Read the following message.
Hi Lucas,
Mom told me you were hurt that I left the camping story out of my speech at Maya's wedding. I understand why. We have repeated that story at family dinners for years, and you helped me remember the funniest details while I was drafting. I should have told you before the reception that I had changed the speech.
I did not remove it because I thought your suggestion was poor or because the trip no longer matters to Maya. The story depends on Maya getting lost on the path and confidently leading us in the wrong direction. She laughs when we tell it at home, but last month she asked that we not repeat it in front of Arun's relatives. She worried that meeting them for the first time while everyone laughed at her mistake would make her feel small.
I used the canoe story instead because it showed the same determination without placing her embarrassment at the centre. In that story, Maya kept paddling after the rest of us wanted to turn back, and we reached the island before the rain. The change was about the audience and Maya's comfort, not about choosing my memory over yours.
I also realize that thanking you in the speech for helping me prepare, without using the story we discussed, may have sounded confusing. I meant the thanks sincerely. Your reminder that Maya usually turns a mistake into a reason to keep going shaped the point I made, even though I used a different example.
I hope this explains the decision. I am sorry that my silence made you discover it while I was speaking.
Ravi
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option according to the information given in the message.
2.About the camping story, Ravi reveals
3.The strength of the canoe story was that
4.Ravi most regrets that he
5.Lucas still influenced the final speech, as
6.The tone of Ravi's message toward Lucas is
Here is a response to the message. Complete the response by filling in the blanks. Select the best choice for each blank from the drop-down menu (▾).
Thank you for explaining. I had assumed the change meant 7. I now understand that Maya was comfortable with the story at home but 8.
The canoe story kept the quality you wanted to describe while 9. I also see how my comment influenced the speech even though 10. I still wish you had warned me, but my disappointment is now about the surprise, not 11.
Lucas
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: why he changed the speech without rejecting Lucas
Why this is correct: The whole message explains one thing. Ravi changed the speech because of the audience and Maya's comfort, not because he rejected Lucas's help. That is his main reason for writing.
Passage Reference: The change was about the audience and Maya's comfort, not about choosing my memory over yours.
Tips: For a main-reason question, choose the option that covers the whole message, not just one detail.
Why the other options are wrong:
- why Maya preferred the canoe story at every gathering: Maya only asked to avoid the camping story with new relatives, not at every gathering.
- why the canoe story suited this audience alone: He also stresses that the change was not a rejection of Lucas.
- why Lucas's help was never thanked: He credits Lucas and says the reminder shaped the point he made.
Correct Answer: Maya did not want new relatives focused on her mistake
Passage Reference: she asked that we not repeat it in front of Arun's relatives
Why this is correct: Ravi left the camping story out after Maya asked that they not repeat the lost-path story in front of Arun's relatives. She did not want her new relatives focused on her mistake.
Tips: Find the part of Ravi's message about the camping story. Read it to the end, then test all four options.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Lucas had forgotten the trip details: Lucas helped Ravi remember the funniest details while drafting.
- the story showed Maya refusing to continue: The story is about her leading the wrong way, not refusing to continue.
- Arun's relatives had heard it many times: The worry is a first meeting with them, not that they already know the story.
Correct Answer: it showed determination without joking about her mistake
Passage Reference: it showed the same determination without placing her embarrassment at the centre
Why this is correct: The canoe story kept determination central without placing her embarrassment at the centre.
Tips: Find where Ravi writes about the canoe story. Test each option against his words there.
Why the other options are wrong:
- it let him avoid mentioning Maya: Maya is still the focus of the canoe story.
- it proved his memory beat Lucas's: He denies choosing his memory over Lucas's.
- it ended the trip before the rain: They reached the island before the rain, but that is not why he switched.
Correct Answer: failed to tell Lucas before the speech
Passage Reference: I should have told you before the reception that I had changed the speech.
Why this is correct: He apologizes that silence made Lucas discover the change while he was speaking.
Tips: His regret is about timing, not the new story itself.
Why the other options are wrong:
- described Maya as determined: That was intentional and positive.
