Question

Alice was not scared. Not at all. Maybe a little bit. But she was determined to confront the ghost in her house. Alice lived in a farmhouse but in 1921. All of the floors and doors were original the doors even had skeleton key locks. But by far the most terrifying part of the house was the basement. She kept that door locked and ignored the thumps crashes, and cries that came from below the house. What made Alice determined to confront the ghost today was the especially loud crashes the previous night. She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible. What she wasn’t sure, but the ghost would do something.

Alice hadn’t seen the ghost, but what else could be making a loud noise in an old house? The one time she had been down in the basement was her buying the house unseen. Once she saw the shelves with old glass jars, she was a little put off. But what made her keep the door shut and locked was the abrupt end of the concrete floor halfway across the room. Because nothing good ever happened in a basement with a dirt floor. Alice had seen enough horror movies to know that.

Alice stared at the basement door, trying to gather enough confidence to open it and march down the stairs like she owned the place. Because she did-or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years. Alice took a deep breath and yanked the door open. She marched down the stairs, only to stop abruptly at the bottom. Because she was face to face with not a ghost at all it was a calico-cat one who looked utterly unimpressed by her brave journey into the basement.

Stimulus 1 of 7

Which of the following words from the passage indicates time sequence or the order of events?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Once

Rationale :

⧈ The word “once” is used to describe a past moment in Alice’s life, specifically when she first visited the basement.

⧈ It indicates a time sequence by marking when that action happened in relation to current events in the story.

⧈ This helps the reader understand that Alice’s only visit to the basement happened before the current confrontation.

⧈ Therefore, “once” functions as a clear transition word that signals a previous event in the narrative's timeline.

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Answer 2

Correct Answers:

From the night when she heard the loudest noises and then

Rationale :

⧉ The passage states that the loud crashes the previous night were the reason Alice decided to confront the ghost.

⧉ However, it does not describe what happened immediately after that night, such as how she reacted or what she did until the next day.

⧉ This creates a gap between the loud noise at night and the current moment when she stands at the basement door.

⧉ Therefore, the missing time frame is clearly from the night of the loud noise to the moment just before she opened the door.

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Answer 3

Correct Answers:

Because she did- or she would once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years.

Rationale :

⧊ This phrase interrupts a tense moment with a light, relatable joke about homeownership and mortgages, adding a touch of humor to the fear of facing a ghost.

⧊ The contrast between the serious task of confronting a ghost and the mundane reality of paying off a mortgage creates comedic relief.

⧊ It reminds readers that Alice is still grounded in everyday concerns, even while facing something terrifying—this unexpected tone shift adds humor.

⧊ Therefore, this phrase serves as a deliberate humorous break in an otherwise suspenseful and fearful passage.

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Answer 4

Correct Answers:

She's gotten no sleep convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible.

Rationale :

📌 Alice’s lack of sleep is a strong sign that the disturbing noises have moved beyond fear and into mental and emotional exhaustion.

📌 The phrase “convinced the ghost was going to break through the door” shows her anxiety had peaked, leading to growing frustration and urgency.

📌 This emotional tipping point suggests that continued inaction was no longer tolerable, prompting her to finally confront the source.

📌 Therefore, this evidence clearly supports the prediction that frustration pushed Alice to enter the basement after reaching her limit.

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Answer 5

Correct Answers:

There are glass jars on the shelves in the basement.

Rationale :

🔵 Alice describes the glass jars as something that “put her off”, but they are ordinary objects with no indication of danger or threat.

🔵 Unlike the dirt floor or abrupt concrete ending, which imply something ominous, glass jars alone do not justify fear.

🔵 Her discomfort with the jars reflects personal unease or imagination, not genuine evidence that the house is terrifying.

🔵 Therefore, this detail is misleading and emotionally driven, used by Alice to support an exaggerated perception of fear.

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Answer 6

Correct Answers:

The previous owners said they had experienced supernatural events as well.

Rationale :

💥 This statement directly supports the idea of a ghost being present by providing firsthand accounts from past residents.

💥 It serves as testimony-based evidence, aligning with Alice’s experiences of noises and fear in the basement.

💥 Unlike vague or unrelated details (like cobwebs or horoscopes), this information is specific to the location and the supernatural claim.

💥 Therefore, this is the most relevant and logical evidence for concluding that a ghost may inhabit the basement.

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Answer 7

Correct Answers:

She kept that door locked and ignored the thumps, crashes, and ones that came from below the house.

Rationale :

👌 Alice's choice to keep the basement door locked suggests she believes a physical barrier can keep the ghost trapped.

👌 By ignoring the noises and relying on the locked door, she behaves as though the ghost can be controlled or confined to the basement.

👌 This action reflects a belief in containing the supernatural through physical means, rather than addressing or confronting it directly.

👌 Therefore, this line provides the clearest evidence that Alice thinks the ghost can be kept in check by locking it behind the door.

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Answer 8

Correct Answers:

The successful applicant should have open availability.

Rationale :

*️⃣ The listing specifies shifts include “Weekdays, Evenings, [and] Weekends”, indicating a broad range of working hours.

*️⃣ It also clearly states that “all candidates must be willing to work weekends”, suggesting flexibility is required.

*️⃣ While prior experience is preferred, the focus on availability and customer service qualities implies that open scheduling is key to success.

*️⃣ Therefore, a reader can reasonably conclude that the successful applicant should be available across all listed shifts.

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Answer 9

Correct Answers:

This sales and customer service position is an entry level job.

Rationale :

✍ The ad states that previous sales and customer service experience is preferred, but it will also consider candidates without experience, which is a hallmark of entry-level positions.

✍ No advanced qualifications or leadership roles are mentioned, which supports the idea that this is not a management-level job.

✍ The tasks involve basic sales, communication, and time management, skills commonly expected at the entry point of retail employment.

✍ Therefore, the ad supports the conclusion that this position is intended for new or less-experienced job seekers.

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Answer 10

Correct Answers:

Shroud, nest

Rationale :

💎 The words “shroud” and “nest” are vivid, descriptive images that capture the comforting, cocoon-like feel of the bed in the poem.

💎 These words are central to the speaker’s emotional attachment to rest and relaxation, creating strong visual cues for an illustrator.

💎 “Shroud” evokes the idea of being wrapped or enveloped, while “nest” suggests warmth, safety, and coziness—key themes of the poem.

💎 Therefore, these words would be especially helpful for an illustrator tasked with capturing the tone and visual atmosphere of the poem.

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