Question

ji had her art supplies packed in a plastic bin strapped to the back of her bike. shed left her house before dawn to catch the sunrise over the pacific. her dad had fussed over her by making sure she had her reflective gear on and in working order. hed also made her check twice that she had her cellphone. grateful for her fathers attentions and anxious to be free of them, ji had set out at a moderate pace while most high school kids slept in on a saturday.
ji pedaled on and thought about how she loved to capture her surroundings at sunrise: the lguana tree near her back patio, the tram map at the lemon grove station that would take her to downtown san diego, the evening primroses that would stay open until the high, hot sun shined at noon.
today, ji planned to sketch at the beach and decide on a new color palette for her next painting. once at the beach, ji unpacked her sketchbook, pencils, and paint pens. she spread her wind jacket on the sand like it was a blanket and began drawing.
before dawn on saturday, ashers running shoes smacked the damp sand on the beach. on his left, waves rolled in an even rhythm that sent up frothy white fingers that scraped the shore and receded. here, then gone. here, then gone. the words matched his footfalls.
asher didnt mind the semi - darkness but looked forward to the sky breaking with light. coach had suggested the team put in extra endurance and weight work this weekend. their high school volleyball team had a chance to go far this season; he dreamed of making it to the state championship game, but the competition was fierce.
minutes ticked by with ashers legs and arms pumping. a crack of slender pink - orange light stretched on the horizon, just enough that asher saw something massive and heaving on the shore in front of him. panicky and uncertain of what was in his path, he felt goosebumps rise on his skin. after a few strides closer to the giant form, he had a strange, uncanny feeling he knew what it was, and because of this, he didnt turn back. he ran towards it.
use the beginning of the story to answer the question.
analyze how this parallel plot creates tension.
(1 point)
the parallel plots set up a scene where two characters meet to find out about something mysterious on the beach.
the parallel plots introduce two friends who are doing different activities on a saturday morning, and this creates problems with the friendship.
the parallel plots present two characters who go to the same high school but dont know each other, and there is a possibility of them meeting on the beach.
the parallel plots describe two unrelated characters who will likely interact in the same setting with an unknown form on the beach.

Explanation:

The story presents two characters (Ji and Asher) in the same setting (the beach) with an unknown form (the massive and heaving thing on the shore). Parallel plots that introduce unrelated characters in the same setting with an unknown element create tension as readers anticipate their interaction and what will happen with the unknown. The first option about two characters meeting to find out something mysterious is not as strongly supported as there's no indication they are meeting to find out (they just happen to be there). The second option about friendship problems is not relevant as there's no mention of them being friends. The third option about same - high - school but unknown is too narrow compared to the more general 'unrelated' in the fourth option. The fourth option best captures the tension - creating elements of parallel plots (unrelated characters, same setting, unknown form).

Answer:

The parallel plots describe two unrelated characters who will likely interact in the same setting with an unknown form on the beach.