Read the following short story, and then answer the questions that follow.
lifeguard rules!

1 ira was sitting in the shade because it was over ninety degrees in the sun, which beat down with a fierce vengeance. he wished he was still playing around in the cool, blue water of the pool. he had been splashing in the shallow end until the shrill sound of the lifeguard’s whistle cut through the air like a siren.

2 “that’s it, ira and michael,” francesca had said. "you guys don’t get a third warning. go spend fifteen minutes out of the water. i’ll inform you when i’m ready to see you in the pool again.”

3 “wow, your sister thinks she’s a prison guard instead of a lifeguard,” michael said. “you’d think she’d go easy on her own brother and his best friend,” he added.

4 ira was feeling conflicted. on the one hand, he felt like he should stick up for his sister. after all, francesca had given him and michael two warnings. the first time she had been friendly and brief. the second time she had called them over to the side of the pool and lectured them for a full minute. it was only when they resumed their splashing war and accidentally soaked mr. murphy, who was reading his newspaper in a beach chair, that francesca had whistled them out of the pool.

5 ira was thinking about what to say. he didn’t want to offend michael, who was his best friend, and he himself argued with francesca all the time, but in his heart he knew that she was doing her job and she had been correct to discipline michael and him, especially after two warnings.

6 before ira spoke up, everyone’s attention shifted back to the swimming pool. kendra, a girl in ira’s class, and her little brother were laughing and shouting. they were having a splashing war much like the one that had gotten ira and michael ejected.

7 “look,” michael was quick to observe, “everyone is splashing each other, so why did francesca have to pick on you? ”

8 before michael finished the last syllable of his question, three—make that four—things happened at almost exactly the same time. first, kendra sent a big spray of water at her brother. second, as the water
splashed over the pool deck, a young toddler who wasn’t paying attention stepped into the puddle, and her feet slipped out from under her.

9 third and fourth, francesca’s arm shot out like a lasso, encircling the young girl to keep her from falling. then, with her other hand, francesca lifted her whistle to her lips to signal kendra, who was in for a stern lecture.

10 ira no longer felt the need to say anything in francesca’s defense. michael suddenly got too interested in tying knots in the drawstring of his swimsuit to bother criticizing francesca. the little girl’s mother came over to the lifeguard who never took her eyes off of the swimmers in the water.

1. read the following sentences from "lifeguard rules! "

“wow, your sister thinks she’s a prison guard instead of a lifeguard,” michael said. “you’d think she’d go easy on her own brother and his best friend,” he added.

which of the following words best describes michael's tone? (1 point)
annoyed
dejected
furious
surprised

2. how does the author mostly reveal the character of ira? (1 point)
through his words
through his actions
through his thoughts
through other peoples’ views of him

3. which of the following statements best identifies a lesson the reader can learn after reading "lifeguard rules? " (1 point)
good friends are always there to show support for each other.
although pools are fun, reckless behavior can be dangerous.
it is important to think about what you say before you say it.
even though siblings may argue, they are always there to defend one another.

4. read the following sentence from "lifeguard rules! "

"he had been splashing in the shallow end until the shrill sound of the lifeguard's whistle cut through
the air like a siren."

in this sentence, the whistle most likely symbolizes (1 point)
danger.
embarrassment.
power.
temptation.

5. read the following lines from the poem "love after love."

give wine. give bread. give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

which of the following words best describes the speaker's tone? (1 point)
authoritative
calming
encouraging
pleading

6. read the following sentences from "the third bank of the river."

"father, you have been out there long enough. you are old . . come back, you don't have to do it anymore . .
come back and i'll go instead. right now, if you want. any time. i'll get into the boat. i'll take your place."

which of the following words best describes the speaker's tone? (1 point)
annoyed
desperate
determined
pleading