Question

name:
date:
period:
semester test
december 2025
4.
the following question has two parts. answer part a first, and then part b.
part a which option is the best statement of one of the main ideas in \house taken over\? (this answer can be found in paragraphs 25-29 (150).)
a. each time people avoid confronting their fears, they lose a little more of themselves, until finally they have lost everything.
b. people who live in large homes lose track of how much space they have; the space becomes meaningless and soon they no longer need it at all.
c. some people have many belongings and do not seem to care, but when they lose everything, they realize how important those belongings were to them.
d. people who do not build relationships with outsiders will regret this decision, because eventually they will need the support of others, but it will be too late.
part b which excerpt from the story best supports the answer to part a?
a. we liked the house because ... it kept the memories of great-grandparents, our paternal grandfather, our parents and the whole of childhood.
b. irene and i got used to staying in the house by ourselves, which was crazy, eight people could have lived in that place and not have gotten in each other’s way.
c. irene never bothered anyone. once the morning housework was finished, she spent the rest of the day on the sofa in her bedroom, knitting.
d. “i had to shut the door to the passage. they’ve taken over the back part.” ... “in that case,” she said, picking up her needles again, “we’ll have to live on this side.”

Explanation:

(Part A):
To determine the main idea of paragraphs 25 - 29 in "House Taken Over", we analyze each option:

• Option a: The story involves the characters losing parts of their house (representing avoiding confronting fears) and gradually losing more, aligning with the theme of losing self by avoiding fears.
• Option b: The story isn't about losing track of space in large homes, but about a supernatural takeover and avoidance of fear.
• Option c: The story isn't centered on the importance of belongings, but on the loss due to avoiding confrontation.
• Option d: The story doesn't focus on relationships with outsiders, but on internal fear and loss.

So, option a is the best statement of the main idea.

(Part B):
To support the answer in Part A (about avoiding fears and losing more), we analyze each excerpt:

• Option a: Talks about memories in the house, not about losing due to avoiding fears.
• Option b: Discusses getting used to staying in the house, not related to losing parts or avoiding fears.
• Option c: Describes Irene's daily routine, not related to the main idea.
• Option d: Shows the characters losing part of the house ("They've taken over the back part") and adjusting (living on the other side), which supports the idea of losing more by avoiding confrontation (not confronting the "they" taking over).

So, option d supports the Part A answer.

Answer:

(Part A):
a. Each time people avoid confronting their fears, they lose a little more of themselves, until finally they have lost everything.