Passage: "The Choice" (Original Short Story)                                                                                                 

Lena walked slowly down the cracked sidewalk, her heart pounding. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the street. Clutched in her hand was the acceptance letter from Northwood Academy, the prestigious school she had dreamed of attending for years. 

She should have been excited—thrilled, even. But her stomach twisted with unease. Northwood was miles away, in another city. Accepting meant leaving behind her best friend, Mia, and everything she had ever known. 

As she reached the small bookstore where Mia worked after school, Lena paused outside the door, staring at the familiar "Open" sign. The shop smelled of old paper and cinnamon, a scent that had always made her feel safe. 

"Hey, you got a letter," Mia said cheerfully as Lena stepped inside. Then she caught sight of Lena’s face and her smile faded. "Lena, what’s wrong?" 

Lena took a deep breath. "I got in," she whispered. 

For a moment, Mia was silent. Then, slowly, she grinned. "That’s amazing!" she said. But there was something in her eyes—something Lena couldn’t quite read. 

"Yeah," Lena said, forcing a smile. "It is." 

The next few days passed in a blur. Her parents celebrated. Teachers congratulated her. Even her little brother, who usually ignored her, seemed impressed. But in the quiet moments, doubt crept in. 

One afternoon, she found herself back at the bookstore, staring at the same bookshelves, the same counter, the same cozy chairs where she and Mia had spent hours talking about their futures. Only now, the future felt uncertain. 

Mia was behind the counter, organizing books. "So, have you decided yet?" she asked, keeping her tone light. 

Lena hesitated. "I don’t know," she admitted. "If I go, everything changes." 

Mia nodded. "Yeah. But if you stay, everything stays the same." 

Lena looked at her, searching for resentment, for anger. But all she saw was understanding. 

"Whatever you choose, I’ll always be your friend," Mia added softly. 

Lena felt a lump rise in her throat. She had a choice to make. But for the first time, she realized that no matter what, she wouldn’t be making it alone. 

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Part A & Part B Questions 

1. Part A: What is the central conflict in the story? 
 . Lena is struggling with her grades and is unsure if she will graduate. 
B. Lena must decide whether to stay with her best friend or attend a new school. 
C. Mia is upset that Lena got accepted into a better school than her. 
D. Lena wants to move away but is afraid her parents won’t let her. 

1. Part B: Which sentence best supports the conflict? 
A. "She should have been excited—thrilled, even. But her stomach twisted with unease." 
B. "Even her little brother, who usually ignored her, seemed impressed." 
C. "The shop smelled of old paper and cinnamon, a scent that had always made her feel safe." 
D. "Mia nodded. 'Yeah. But if you stay, everything stays the same.'" 

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2. Part A: What is the theme of the passage? 
A. Change is difficult, but it leads to growth. 
B. Friendship never lasts when people move away. 
C. It is better to stay in a familiar place than to take risks. 
D. Success should always come before friendship. 

2. Part B: Which detail from the text best supports the theme? 
A. "Mia was behind the counter, organizing books. 'So, have you decided yet?'" 
B. "But for the first time, she realized that no matter what, she wouldn’t be making it alone." 
C. "Lena looked at her, searching for resentment, for anger. But all she saw was understanding." 
D. "Teachers congratulated her. Even her little brother, who usually ignored her, seemed impressed." 

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3. Part A: How does the setting contribute to the mood of the story? 
A. The bookstore creates a feeling of warmth and security, emphasizing Lena’s struggle to leave. 
B. The city streets make Lena feel excited about moving to a new place. 
C. The bright lighting in the bookstore shows that Lena has already made her decision. 
D. The quietness of the school makes Lena feel lonely and nervous. 

3. Part B: Which sentence best supports the answer to Part A? 
A. "The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the street." 
B. "The shop smelled of old paper and cinnamon, a scent that had always made her feel safe." 
C. "Even her little brother, who usually ignored her, seemed impressed." 
D. "Whatever you choose, I’ll always be your friend," Mia added softly. 

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4. Part A: What can the reader infer about Mia’s feelings? 
A. She is angry that Lena is leaving. 
B. She is jealous of Lena’s success. 
C. She is sad but wants to support Lena no matter what. 
D. She is trying to convince Lena to stay. 

4. Part B: Which line from the passage best supports this inference? 
A. "Then she caught sight of Lena’s face and her smile faded." 
B. "For a moment, Mia was silent. Then, slowly, she grinned." 
C. "Mia nodded. 'Yeah. But if you stay, everything stays the same.'" 
D. "But all she saw was understanding." 

5. Character Development 

✅ Part A: How does Lena change by the end of the story? 
A. She decides not to attend Northwood Academy. 
B. She realizes that no matter what she chooses, Mia will always support her. 
C. She becomes angry at Mia for not understanding her feelings. 
D. She learns that success is more important than friendship. 

✅ Part B: Which sentence best supports the answer to Part A? 
A. "Lena took a deep breath. 'I got in,' she whispered." 
B. "Even her little brother, who usually ignored her, seemed impressed." 
C. "Mia nodded. 'Yeah. But if you stay, everything stays the same.'" 
D. "But for the first time, she realized that no matter what, she wouldn’t be making it alone." 

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Constructed Response Prompt (CER Strategy) 

Prompt: How does the author develop the theme of change and friendship in "The Choice"? Use the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) strategy to support your response. 

Writing Guide: 

✅ Claim (C) – State the theme of the passage clearly. 
✅ Evidence (E) – Provide at least two pieces of textual evidence that support the theme. 
✅ Reasoning (R) – Explain how the evidence proves the theme.