benchmark 2

Which quotation from the passage best supports the conclusion that Delwyn has a positive attitude about the family's move to Aviano?

"Delwyn replied, 'This place is our new home, and it is near the Dolomites.'"

passage -

A Moving Experience It happened again just like it did every three to four years. The Wallace family was moving. This year's move would be a little different, though, because they weren't being stationed somewhere in the United States; this time they were transferring all the way to Aviano, Italy. Colonel Wallace was a pilot in the Air Force, and he loved his job. His wife and two children supported his career, but this move had generated quite a bit of tension inside his household. Sixteen-year-old Jasmin and Delwyn were twins. Delwyn seemed less apprehensive about going to a new country, but Jasmin was dreading beginning a new life from scratch, especially in Italy. Jasmin felt that she was finally fitting in within her community of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wallace family had been living there for the past three years, and she was making some really excellent friends. But, of course, the military was unconcerned that she was having a great time with her friends; they just decided to move a family when it was necessary—at least that's how Jasmin felt. While the Wallaces' furniture and belongings were being packed, Jasmin didn't pitch in much to help and instead spent most of her time in the backyard, sulking and giving a great deal of attention to her phone. By the time the actual moving day arrived, she hadn't acknowledged her family in days. She hardly talked at all during the 14-hour flight across the world. Once the family arrived at their new abode in Italy, they had to wait several days before their shipped furniture and belongings arrived. This wasn't anything novel, as the family typically beat their possessions to a new house, but it just added to Jasmin's sour mood. Jasmin slammed doors, skulked around, and complained about the lack of WiFi as she explored their new residence. Eventually, her brother grew frustrated with her sullen and gloomy disposition, and he grabbed Jasmin by the arm and pulled her out the front door. As they exited, he shouted to their parents, "We're going exploring. Be back in a bit." Before anyone could protest, the kids marched into the bustling Italian streets. There was no other way to describe what Jasmin witnessed—she emerged into an alternate realm. She suddenly realized that, even though she was with her brother, she didn't know where to go or what to do. She knew that if she had been alone, she would surely have reversed course and retreated home. Everything seemed so new and so distinctive from what she had grown accustomed to in Nevada. All around her, she could hear people speaking in a language she didn't comprehend. People were traveling here and there without paying much attention to the pair of Americans. "Let's go over to the market," said Delwyn, and, without waiting for a response, he advanced down the street. Like the streets of Aviano, the market was unlike anything Jasmin had seen before. Everywhere she looked, there were merchants selling clothing, produce, meats, and anything else she could imagine people wanting to purchase. Delwyn smirked at her astonishment and said, "If you hadn't been so busy being miserable about the move, you could have been researching our new home with me, and you wouldn't be so shocked right now." Jasmin did not appreciate the comment. She sneered at her brother, but he was too busy surveying the aisles of tables in the market to notice her. With a resolved sigh, Jasmin took the bait and followed her brother to a stand selling delicious-looking vegetables. She said, "Alright, smarty, what else don't I know about this place?" Delwyn replied, "This place is our new home, and it is near the Dolomites. See that mountain range over there? Oh, and did you know everyone takes a midday break called a riposo? People close up shops like this market, and everyone goes home for an afternoon break to get errands done or dinner cooked." "A riposo, you say? That sounds pretty nice." Delwyn's excitement was contagious, and Jasmin felt herself beginning to relax. She had been so absorbed in trying to retain her friends in Las Vegas and being distressed about the move. At this moment, she suddenly realized that she really hadn't devoted much time to Delwyn at all. Actually, she had virtually disregarded her whole family during the previous several weeks. With this awareness, she realized that she might have been selfish, and that she missed them. With a newly resolved attitude, Jasmin began questioning her brother more about their new town. On their way home, Jasmin and Delwyn used their first euros to purchase a beautiful pizza for their parents. As they devoured the most delicious pizza she had ever consumed, Jasmin realized that much of the anger she had kept pent up inside her had fled. Her brother always could make her see things in a new light, and she quickly was becoming excited by the chance to get closer to her family in a new country.

Which sentence states a central idea of the passage?

Focusing on what is absent makes it difficult to notice what is present.

Read this sentence from Paragraph 2. While the Wallaces' furniture and belongings were being packed, Jasmin didn't pitch in much to help and instead spent most of her time in the backyard, sulking and giving a great deal of attention to her phone. Which quotation from the passage best supports the inference that Jasmin is using her phone to socialize?

"The Wallace family had been living there for the past three years, and she was making some really excellent friends."

What do Delwyn's interactions with Jasmin in Aviano suggest about his cultural viewpoint?

Delwyn views Italian culture as fascinating, and he hopes to integrate parts of it into his own culture.

What is Jasmin's cultural viewpoint at the end of this story?

Inspired by Delwyn, she has become open-minded to learning about a new culture.

How does Jasmin's learning about the riposo influence the text?

It introduces Jasmin to an appealing part of Italian culture and makes her begin to relax.

In which way does twenty-first-century culture most influence the passage?

Jasmin complains about the lack of WiFi in her new home.

What is the central idea of Paragraph 4?

Jasmin realizes just how different Italy is from Nevada.

Which evidence most strongly supports the theme that one should be open to new cultural experiences?

The author depicts the way Jasmin feels happier when she learns about the interesting traditions and lifestyles in her new home.