Fruit is Sweet

Which word best describes the author’s decision to buy the flower seed packets?

• Thoughtful

• Obsessive

• Manipulative

• Unplanned

The author includes the description in paragraph 2 to convey that she —

• had difficulty understanding her mother’s fascination with gardening

• believed her mother’s constant gardening was an inconvenience

• resented that her mother paid so much attention to the plants

• appreciated some of the plants her mother grew more than others

What is the best summary of the selection?

• The author grew up watching her mother take pleasure in growing many kinds of plants, but she did not share her mother’s interest in gardening. When she was a teenager, she decided to plant several flowers. After waiting several weeks, the author finally got to appreciate the joy of finding a sprouted seed.

• The author describes how she grew up surrounded by the many beautiful plants that her mother loved growing. One day the author bought flower seeds and planted them. The author realized the plants require care.

• Growing plants gave the author’s mother great joy and happiness, and she tried to share this experience with the author. The author was not interested in learning about gardening from her mother. One day the author decided to buy packets of flower seeds.

• The author’s mother loved gardening and grew many different kinds of plants, especially tomatoes. When the author came home with packets of flower seeds, her mother told her she would have to grow them on her own. After waiting several weeks, the author finally saw her flower seeds begin to grow.

What does the word forewarned mean in paragraph 4?

• A Explained after the fact

• B Informed in advance

• C Told at a later date

• D Understood at the same time

The author’s reaction when she found a morning glory vine in her pot suggests that she was

• F concerned that the other seeds might not grow

• G eager to start growing more flowers

• H certain that her mother would be pleased by her success

• J surprised by how happy she felt when she saw the flower sprout

When the author brought the flower seeds home, her mother reacted in a way that —

• A forced the author to seek help elsewhere

• B showed she was pleased by the author’s attempt to care for the seeds

• C demonstrated her lack of interest in the author’s hobbies

• D showed she expected the author to be responsible for the care of the seeds

"I believe that patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. "

The author begins and ends the selection with this idea in order to emphasize that —

• F finding an interesting hobby may take many years

• G positive results take time but are worth the wait

• H many people focus on what they want in the present

• J completing a long-term goal is difficult for most people