Read the passage below, and answer the questions that follow.
(1) "They can’t do this!" Coretta shouted. Some big company from out of town could not just show
up and take away her mother’s store—could they?
"Don’t get so angry," said Mrs. Carter. "I’m afraid they can do this, if I don’t come up with the
money to match their offer."
(2) "Well, we’re going to get that money. Even if I have to give you all my earnings!" Coretta was
willing to part with all the money from her summer job. (3) But when she got to work the next
day, she got an even worse surprise. Her boss had decided that three writing tutors were two too
many.
"Sorry, Coretta, but I can only afford to keep one of you. And you’re only in high school—Lucia is
in college!"
(4) "Great," Coretta said. "Now Mom and I are both broke!"
1. The conflict introduced in the exposition of this story involves—
a) The offer on Mrs. Carter’s store and her inability to match it
b) Coretta’s anger about the company’s offer on the store
c) Coretta getting fired from her job as a writing tutor
d) The plan that Coretta has for coming up with money.
2. Which sentence in the story signals the end of the exposition and the beginning of
the rising action?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4