Question

the following is a student draft and may contain errors.
a better home
by plato pluff
\whatever is that noise?\ mrs. wren exclaimed
\must be the neighbors,\ mr. wren offered
the two birds would never have suspected the home
they had only just finished building was about to become
part of a large brush pile as the tree trimmers went to work
on the oak tree. branch after branch came falling down
from the tree that had spread its limbs over the roof of the
house
mr. and mrs. wren enjoyed their breakfast before
returning home to find it gone!
\wherever is our home?\ mrs. wren cried. \all our hard
work!\
perched on a small twig, mr. wren spied down to the
yard and tilted his head at the covered patio. \i wonder...\
he mused and darted into the alcove where a bakers rack
stood next to a small table and two chairs. the woman
and small child who lived in the house ate breakfast at the
table at times but not often. on the top shelf of the bakers
rack, hidden and forgotten behind plastic ivy, was an
empty african violet pot. it was just the right size, well
shaded and well hidden, and colored in lavender hues
5
which introduction would be best to add to the passage?
○ a. mr. and mrs. wren lived in an old oak tree that was about to be torn down.
○ b. mr. and mrs. wren had been pecking around a forgotten pile of flagstones in the backyard, looking for
snail shells, when they heard the commotion.
○ c. mr. and mrs. wren had been pecking around a forgotten pile of flagstones in the backyard when they
realized that their home was being torn down.
○ d. mr. and mrs. wren lived in an old oak tree with many other creatures and friends

Explanation:

• Option A: Sets up the conflict as the tree (their home) is about to be torn down, which aligns with the story's plot where their home becomes part of a brush pile.
• Option B: The mention of looking for snail shells is irrelevant to the main conflict of their home being destroyed.
• Option C: Realizing the home is being torn down is an event in the story, not an introduction. The introduction should set up the situation before the event.
• Option D: Mentioning other creatures and friends is not relevant to the main conflict of their home being destroyed.

Answer:

A. Mr. and Mrs. Wren lived in an old oak tree that was about to be tom down.