Question

name _____________ period _ date _______________
directions: read the short passage below. then answer the multiple-choice question.

in 1957, as federal troops surrounded the school, marcus adjusted his jacket and stared straight ahead. he had memorized his mothers words the night before: dont give them the satisfaction of seeing you afraid.

beside him, lena slowed her steps. she noticed the soldiers hands near their weapons and the crowd pressing closer. history will remember this moment, she thought, but history wont feel the fear i feel right now.

______ which statement best explains how the author individualizes the perspectives of marcus and lena?

a. marcus is unaware of the danger, while lena exaggerates it
b. marcus focuses on controlling his outward behavior, while lena reflects on the emotional cost of the moment
c. marcus and lena both react with confidence and determination
d. lena believes the moment is unimportant, while marcus believes it will change history

Explanation:

Marcus follows his mother's advice to hide fear by adjusting his jacket and staying composed, focusing on controlling his outward behavior. Lena, by contrast, acknowledges her fear and reflects on how history won't capture her current emotional experience, highlighting her focus on the moment's emotional cost. Other options are incorrect: A is wrong because Marcus is aware of the situation (he remembers his mother's words about not showing fear), C is wrong because Lena expresses fear, not confidence, and D is wrong because Lena thinks history will remember the moment, so she doesn't see it as unimportant, and Marcus doesn't mention changing history.

Answer:

B. Marcus focuses on controlling his outward behavior, while Lena reflects on the emotional cost of the moment