Question

read the paragraph from lucys narrative.

i could see that my neighbor was struggling with the lone bag of groceries cradled in her arms, but i wasnt sure what i should do. grandma june-what all the neighborhood kids had called her for as long as i could remember-had always been the one to care for us, to help us build stronger forts, to grow better flowers, and to learn from our mistakes. to ask if she needed help with something as simple as carrying in one bag of groceries would be like shouting to the world that she was aging, that she was no longer as strong as she once had been. hesitantly, i walked to the wooden gate that divided our front lawn from hers and stood there as the package she was carrying threatened to spill from her arms.

lucy decides that this may not be the most effective way to tell her story. if she wants to create more suspense in the plot, what would be the best possible change she could make?

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.
she could begin with more stories about grandma june, allowing suspense to build as the reader wonders why she is talking about grandma june.

Explanation:

Analyze the narrative structure and pacing

The paragraph begins by introducing Grandma June and explaining her history with the neighborhood kids. This background information slows down the immediate action of Grandma June struggling with her groceries. Removing this exposition would keep the focus on the immediate, tense situation.

Evaluate the impact of removing background information on suspense

By removing the warm, nostalgic details about Grandma June's past, the reader is left in the dark about who she is and why the narrator is hesitant to help. This lack of immediate information creates a sense of mystery and tension, thereby building suspense.

Compare the given multiple-choice options

• Option 1 suggests removing background information about Grandma June to build suspense as the reader wonders who she is. This directly addresses pacing and information control to create tension.
• Option 2 suggests adding more reasons for hesitation, which would slow down the narrative pace further rather than building immediate suspense.
• Option 3 suggests starting with the last sentence, which disrupts the logical flow of the scene's physical actions.
• Option 4 suggests adding more stories, which further delays the action and decreases suspense.

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. (Correct answer)
• 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.
• She could begin with more stories about Grandma June, allowing suspense to build as the reader wonders why she is talking about Grandma June.