Question

me the worn, buckling box labeled \kitchen\ that overflowed with plastic cups and ceramic plates.
i forced a smile and shrugged.
\help me put the silverware away,\ urged mom. i joined her behind the counter. she ruffled my hair and handed me a bundle of mismatched forks and spoons, bound with a rubber band. i got to work, sorting them by size while carefully considering the available drawers.
i thought about the last place. and the one before that. none of them had ever really felt like home to me. not since tampa, anyway.
\i have a good feeling about this,\ she said. \so much better than louisville, and your teacher couldnt have been any nicer. youll make a million friends here, dont you think?\ she smiled widely, but her eyes looked sad. \what should i wear tomorrow?\ mom continued, \i want to have a great first day.\
what is the most likely reason why mom seems so pleased with the apartment?
mom hopes that decorating the apartment will distract her from her troubles.
mom has been too distracted to notice how run - down the apartment is.
mom is trying to make the move seem more positive than it really is.

Explanation:

The narrator mentions previous places didn't feel like home. Mom says positive things (good feeling, better than Louisville, nice teacher) but her eyes look sad. This shows she's putting on a positive front for the move.

Answer:

Mom is trying to make the move seem more positive than it really is.