Everybody in the room was silent as my grandmother, walking unsteadily, brought my birthday cake from the darkened kitchen. The family members gathered in the cramped room began singing "Happy Birthday". They were interrupted by a thurderclap that was followed by a cold breeze that came in through the open window. The breeze blew out 3 of the 13 candles on the cake. As they started singing for the second time, I shivered and watched the distorted shadows cast on the ways by the flickering candles.
Which word best describes the mood of this story?
A. gloomy
B. amused
C. sarcastic
D. reverent

Read this excerpt from we’ve got a job: the 1963 children’s march. then, in 1958, when he was nine, his mother got a job as a dental assistant – and a raise. at about the same time, wash got a job, too. six days a week for eight years, he woke up by four o'clock in the morning to deliver milk. by the time he got to school each day, he'd already put in almost half a day's work. how does this excerpt readers make a personal connection to the story? by connecting readers to his mother’s medical training by connecting readers to the milk-delivery business by connecting readers to wash’s academic success by connecting readers to wash’s daily work routine