Question

review the passage.
salva had never seen anything like the desert. around his village, loun - arik, enough grass and shrubs grew to feed the grazing cattle. there were even trees. but here in the desert, nothing green could survive except tiny evergreen acacia bushes, which somehow endured the long winter months with almost no water.
uncle said it would take three days to cross the akobo. salvas shoes stood no chance against the hot stony desert ground. the soles, made from rubber tire treads, had already been reduced to shreds held together with a little leather and a great deal of hope. after only a few minutes, salva had to kick off the flapping shreds and continue barefoot.
the first day in the desert felt like the longest day salva had ever lived through. the sun was relentless and eternal: there was neither wisp of cloud nor whiff of breeze for relief. each minute of walking in that and heat felt like an hour. even breathing became an effort: every breath salva took seemed to drain strength rather than restore it.
thorns gored his feet. his lips became cracked and parched. uncle cautioned him to make the water in his gourd last as long as possible. it was the hardest thing salva had ever done, taking only tiny sips when his body cried out for huge gulps of thirst - quenching, life - giving water.
from linda sue park, a long walk to water. copyright 2010 by linda sue park
look at the text in bold. what does it mean to say that the soles of salvas shoes are held together with \a great deal of hope\?
the shoes were made by someone who hoped they would last for a long time.
the shoes are falling apart so badly that salva can only hope they stay together.
the shoes bring salva hope because they remind him of how far he has come.

Explanation:

To determine the meaning, we analyze the context. Salva's shoe soles are in poor condition (reduced to shreds). The "great deal of hope" implies that the physical materials (leather, etc.) are insufficient, so Salva hopes the soles stay together to keep his shoes usable for the desert journey. The first option focuses on the shoemaker’s hope, which isn’t supported. The third option links hope to a reminder, which is irrelevant. The second option correctly explains that the shoes are falling apart, and Salva’s hope is that they remain intact.

Answer:

The shoes are falling apart so badly that Salva can only hope they stay together.