NEED HELP ASAP Esperanza Finds Her Voice
by C. Vesely

Miss Tully looked at Esperanza's open-toed shoes and quietly asked, "Why are you wearing sandals on a cold day like this?"
Esperanza blushed and answered, "My toe hurts, and I cannot stand the tightness of my tennis shoes."
"What is wrong with your toe?" Miss Tully asked.
"I have an ingrown toenail," Esperanza said.
"Oh. I hope you can get it taken care of," Miss Tully said.
"Thank you, Miss," Esperanza said as she entered the classroom.
Esperanza sat at her desk and tried to concentrate on the history lecture. She couldn't help but think of the embarrassment she felt when her teacher asked about her shoes. Mama tried to fix my toe, but now it's infected.
Miss Tully was teaching the class about Mexican culture. She told the class about the Danza de los Voladores, a ritual in which several men climb a pole and then hang upside down with ropes tied around their feet. The ritual was supposed to earn favor from the gods and was performed during important festivals. In modern times, the ritual had spread throughout Mexico and Central America. Once when Esperanza visited her grandmother in the Mexican state of Veracruz, she witnessed the Danza de los Voladores. She wanted to raise her hand and tell the class how exciting it was to watch the men climb the tall pole and hang upside down while spinning around the pole. However, Esperanza was too shy to raise her hand. She was worried that her classmates would think she was weird. At the end of the lesson, Miss Tully assigned the students to teams and told them to create a presentation about Mexican traditions.
"Does anyone have a suggestion?" Gloria, Esperanza's teammate, asked.
No one volunteered an idea.
Esperanza thought, I am proud of my family's Mexican background, and I have good ideas. I should offer to help my group. I know we can earn a good grade with my creativity and knowledge of Mexican culture.. Finally, she gathered her courage and said, "I think we should tell about the Día de los Muertos celebrations. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican custom in which people remember their loved ones who have died. My family celebrates Día de los Muertos every year from midnight on October 31 through November 2," Esperanza said.
"That sounds interesting!" Cody said.
"I like that topic. Esperanza, will you tell us all about the Day of the Dead?" Gloria asked.
Esperanza was happy and proud that she had so much to contribute to her team. She realized that her differences made her special, not inferior.
When the bell rang to dismiss the students, Miss Tully asked Esperanza to stay a moment after class.
"If you want, you could go see the nurse. She might be able to help you with your toe," Miss Tully said as she handed Esperanza a pass to the nurse's office.
"Thank you, Miss Tully," Esperanza said with a smile.

What is one of the themes expressed in this passage?
A.
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
B.
Don't forget those who first believed in you.
C.
Unique experiences create unique people.
D.
Preparation is the key to overcoming challenges.