Question

afternoon of the luddites
\why dont 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. im sure hed love to hear from you.\
conner stared blankly at the blank tv screen. he was
not afraid of technology, but his parents ridiculous decision
to reduce the familys \screen time\ was turning him into a
modern luddite. he meandered down the hall past his
little brothers room. tater bug, clad in a knights 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 wasnt
even aware of the tv dilemma plaguing the family. finally,
conner went out the back door and saw tater bugs 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
their flowerbed. conner considered that kicking
postcards might be safer, but it felt good to attack the ball.
\i want to play!\ tater bug yelled, barreling out the back
door with his arms outstretched like a champion skimming
over buildings with the red cape flying behind him.
the boys scampered the ball, upon impact, and kicked it back

4
which sentence provides the best clue that the passage is set in a modern time?
a. mom and dad appeared on the patio holding some cold drinks, and mom mentioned a quick
warning not to hurt the flowers.

b. tater bug, clad in a knights 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.

c. \why dont you send your grandpa a postcard?\ mom suggested.

d. he was not afraid of technology, but his parents ridiculous decision to reduce the familys \screen
time\ was turning him into a modern luddite.

Explanation:

To determine the best clue for a modern - time setting, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Mentioning a patio and flowers does not specifically indicate a modern time as these elements can exist in non - modern settings too.
• Option B: The description of a brother in a knight's helmet and cape, playing with a foam sword and stuffed animals is more about a child's play and does not strongly suggest a modern time.
• Option C: Sending a postcard is not a uniquely modern activity; postcards have been around for a long time.
• Option D: The concept of "screen time" is a modern - day concern related to the use of electronic devices (like TVs, computers, etc.). Reducing screen time is a practice that has emerged with the prevalence of modern technology, so this sentence provides the best clue that the passage is set in modern times.

Answer:

D. He was not afraid of technology, but his parents' ridiculous decision to reduce the family's "screen time" was turning him into a reluctant Luddite.