Question

“take the bus?”

1. on monday morning, sara’s mother went over the family schedule for the week with sara and her brother joseph. “so tomorrow after school, sara, you have ballet, and then on thursday, joe, you’re staying after school for student government, right? okay, and then friday… hmmm.”
2. tom (joseph) looked up at his mother, who was looking serious. “it seems we have to be in two places at once on friday.”
3. sara remembered what friday was – it was the dress rehearsal for her annual ballet recital! clearly, she had to be there; but joseph was equally insistent that he could not miss his orthodontist appointment. dr. summers had said he might even get his braces off this time, and there was no way he was missing that.
4. sara’s mother frowned. “i’m sorry, sara. i just can’t think of a plan where i am able to be at both places at once,” she said.
5. sara jumped up from the table, and began to explain to her mother, rather loudly, how important this dress rehearsal was. if she missed the dress rehearsal, she couldn’t be in the recital on saturday, and they had been practicing for months! but her mother explained that joseph’s orthodontist appointment had also been scheduled for months, and it wouldn’t be fair to her brother if he missed his chance to get his braces off.
6. then sara’s mother had an idea. while it was true that sara and joseph had to be in two different places on friday afternoon, that was only a problem because their mother would have to drive them in two different directions. however, even if she drove joseph to his appointment, sara could still get to ballet… if she took the bus.
7. “take the bus?” protested sara in disbelief. “but i’ve never taken the bus by myself before!”
8. sara’s mother reminded her of the multiple times they had taken the bus to the ballet studio together, when joseph was in the studio on that new floor. she had been several times on the same route with her mother, but never alone. sara knew she could board the bus at the stop right at the corner of main street, and it would take her directly downtown, specifically to the doorstep of the studio.
9. sara felt a moment of nervousness. what if she never came? what if the driver was mean? what if the bus didn’t stop? maybe she should ask someone to go with her? the same student who sat next to her on the bus didn’t live far from the studio. maybe she should sit with her? or maybe she could just sit up front and listen to the announcements.
10. as she considered her options, sara’s excitement rose. maybe this wasn’t so bad. and maybe, just maybe, she was ready for a new adventure. what if she could do this all by herself? then, immediately, her nervousness melted away because she was seeing a new possibility. what if she didn’t have to miss her dress rehearsal? then, mysteriously, what would she think?
11. “wait, i think i can do this,” sara said confidently. “i can take the bus by myself. i just need to remember the route and the stops.”
12. her mother smiled. “i knew you could do it, sara. i have faith in you. now, let’s go over the details again to make sure you’re prepared.”

select three events that belong in an boxes in the correct order. not all choices will be used.

first event
second event
third event

sara is overcome by excitement and signals the bus to halt at the wrong stop
sara’s brother offers to miss his orthodontist appointment
sara’s mother proposes an idea for transportation to the ballet rehearsal
sara’s teacher is proud of her for taking the bus
sara dips her change and pauses before boarding the bus

Explanation:

To determine the correct order of events, we analyze the plot:

1. First, a conflict arises about Sara and her brother's conflicting events (ballet rehearsal and orthodontist appointment). Then, Sara's mother needs to find a solution. The option "Sara’s mother proposes an idea for transportation to the ballet rehearsal" (third option) makes sense as a first step in solving the problem.
2. Next, Sara considers taking the bus, and the option "Sara dips her change and pauses while boarding the bus" (fifth option) would follow as she acts on the transportation idea.
3. Finally, during the bus ride, there could be an incident like "Sara is overcome by excitement and signals the bus to halt at the wrong stop" (first option) as she navigates the bus alone. Wait, no—let's re - order properly. Wait, the mother proposes the idea (Sara’s mother proposes an idea...), then Sara decides to take the bus and boards it (Sara dips her change...), then maybe she makes a mistake (Sara is overcome...). But also, we need to check the options. Wait, the options are:

• Sara is overcome by excitement and signals the bus to halt at the wrong stop
• Sara’s brother offers to miss his orthodontist appointment
• Sara’s mother proposes an idea for transportation to the ballet rehearsal
• Sara’s teacher is proud of her for taking the bus
• Sara dips her change and pauses while boarding the bus

First Event: The conflict leads to the mother's idea. So "Sara’s mother proposes an idea for transportation to the ballet rehearsal" (third option) is first.

Second Event: Sara acts on the idea, so "Sara dips her change and pauses while boarding the bus" (fifth option) is second.

Third Event: While on the bus, she makes a mistake, so "Sara is overcome by excitement and signals the bus to halt at the wrong stop" (first option) is third.

Answer:

First Event: Sara’s mother proposes an idea for transportation to the ballet rehearsal
Second Event: Sara dips her change and pauses while boarding the bus
Third Event: Sara is overcome by excitement and signals the bus to halt at the wrong stop