Question

passage:
lena stood at the edge of the field, the tall grass swaying in the breeze, golden under the late afternoon sun. her brother had dared her to walk all the way to the old windmill, the one their grandmother used to warn them about. rumor had it, the place was haunted—not by ghosts, but by the past.
lena wasn’t sure what that meant exactly, but it had always stuck with her. she took a step forward, then another. the windmill loomed in the distance, its blades long frozen in place. the closer she got, the more she noticed—the way the grass stopped growing around it, the eerie silence that replaced the chirping of birds.
when she finally stood beneath its shadow, a chill ran down her spine. but there was no monster, no ghost, just the creaking of old wood and the scent of dust. still, as she turned to walk back, lena couldn’t help but feel something had shifted—not outside, but inside her.
questions:

1. what is the main purpose of the passage?

a. to describe a haunted building
b. to illustrate lena’s internal growth
c. to recount an actual ghost sighting
d. to explain the history of a windmill

1. what does the phrase “haunted—not by ghosts, but by the past” suggest?

a. there were no actual rumors about the windmill
b. the windmill had been recently renovated
c. the windmill held emotional or historical significance
d. the windmill was located near a cemetery

1. what does the windmill most likely symbolize in the story?

a. nature’s power
b. childhood innocence
c. a challenge or personal fear
d. lena’s relationship with her brother

Explanation:

For question 1: The passage focuses on Lena's experience and her internal shift, not just the windmill's description. For question 2: "Haunted by the past" implies emotional/historical significance. For question 3: The windmill is a challenge (brother's dare) and source of fear (rumors).

Answer:

1. B. To illustrate Lena’s internal growth
2. C. The windmill held emotional or historical significance
3. C. A challenge or personal fear