Question 82·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
Maria lightly tapped the piano keys, her eyes fixed on the challenging passage in the sheet music. After a deep breath, she closed the lid and gazed out the window at her friends laughing as they kicked a soccer ball across the bright green field. With a reluctant sigh, she opened the lid again, set the metronome, and began practicing the same few measures once more.
Which choice best describes Maria's motivation?
For motivation questions, identify what the character wants versus what the character chooses to do, using emotion words and actions as evidence. Then eliminate choices that introduce new information (extra characters, rules, or goals) that the passage does not state or clearly imply.
Hints
Focus on Maria’s actions before and after looking out the window
Reread what Maria does right after she looks at her friends outside. Does she go join them, or does she do something else? That decision shows her motivation.
Pay attention to emotional clues
Think about what the phrase “with a reluctant sigh” suggests about how Maria feels. Does she seem eager to practice or drawn to something else?
Check for direct support in the text
Look for any words in the passage that mention neighbors, rules, or trying to get someone’s attention. If an idea doesn’t appear or isn’t clearly implied, be very cautious about choosing it.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks for Maria's motivation—the main reason behind her actions. Focus on what her choices suggest about why she keeps practicing.
Pull out key clues from the passage
Key details:
- The passage is “challenging.”
- Maria looks out at her friends playing soccer, which seems fun and tempting.
- She lets out a “reluctant sigh,” showing she would prefer something else.
- She still returns to the piano, sets the metronome, and repeats the same measures.
Connect the clues to her motivation
Even though Maria would rather be outside, she chooses to keep practicing the difficult measures. That points to commitment and persistence—wanting to master the music.
Match the evidence to the best answer choice
Choices about annoying neighbors, getting friends to come inside, or following a warning are not supported by the text. The supported motivation is: She keeps practicing to master the difficult passage, though she'd rather play outside.