Friends Forever? by StudySync1  When Andres Vergara and Rafael Marquez were growing up in Colombia, they seemed destined to be best friends for life. They were more like twins than friends; they played baseball together, spent time hiking together, and even walked to school together every day for twelve years. They would often challenge each other to do their best, trying to outperform one another in sports and academics.2  They seemed inseparable until the last day of high school. They even planned to attend a local college together, but plans changed.3  “Hey, Andres, can I talk to you for a minute?” Rafael asked as they prepared to graduate from school. “My aunt and uncle have invited me to attend a college they work at in the United States, and I’ve decided to take them up on the offer.”4  Andres was shocked at the news but understood the opportunity was too great to pass up. He wished Rafael the best, and they kept in touch for a few months. But, as days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, both friends became so wrapped up in their own lives that they began to forget about a friendship forged by time.5  In nearly the blink of an eye, the ensuing four years of college passed, and both Andres and Rafael were preparing to graduate from college. Andres was busy one day, preparing to move out of his home. All he could think of was his new job at a local television station and the excitement he felt. He would finally fulfill a dream of being a news reporter. Visions of digging up hard news stories and helping others danced in his head. Suddenly, something caught his eye amid a collection of papers on his desk. He found a story he had collaborated on with Rafael. Thoughts of the new job disappeared as his mind drifted toward his friend thousands of miles away and the times they had spent together.6  “I wonder how he’s managing in the States,” Andres said aloud, doleful that so much time had passed and his lifelong friendship had grown dormant.7  At that moment, Andres decided that enough time had passed. He grabbed his cell phone, clinging to hope that Rafael’s number he had sent through an email three years ago had not changed. His fingers moved fast and furiously as he dialed the ancient number and listened as the phone rang once, then twice, then a third time.8  Suddenly, the ringing was interrupted, followed by a familiar voice saying, “Andres, is that you?”9  Andres beamed, the years of friendship flooding back. “I figured it was about time I check in with you to see how things are going in the States. You know, I was thinking of making my way up to see you sometime in the fall. We have so many great memories from growing up and it’s about time we made some new ones.”10  Moments later, they were reliving memories of days gone by and making plans for a future where they would make sure never to let so much time pass without talking.2(a)This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.Part A Read the excerpt from the passage.Visions of digging up hard news stories and helping others danced in his head. (paragraph 5)Based on the phrase “danced in his head,” what do we know about Andres as a character?Ahe is content about becoming a news reporterBhe is excited about becoming a news reporterChe is anxious about becoming a news reporterDhe is resigned about becoming a news reporter(b)Part BWhich word from paragraph 5 best supports your answer in Part A?A“job”B“dream”C“hard”D“helping”

IntroductionCharactersRafael: Soon-to-be college graduate in New York CityAndres: Rafael’s friend from Colombia, where they both grew upThis scene takes place in Rafael’s apartment at night. He’s arriving home from a hard day of finals when he notices an incoming call from a distant friend.Scene: Rafael’s Apartment in New York1  Rafael: (eyes leap out of their sockets when he sees the number) Now there’s a blast from the past that I haven’t heard from in years. (Rafael picks up the phone and answers it. )2  Rafael: Andres, is that you? (There is a short pause on the other end of the phone, as if Rafael’s friend is trying to determine what to say. )3  Andres: I figured it was about time I check in with you to see how things are going in the States. You know, I was thinking of making my way up to see you sometime in the fall.4  Rafael: (sincerely )It is so great to hear from you and so surreal, as well. It’s been like a billion years since we last chatted!5  Andres: Well, maybe a million. (chuckles) .You’ll never believe what I was doing about twenty minutes ago. I was going through some papers, getting ready to move on to my next adventure, when I came across the book we made back in fourth grade.6  Rafael: The Worldwide Adventures of Pedro ?I haven’t thought about that story in years.7  Andres: In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen it since we were in fourth grade, but it brought back a flood of memories, and I knew I had to call you.8  Rafael: So what have you been up to these past four years?9  Andres: I went to college to study broadcasting and now have a gig with Channel 11 news as a roving reporter.10  Rafael: (enthusiastically) Channel 11? No way!11  Andres: The same channel we used to watch when we were growing up. And how about you? What have you been up to?12  Rafael: Staying busy with school, studying business in college. I have a job lined up, right after I graduate in a few weeks, working for a sports sales business.13  Andres: So you’re still into sports like you always have been, I see.14  Rafael: Definitely, and I still don’t miss a World Cup game on TV, if I can help it, and I still hope to travel to a game once in my life.15  Andres: Speaking of travel, I know the news station is going to be sending me to your neck of the woods for a week in September. It would be great to relive old times.16  Rafael: Sounds great to me, too! As soon as you find out when you are coming, let me know, and we’ll plan a weeklong extravaganza.1(a)This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part ARead the excerpt from the passage.Rafael: (eyes leap out of their sockets when he sees the number) Now there’s a blast from the past that I haven’t heard from in years. (paragraph 1) Based on the words in the stage directions, what would the actor playing Rafael most likely do?Aflush deeply and laughBslowly remove his eyeglassesCclose his eyes tightly and scowlDraise his eyebrows and open his eyes wide(b)Part BWhich detail from the passage best supports your answer in Part A?A“Rafael picks up the phone and answers it.”B“Andres, is that you?”C“It is so great to hear from you and so surreal, as well.”D“It’s been like a billion years since we last chatted!”

Maya and Andrew have been good friends since high school. Recently, Andrew started noticing how attractive Maya was and thinking that maybe he’d like to be more than “just friends.” Maya, however, has no romantic interest in Andrew, and just thinks of him like a brother. From Andrew’s perspective (and assuming he knows that Maya just wants to stay friends), this cross-sex friendship would best be classified as: a. Mutually platonic b. Romance c. Rejection d. Mutually romantic

Part BWhich detail from the passage best supports your answer in Part A?A“Rafael picks up the phone and answers it.”B“Andres, is that you?”C“It is so great to hear from you and so surreal, as well.”D“It’s been like a billion years since we last chatted!”

True friendship is deeper than sea and wider than sky. Prepare a brief write up on truefriendship as portrayed in the story Amigo Brothers

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Gabriel García Márquez was awarded the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature.García Marquez was born in 1927 in the town of Aracataca in Colombia and died in Mexico City in 2014. Many readers and scholars have cited Garcia Marquez’s 1967 novel One Hundred Years of Solitude as one of the leading modern influences in the genre of magical realism.One Hundred Years of Solitude chronicles the Colombian Buendía family over several generations and is in many ways an homage to Garcia Marquez’s childhood.The student wants to introduce One Hundred Years of Solitude to an audience unfamiliar with the novel and its author. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?Gabriel García Márquez, who wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude and was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, was born in Colombia and died in Mexico City.eliminateMany readers and scholars have cited Gabriel García Márquez‘s multigenerational novel One Hundred Years of Solitude as a leading modern influence for magical realism.eliminateA highly influential magical realism novel about multiple generations of a Colombian family, One Hundred Years of Solitude was written by Gabriel García Márquez, winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature.eliminateOne Hundred Years of Solitude is a magical realism novel set in Colombia about the Buendía family.