Just before Christmas in 1944, a letter arrived at our house in Philadelphia. The postmark was from Tuskegee, Alabama, so we all knew who it was from. We excitedly gathered around Mother as she opened it at the kitchen table. My Dear Mother, I did not get the leave I expected for Christmas. I will miss all of you. Please leave the Christmas tree up until I make it back. I hope to be home by March. Love from your son, Clifton I was 17 years old at the time. My heart sank. I felt a profound sadness that my favorite brother would not be home for Christmas. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and was responsible for main taining the airplanes flying off to fight in World War II. My mother, being the optimist she always was, said, ”Well, it looks like we’ll get to have two Christ mases this year!” After Christmas, my sister and I worked together to make sure we kept that Christmas tree looking as pretty as possible. This was no easy feat.
By mid-January, the branches drooped so low to the ground that they became a sliding board for the decorations. Each day, ornaments would come crashing to the ground and there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the wooden floor. My sister and I took turns sweeping them up. We repositioned the omaments to the stronger branches on the tree, hoping they would stay on. Each time we freshened that tree up, my sister and I were full of thoughts about Clifton and how happy we would be to see him again. It made us feel that he was close by, even though he was hundreds of miles away. On March 5, the doorbell rang. We ran to the door and gave Clifton a big hug. As he hugged Mother. I could see him peek over her head at the Christmas tree. ”It’s beautiful,” he said. ”Thank you.” Clifton opened his presents and told us all sorts of stories about his work in Tuskegee. That night as we slept, we heard a crash in the living room. We all ran to see what had happened. The tree had toppled onto the sofa and there were needles and broken ornaments everywhere. We all had a good laugh. It was fortuitous Clifton got home when he did!
After Clifton's letter is read to the family, the narrator’s mood shifts from _____.
Show Hint
- arrogant to humble
- sad to joyful
- uncertain to clear
- excited to disappointed
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Initial mood.
\[ {Family was excited when the letter arrived} \]
Step 2: After reading letter.
\[ {Narrator feels sad as Clifton won't be home for Christmas} \]
Step 3: Evaluate options.
- (A) $\times$ not relevant
- (B) $\times$ opposite order
- (C) $\times$ not about emotions
- (D) \checkmark correct
Hence, the correct answer is excited to disappointed.
In the middle of the story, we learn that the mother is an optimist. This means she _____.
Show Hint
- is not easily upset
- upholds high standards
- maintains a positive viewpoint
- considers all outcomes before making a decision
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the word.
\[ {Optimist} = {person who expects good outcomes} \]
Step 2: Context from passage.
\[ {Mother says they will have “two Christmases” → positive thinking} \]
Step 3: Evaluate options.
- (A) $\times$ not exact meaning
- (B) $\times$ unrelated
- (C) \checkmark correct
- (D) $\times$ different concept
Hence, the correct answer is maintains a positive viewpoint.
Which of the following words best describes the work the sisters did to help keep the tree looking pretty?
Show Hint
- teamwork
- miracle
- disaster
- drudgery
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Identify actions.
\[ {They took turns sweeping and repositioning ornaments} \]
Step 2: Interpret meaning.
\[ {Working together} \Rightarrow {teamwork} \]
Step 3: Evaluate options.
- (A) teamwork \checkmark correct
- (B) miracle $\times$ not relevant
- (C) disaster $\times$ opposite
- (D) drudgery $\times$ not emphasized
Hence, the correct answer is teamwork.
What is the most likely reason the narrator compared the tree limbs to a “sliding board”?
Show Hint
- They were so high in the air.
- The ornaments were slipping off.
- The sisters liked to play on them.
- The branches looked ugly without their needles.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand context.
\[ {Branches drooped low and ornaments slid down} \]
Step 2: Interpret comparison.
\[ {“Sliding board”} \Rightarrow {things sliding down easily} \]
Step 3: Evaluate options.
- (A) $\times$ not related
- (B) \checkmark correct
- (C) $\times$ not mentioned
- (D) $\times$ unrelated
Hence, the correct answer is The ornaments were slipping off.
How does Clifton seem to feel when he sees the Christmas tree?
Show Hint
- appreciative
- disappointed
- estranged
- remorseful
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Identify Clifton’s reaction.
\[ {He says “It’s beautiful” and thanks them} \]
Step 2: Interpret emotion.
\[ {Showing gratitude and admiration} \Rightarrow {appreciative} \]
Step 3: Evaluate options.
- (A) appreciative \checkmark correct
- (B) disappointed $\times$ opposite
- (C) estranged $\times$ unrelated
- (D) remorseful $\times$ not shown
Hence, the correct answer is appreciative.