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 effect of background information on narrative pacing

The paragraph contains a long, reflective parenthetical interruption about Grandma June's history of caring for the neighborhood kids. This background information slows down the immediate action of the scene (the neighbor struggling with groceries and the narrator deciding whether to help).

Evaluate the impact of removing the backstory on suspense

Removing the detailed backstory about Grandma June keeps the focus entirely on the immediate, tense moment. The reader is left wondering who Grandma June is and why the narrator is so hesitant to help her with a simple task, which immediately builds narrative tension and curiosity.

Compare the given options

• Option 1 directly addresses how removing the background information allows suspense to build by leaving the reader with immediate questions about Grandma June's identity and the narrator's hesitation.
• Option 2 slows the narrative down further by adding more internal thoughts, which decreases suspense.
• Option 3 suggests starting with the last sentence, which disrupts the logical flow of the action without naturally building suspense.
• Option 4 adds even more backstory, which further dilutes the tension of the immediate scene.

Answer:

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