The next day in class, Natalie had to keep from daydreaming about the plot of her story. She confided in Victor that she had begun writing her first novel, a fantasy. At lunch, she never quit talking and bombarded him with all the ideas about her characters. He listened but had an air of indifference or "unconcern" about her excitement and said, "Can you not talk so much? Just finish the book, and I will read all about it." She thought he was dismissive concerning her feelings, and she retorted saying, "So, you think I talk too much; you are always being too judgmental telling people what is right and wrong!" The friendly mood was shattered by the tense situation. Then, Victor tried to pacify her feelings. He said, "Hey, I think you have great ideas. I'm just in a bad mood." He revealed to her that his mom told him he had to get a job because they had a pressing need for finances to help his older sister go to college. He said that when he went to a job interview at the food court in the mall, he saw Matthew. Matthew had provoked him by bumping into him and calling him a nerd. Natalie said, "I'm sorry—you are going to do great things one day, too. Just ignore the bullies; they will get what they deserve."
The passage describes a situation where Natalie is excited about writing her first novel, a fantasy. She shares her enthusiasm with Victor, but he responds with apparent indifference, asking her to finish the book quietly. This leads to tension, and Natalie accuses him of being too judgmental. The friendly mood is disrupted, and Victor later attempts to explain his behavior, revealing financial pressure due to his sister's college expenses. He shares an encounter with a bully, Matthew. Natalie consoles him, encouraging him to ignore the bullies and assuring him of future success. The passage explores themes of creativity, misunderstandings, resilience, and empathy in the face of personal and financial challenges.
The probable question may be:
The next day in class, Natalie had to keep from daydreaming about the plot of her story. She_________________to Victor that she had begun writing her first novel, a fantasy. At lunch, she never quit talking and________________him with all the ideas about her characters. He listened but had____________or "unconcern" about her excitement and said, "Can you not talk so much? Just finish the book, and I will read all about it." She thought he was_______________concerning her feelings, and she_______________him saying, "So, you think I talk too much; you are always being too_____________telling people what is right and wrong!" The friendly mood was ______________ by the tense situation. Then, Victor tried to___________________her feelings. He said, "Hey, I think you have great ideas. I'm just in a bad mood." He ________________ to her that his mom told him he had to get a job because they had a________________need for finances to help his older sister go to college. He said that when he went to a job interview at the food court in the mall, he saw Matthew. Matthew had______________________him by bumping into him and calling him a nerd. Natalie said, "I'm sorry—you are going to do great things one day, too. Just ignore the bullies; they will get what they deserve."