Read the paragraph. when young people are encouraged to take risks, they build confidence in their own decision-making skills and capabilities. consider winston, a ninth grader willing to try out for a varsity sport or a competitive performance band. he risks failure and personal embarrassment, but he learns the tryout process. he may also learn his personal strengths and shortcomings. whether he is met with success or not, the risk-taking experience fosters self-reflection and growth. what central idea is explicitly stated in the paragraph? young students should compete in varsity athletics. students learn about themselves by taking risks. students benefit from high-level competition. young students are nervous during tryouts.

b

Explanation:

two years ago, when picking flowers in the mountains back of yosemite valley, i found a book. it was blotted and storm-beaten; all of its outer pages were mealy and crumbly. the paper seemed to dissolve like the snow beneath which it had been buried, however; many of the inner pages were well preserved. and although all were more or less stained and torn, whole chapters were easily readable. this is the condition of the great open book of yosemite glaciers today; its granite pages have been torn and blurred by the same storms that wasted the castaway book.

two years ago, when picking flowers in the mountains back of yosemite valley; i found a book. it was blotted and storm-beaten, all of its outer pages were mealy and crumbly. the paper seemed to dissolve like the snow beneath which it had been buried, however, many of the inner pages were well preserved. and although all were more or less stained and torn; whole chapters were easily readable. this is the condition of the great open book of yosemite glaciers today, its granite pages have been torn and blurred by the same storms that wasted the castaway book.