Question

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Explanation:

Analyze the effect of background information on suspense

The current narrative starts with the narrator observing Grandma June struggling, then immediately digresses into a long paragraph of background information explaining who Grandma June is and why the narrator is hesitant to help (because asking would acknowledge her aging). This exposition slows down the immediate action and resolves the reader's questions about the relationship and the hesitation before the scene can build tension.

Evaluate the proposed changes for building suspense

• Option 1 (Remove background info): Removing the background information entirely would leave the reader without the emotional context of why asking to help is such a sensitive issue, which weakens the narrative's depth rather than building plot-based suspense.
• Option 2 (Include more reasons for hesitation): Adding more reasons for hesitation would further slow down the pacing with exposition, reducing the immediate tension of the scene.
• Option 3 (Start with the last sentence): Starting with the last sentence ("Hesitantly, I walked to the wooden gate...") immediately plunges the reader into the action (in medias res). By showing the hesitation and the physical threat of the package spilling first, the reader immediately wonders why the narrator is so hesitant to help an elderly neighbor with a simple task, creating immediate narrative hook and suspense.
• Option 4 (Begin with more stories): Adding more stories about Grandma June would further delay the action, acting as exposition that defuses suspense.

Determine the best option

Starting with the action-oriented last sentence (Option 3) restructures the narrative nonlinearly to hook the reader and build suspense about the narrator's hesitation.

Answer:

• She could remove the background information about her past with Grandma June, allowing suspense to build as the reader wonders who Grandma June is.
• She could include more reasons she is hesitant to assist Grandma June, allowing suspense to build as the reader begins to believe she will not help.
• She could start with the last sentence instead, allowing suspense to build as the reader wonders why she is hesitant to ask if Grandma June needs help. (Correct answer)
• She could begin with more stories about Grandma June, allowing suspense to build as the reader wonders why she is talking about Grandma June.