- thanked Lucas for helping him prepare: He meant the thanks sincerely.
- spoke to Arun's relatives at the reception: Speaking to relatives is not what he regrets.
Correct Answer: his view of Maya shaped the point despite the new example
Passage Reference: Your reminder that Maya usually turns a mistake into a reason to keep going shaped the point I made
Why this is correct: Lucas's reminder that Maya turns a mistake into a reason to keep going shaped the point, even with a different example.
Tips: Separate influence on the message from which story was told.
Why the other options are wrong:
- he told Ravi to switch to the canoe story: Lucas did not request the switch.
- his camping draft was read word for word: The camping story was left out.
- he convinced Ravi the camping story would embarrass Maya: Maya raised that concern, not Lucas.
Correct Answer: sorry about the surprise but firm on the reason
Passage Reference: I am sorry that my silence made you discover it while I was speaking.
Why this is correct: The tone of the whole message mixes two things. Ravi says sorry for the surprise. But he stays clear and firm about the reason for the change, which was the audience and Maya's comfort.
Tips: Read what Ravi says about Mom, about Maya, and about Lucas's advice, and see how he ends his message. Choose the option that matches his attitude in all of those places.
Why the other options are wrong:
- angry that Lucas spoke to Mom: He understands why Lucas felt hurt.
- unsure whether Maya raised any concern: He reports Maya's request clearly.
- dismissive of Lucas's feelings and advice: He thanks Lucas and explains carefully.
Correct Answer: you did not value my help or the memory I suggested
Passage Reference: Mom told me you were hurt that I left the camping story out
Why this is correct: Lucas had read the change as rejecting both his help and the camping memory.
Tips: Name Lucas's original hurt assumption.
Why the other options are wrong:
- you valued my help but no longer valued the camping memory: His hurt covered help and memory together.
- Maya wanted the memory kept out of every family conversation: She still laughs at it at home.
- you considered my memory less suitable than your own: Ravi denies choosing memory over memory.
Correct Answer: did not want it used for a first meeting with new relatives
Passage Reference: She worried that meeting them for the first time while everyone laughed at her mistake would make her feel small.
Why this is correct: Maya was fine at home but worried about a first meeting with Arun's relatives.
Tips: Keep the home versus wedding-audience contrast.
Why the other options are wrong:
- wanted it retired from family storytelling altogether: She still laughs when they tell it at home.
- preferred the canoe story because it ended before the rain: Rain timing is not her stated reason.
- was comfortable with it only when she chose to tell it herself: She objects to this audience, not to who tells it.
Correct Answer: not making her embarrassment the focus
Passage Reference: without placing her embarrassment at the centre
Why this is correct: The canoe story avoids placing her embarrassment at the centre.
Tips: The blank names what the canoe story avoids.
Why the other options are wrong:
- presenting Lucas as the person who got lost: Nobody reframes Lucas as lost.
- removing her determination from the speech: Determination is what he keeps.
- claiming the canoe trip was more important: He does not rank the trips that way.
Correct Answer: the camping story itself was not included
Passage Reference: even though I used a different example
Why this is correct: Lucas's idea still shaped the message even though the camping story was omitted.
Tips: Influence can remain after the example changes.
Why the other options are wrong:
- my help was announced as the main subject: Thanks were sincere, not the main subject.
- you ignored everything I said about Maya: Ravi says Lucas's reminder shaped the point.
- the speech did not describe determination: Determination remained the point.
Correct Answer: whether you respected my contribution
Passage Reference: The change was about the audience and Maya's comfort, not about choosing my memory over yours.
Why this is correct: Once explained, Lucas's disappointment is about the surprise, not respect for his contribution.
Tips: Find the sentence where Ravi sums up why he changed the speech. Compare each option with the whole of that sentence.
Why the other options are wrong:
- whether Maya is a determined person: Both still agree she is determined.
- whether the wedding speech needed humour: Humour is not the remaining issue.
- whether the audience enjoyed the canoe story: Audience enjoyment is not Lucas's remaining hurt.
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