Question

Which one of the following sentences from the story below helps the reader most determine the theme? Once upon a time there was a boy who realized that he was able to see the future whenever he wanted. He was able to use this power to help him achieve perfect grades by seeing the test questions before and finding out the answers, ask out girls and know if they were going to say yes or no, and even win bets against his friends easily since he always knew the outcomes. After a few years of this though, he started to become bored with life. He started to realize that there were never any surprises in his life. He had nothing exciting to look forward to. There was never an opportunity to be shocked by anything anymore. So, one day the boy decided to stop looking into the future. He stopped using his powers entirely. His smile started to return. He experienced shock at certain moments in his life, and it pleased him. He knew that he had made the right decision. Once upon a time there was a boy who realized that he was able to see the future whenever he wanted. He was able to use this power to help him achieve perfect grades by seeing the test questions before and finding out the answers, ask out girls and know if they were going to say yes or no, and even win bets against his friends easily since he always knew the outcomes. He stopped using his powers entirely. He experienced shock at certain moments in his life, and it pleased him.​

Answer 1

The sentence that helps the reader determine the theme is: "He experienced shock at certain moments in his life, and it pleased him."

This sentence highlights the theme of the story, which is the importance of embracing uncertainty and the element of surprise in life. The boy initially enjoys the power of seeing the future and using it to his advantage in various aspects of his life. However, he eventually realizes that this ability robs him of the excitement and unpredictability that makes life meaningful. By choosing to stop using his powers and experiencing shock in certain moments, he finds joy and satisfaction.

This sentence emphasizes the boy's change of perspective and his realization that the absence of surprises makes life less fulfilling. It conveys the message that life's surprises and uncertainties are what make it truly worthwhile and enjoyable.

Overall, this sentence helps the reader understand the underlying theme of the story by explicitly stating the boy's satisfaction with experiencing shock and reinforcing the idea that embracing uncertainty leads to a more fulfilling life.

Answer 2

The sentence that helps the reader most determine the theme is: "After a few years of this though, he started to become bored with life. He started to realize that there were never any surprises in his life. He had nothing exciting to look forward to." This sentence conveys the theme of the story, which is the negative consequences of knowing the future and the desire for unpredictability and excitement in life.