Question

the final hurdle
1 jasmine’s legs trembled as she approached the starting line. the track shimmered with heat, and the hurdles looked taller than usual. it was the last race of the season —the state championships—and her heart pounded like a wild drum.
2 “you’ve got this,” coach morales said, her voice steady like the wind before a storm. jasmine nodded, swallowing her nerves.
3 the starting gun fired. jasmine sprang forward, each stride a battle against fear and fatigue. memories flashed in her mind—early mornings, skinned knees, and the day she lost to danielle by a blink of an eye.
4 halfway through the race, jasmine clipped a hurdle. she stumbled. for a heartbeat, time froze. then something inside her sparked—not rage, not panic, but a fierce calm. she steadied, adjusted her rhythm, and pushed forward.
5 she crossed the finish line, not in first, but strong— stronger than she’d ever been. the crowd erupted, not for victory, but for resilience.
6 jasmine smiled through the sweat. maybe the finish line wasn’t the end. maybe it was a beginning.
what is one way the author develops the setting of the race?
a by using a flashback to explain jasmine’s training
b by describing the weather and track conditions
c by focusing only on the other competitors
d by revealing jasmine’s exact finishing place

Explanation:

To determine how the author develops the setting of the race, we analyze each option:

• Option A: A flashback explains training, not the race setting. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The text says "The track shimmered with heat, and the hurdles looked taller than usual" which describes weather (heat) and track conditions. This develops the race setting.
• Option C: Focusing on competitors doesn't develop the setting. Eliminate C.
• Option D: Revealing finishing place is about the race outcome, not setting. Eliminate D.

Answer:

B. By describing the weather and track conditions