Question

neldas adieu

1. on a frigid, autumn day, nelda stood on the banks of the river that crept its way through her hometown. she was immersed in memories of the countless blissful summer hours shed spent swimming and picnicking there with her friends. images of bygone summers at the river eased through her mind like a movie in slow motion. the images were as clear as yesterday: days so hot that no one wanted to sit on the bank and rest between swims; tiny, green - brown grass snakes wriggling across neldas grandmothers rainbow - colored picnic quilt; sunburned skin soothed by ice packs; last summers new sky - blue bathing suit and neon - green water shoes. moving away and starting a new life in another state would be difficult, almost as difficult as it had been to beat tracy in a swimming race to the nearest tree that muggy july day. that tree, with its feet planted solidly in the lazy, muddy depths of the river, never failed to trigger the same triumphant elation nelda had felt when shed beaten tracy for the first time. it had been no easy task, since tracy was a stellar swimmer and had won all - around school athlete awards almost every year.

nelda watched the biting november wind rattle the leaves of that tree that stood resolute far out in the river. the wind pressed in on neldas shoulders, humming in her ears, bringing with it shivers and still more fragments of elusive memories. so audible were the clamoring voices of her friends in those memories that she almost turned to see if any of them had followed her. perhaps they had come to help her say a temporary goodbye to the spot where theyd spent so much of their summer leisure time. no, she was definitely alone, but like the tree in the river, she would always have friends and people around her who looked to her, who loved her. nelda squared her shoulders and scrambled up the bank, determined not to let the cold dampen the anticipation she felt.
which option correctly identifies the sequence of events in
eldas adieu\?
a. nelda goes to the river, races tracy to the tree, watches the wind, and then returns home.
b. nelda thinks quietly about tracy, goes for a swim, greets her friends, and then leaves.
c. nelda goes to the river, enjoys some quiet reflection, and then returns home.
d. nelda thinks quietly, watches the wind, greets her friends, and then leaves.

Explanation:

The text describes Nelda standing on the river - bank, recalling memories of summer swimming and picnicking. It mentions she watches the wind and has memories related to the river and a tree. There is no mention of racing Tracy to the tree, enjoying quiet reflection in a way described in option C, or thinking about Tracy and going for a swim as in option B. Option D best aligns with the sequence of events where she quietly watches the wind and greets her friends in her memories before leaving.

Answer:

D. Nelda thinks quietly, watches the wind, greets her friends, and then leaves.