False Start

1 Which event in the story causes Teresa to reevaluate her talent as a long jumper?

• Teresa watches another girl jump a long distance.

• Teresa’s mother suggests that she practice more.

• Teresa’s first jump does not impress Coach Jennings.

• Teresa declines to take her second jump.

2. The story’s third-person limited point of view gives the reader insight into -

• the doubts Teresa’s mother has about Teresa attending the tryout

• Coach Jennings’s thoughts about Teresa’s jump at the tryout

• the feelings Teresa has about her performance at the tryout

• Coach Wilson’s hesitation about sending Teresa to the tryout

3. Part A:

Paragraphs 33 and 34 are important to the story’s resolution because —

• They show that Teresa is embarrassed by her lack of skill and becomes discouraged.

• They show that Teresa is still motivated to continue practicing for the long jump.

• They show how the mom feels about her daughter having been let down by the coach.

• They show Teresa’s determination to impress Coach Jennings.

3. Part B Which details from paragraphs 30 through 34 BEST support the answer to Part A?

• Teresa rolled her eyes.

• “We both want you to be a successful long jumper,” Teresa’s mother continued, “but we also want you to be realistic.”

• “She’s expecting you at practice on Monday.”

• Teresa nodded. She gazed out the window as she left Grand Prairie and thought, “I’ll be back here soon.”

4. How does paragraph 21 contribute to the plot?

• Teresa is proud of the school record that she currently holds.

• Teresa realizes that she is underskilled to compete at the state level.

• Teresa is embarrassed that the other girls can jump farther than she can.

• Teresa is angered by the fact that her coach didn’t prepare her for state level.

5. What is the BEST summary of the story?

• Coach Jennings warns Teresa that she is not yet ready to compete at the state level, though Teresa decides against her warning and begs to compete anyway. After calling Teresa’s mom, Coach Jennings decides to let her compete anyway, though she doesn’t think her talents are underskilled for state.

• Teresa is at practice with her coach and asks when she will compete at the state level. Her coach tells her that she is not yet ready to compete at a higher level. After talking with her mom, Teresa is determined to return again the following year to compete again.

• Teresa decides that she wants to compete in Track and Field at the state level, despite the warnings from her coach. When Teresa finally arrives and competes, she realizes that she is underskilled in comparison to the other girls who are competing. Though discouraged, Teresa is not defeated and plans to return to compete again.

• Teresa wants to compete at the state level for Track and Field, even though both her mom and coach warned her that she wasn’t ready yet. Determined to prove them wrong, Teresa competes anyway and is blown away by the competition, leaving her feeling dejected and defeated.