Pearson 8: Selected Response

The phrase "don't you think you'd make a better adjustment to life if you faced facts?" most clearly indicates the cause of the conflict between Meg and Mr. Jenkins because it suggests that Meg is not facing reality or accepting the truth about something, which is causing tension between them.

The primary reason the United States became involved in the conflict in South Vietnam was to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. The passage suggests that the United States saw the spread of communism as a threat and believed that if South Vietnam fell to communism, other countries in the region would follow suit. Therefore, the United States intervened in order to stop the spread of communism and protect its interests in the region.

The correct answer is third-person point of view. This means that the story is narrated by someone outside of the story, using pronouns like "he," "she," or "they" to refer to the characters. The narrator is not a character in the story and has access to the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.

The detail from the story that best supports the answer is "You leave my father out of it!" This statement indicates that the father is somehow involved or connected to the previous question or topic of discussion. It suggests that the father's inclusion in the conversation would be significant or impactful in some way.

The cause of the main conflict between Meg and Mr. Jenkins is that Mr. Jenkins wants Meg to adjust her expectations about her father, but Meg refuses to. This suggests that Meg has certain expectations or beliefs about her father that Mr. Jenkins disagrees with or finds unrealistic. This disagreement leads to conflict between the two characters.

Based on Mr. Jenkins' conversation with Meg, it can be inferred that he cares about his students and believes he knows what is best for them. This can be concluded from the fact that he takes the time to have a conversation with Meg and offers advice regarding her father's absence. His concern and belief in guiding his students' lives suggest that he genuinely cares about their well-being and wants to support them.

Meg's character trait of being capable of standing up for herself is evident from the given options. The first option states that she gives up easily when challenged by an authority figure, which contradicts the answer. The second option mentions that she believes whatever she is told, which does not indicate her ability to stand up for herself. The third option states that she is eager to share details about her personal life with community members, which is unrelated to her ability to stand up for herself. Therefore, the only option that aligns with the given answer is that Meg is capable of standing up for herself.

Meg and Mr. Jenkins share the character trait of believing that facing facts is important. This means that both of them value the importance of acknowledging and dealing with reality rather than avoiding or denying it. They likely prioritize honesty, truthfulness, and taking responsibility for their actions. This shared trait suggests that they may have a similar approach to problem-solving and decision-making, as they both value the objective truth and are willing to confront difficult or uncomfortable situations head-on.

The quotation "they believed, other countries in the region would follow--like a row of falling dominoes" suggests that the main reason for United States involvement in Vietnam was the fear of the spread of communism. The domino theory, which posited that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to communism, others would follow suit, was a key factor in the U.S.'s decision to intervene. This quotation indicates that the U.S. believed that if they did not get involved, other countries in the region would also become communist, leading to a strategic and ideological threat to American interests.

The theme of the story is best expressed by the sentence "Sometimes a person needs to act based on faith, resisting pressure from others." This suggests that the story explores the idea of making decisions based on personal beliefs and convictions, even when facing opposition or pressure from others. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and having the courage to go against the opinions or expectations of others.

The word "belligerent" refers to someone who is hostile or aggressive in their behavior. This person is likely to engage in conflict or show a willingness to fight. Therefore, "hostile" is the best definition for the word "belligerent."