Giving Life
(1) It was a hot summer day. (2) My dad and I were getting ready to go out
for a ride on the boat with my friend Katie and the dog. (3) That’s when the phone
call came, the call that made that bright, beautiful day a cold, dark, gloomy one.
(4) I had just put on my suit, shorts, and tank top, and packed my bag with
sunscreen and everything else I would need for the day. (5) I ran into my
parents’ room to find Dad. (6) When I saw him on the phone, he was crying. (7)
I’d never seen my dad cry before. (8) My heart sank. (9) That is just a figure of
speech. (10) What possibly could have happened?
(11) “Max, I’m so sorry,” I heard him say. (12) That’s when it hit me. (13) I
knew that Suzie had died.
(14) Suzie had a rare disease that mainly affected her body. (15) Her brain
was OK. (16) She knew what was going on; she knew that she had problems and
was different than other kids. (17) Once she told her dad that she wished she
could die and be born in a different body. (18) She couldn’t live a normal life
however she was still happy.
(19) When Suzie and I were little, we spent quite a bit of time together. As
we grew up, we grew apart. (20) Suzie’s home was in New York, and I lived in
the Midwest. (21) When Suzie was ten she had to live in a hospital in Virginia.
(22) About ate months before she died, Max gave us her number at the hospital
and we talked at least twice a week until the end. (23) Suzie was always so
excited to talk to us and wanted to know every detail about my life. (24) She
wanted to know everything I did and everything I ate. In a way, she lived through
me.
(25) After we found out about her death, we made our plans to go to New
York for the funeral. (26) When she was alive, I sent her a Beanie Baby and she
sent one back to me. (27) I had bought her another one but never had the
chance to send it to her, so I took it to put in her casket. (27) Her funeral was
very different than any funeral I’d ever been to. (28) After they lowered her
casket, each one of us put a shovelful of dirt over her. (29) I remember crying so
hard, I felt weak. (30) My cheeks burned from the tears. (31) My whole body was
shaking as I picked up the shovel, but I’m glad I did it.
(32) When Suzie and I first started calling one another, I thought it would be
more of a burden on me, but I was completely wrong. (33) I learned so much
from her. (34) She gave me more than I could ever give to her. (35) I will never
forget her or the talks we had. (36)
1. What transitional word would best introduce sentence 15?
A. Therefore,
B. However,
C. Eventually,
D. Suddenly,
2. Which sentence adds an irrelevant detail?
A. Sentence 9
B. Sentence 18
C. Sentence 24
D. Sentence 32
3. What topic sentence would be best to begin the fourth paragraph?
A. My dad was so sad, I could tell.
B. My dad’s friend Max was the principal of a school in New York and he
was very good at his job.
C. Suzie was an inspiration to all of us.
D. Max has been my dad’s best friend for years and his daughter, Suzie,
had been very, very sick for a while.
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4. What is the correct way to write sentence 18?
A. She could’nt live a normal life, however she was still happy.
B. She couldn’t live a normal life however, she was still happy.
C. She couldn’t live a normal life, however she was still happy.
D. She could’nt live a normal life however, she was still happy.
5. What is the correct way to write sentence 20?
A. Suzies’ home was in New York, and I lived in the Midwest.
B. Suzie’s home was in New York, and I lived in the midwest.
C. Suzies home was in New York, and I lived in the Midwest.
D. The sentence is correct as written
6. What would make the best supporting detail for sentence 26?
A. Beanie Babies are little stuffed animals that some people like to collect.
B. I never really liked Beanie Babies before I got one from Suzie.
C. I never found out what happened to the parrot Beanie Baby that I sent
her.
D. She sent me a dog Beanie Baby, my favorite animal, and I sent her a
parrot which was her favorite animal.
7. What is the best way to combine sentences 30 and 31?
A. My cheeks burned from the tears, since my whole body was shaking
as I picked up the shovel, but I’m glad I did it.
B. My cheeks burned from the tears, but my whole body was shaking as I
picked up the shovel, but I’m glad I did it.
C. My cheeks burned from the tears, and my whole body was shaking as I
picked up the shovel, but I’m glad I did it.
D. My cheeks burned from the tears, however my whole body was
shaking as I picked up the shovel, but I’m glad I did it.
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8. Which sentence would provide the best conclusion to the composition?
A. I now know that I must never take anything for granted, especially my
health and the gift of life.
B. The funeral was something that was very difficult for me, but I learned
a lot from it.
C. Suzie was probably the most caring person I ever met. I hoped that
she liked the Beanie Baby I put in her casket.
D. My dad’s friend Max will be sad for a long time about his daughter.
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