Part A
Which statement best explains the theme of the story?

A.
Practice and patience pay off.

B.
Children should respect their elders.

C.
Showing kindness to others always is worthwhile.

D.
Good friendships are strong from the very start.

Part B
Which detail from the story helps the reader to understand the theme?

A.
“He hurriedly wrote down the final name—Tim, a friend he had been playing soccer with for two years.” (paragraph 3)

B.
“Two years later, it was this same Tim he considered his closest friend.” (paragraph 8)

C.
“He knew that Mrs. Marks felt that he needed to work harder from time to time.” (paragraph 11)

D.
“In fact, Michael’s mom was the first to call and accept the invitation to the party.” (paragraph 13)