emphasizing the importance of persevering through failures. Unlike inspirational individuals who embrace challenges. The correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The theme that best fits the story of Tommy and his skateboard is B. What defines us is how well we rise after falling. Tommy's experience is a testament to learning through trial and error, understanding that success often comes after overcoming failures. However, unlike the stories where characters face their challenges head-on and grow from them, Tommy's story abruptly ends after his first fall. In real life, as in learning to skateboard or any skill, one must persevere through initial setbacks to improve. Tommy's quick give-up contrasts with stories like Neil Unger, who, at 60, decided to learn to skateboard, embracing the falls as part of the journey towards mastery.

It is natural for learners to imitate others as a path towards acquiring skills. Watching a model, like in the stories of Julian learning to surf or observing and learning from the mistakes of others, is part of how we learn and apply general rules to other situations. Whether it's stepping into new life directions, moving to Portland for a job, or climbing carefully up a steep slope, the path towards any form of success is marked by persistence and learning from both successes and mistakes.