What is the theme of “Taking the Plunge”? How does the theme emerge and develop over the course of the passage? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be at least three complete paragraphs.

Read the passage. Then answer the question.

Taking the Plunge

You can’t really see the bolts when you’re on the ground, which isn’t surprising if you consider how far up I am—at least half way, meaning roughly five meters. What is that in feet? Unfortunately, I can’t ask Ms. Snyder, since she’s roughly five meters down and about 30 feet away. I’m not sure how many meters there are in 30 feet, but I can estimate: If I’m five meters up, then she’s got to be about twice as many meters away, which means it’s about 10 meters. Anyhow, there she is, about five meters down and 30 feet away, buying an orange cream ice pop, and if I could remember that theorem named after the Greek guy, I could probably calculate exactly how far away Ms. Snyder and her orange cream ice pops are.

Man, I should pay more attention in Ms. Snyder’s geometry class. Then I’d know how far away she is “as the crow flies,” like people say. Do crows really always fly directly? If I were a crow, I’d fly directly toward Ms. Snyder and grab her orange cream ice pop; although, in that case, maybe I’d better be a magpie, seeing as how they steal things.

Anyhow, you can’t see the bolts in this diving platform from the ground, which is good if your objective is to get more people to scale this crazy tower because those bolts are pockmarked and look wounded, like they’re bleeding rust, which doesn’t inspire copious amounts of confidence. I can’t see Ms. Snyder

Read the passage.

Style Guidelines for Use of the Colon

A colon can be used to introduce a list of items. The clause preceding the colon must be a complete sentence capable of standing on its own. Use a colon to introduce a list only if there is no introductory expression such as namely or for instance. This applies regardless of whether or not there are internal commas in the list. A colon is not used to introduce a list of direct objects following a preposition in the main clause.

Select the sentence that does not follow the style guidelines.

Question

What is the theme of “Taking the Plunge”? How does the theme emerge and develop over the course of the passage? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be at least three complete paragraphs.

Read the passage. Then answer the question.

Taking the Plunge

You can’t really see the bolts when you’re on the ground, which isn’t surprising if you consider how far up I am—at least half way, meaning roughly five meters. What is that in feet? Unfortunately, I can’t ask Ms. Snyder, since she’s roughly five meters down and about 30 feet away. I’m not sure how many meters there are in 30 feet, but I can estimate: If I’m five meters up, then she’s got to be about twice as many meters away, which means it’s about 10 meters. Anyhow, there she is, about five meters down and 30 feet away, buying an orange cream ice pop, and if I could remember that theorem named after the Greek guy, I could probably calculate exactly how far away Ms. Snyder and her orange cream ice pops are.

Man, I should pay more attention in Ms. Snyder’s geometry class. Then I’d know how far away she is “as the crow flies,” like people say. Do crows really always fly directly? If I were a crow, I’d fly directly toward Ms. Snyder and grab her orange cream ice pop; although, in that case, maybe I’d better be a magpie, seeing as how they steal things.

Anyhow, you can’t see the bolts in this diving platform from the ground, which is good if your objective is to get more people to scale this crazy tower because those bolts are pockmarked and look wounded, like they’re bleeding rust, which doesn’t inspire copious amounts of confidence. I can’t see Ms. Snyder

Read the passage.

Style Guidelines for Use of the Colon

A colon can be used to introduce a list of items. The clause preceding the colon must be a complete sentence capable of standing on its own. Use a colon to introduce a list only if there is no introductory expression such as namely or for instance. This applies regardless of whether or not there are internal commas in the list. A colon is not used to introduce a list of direct objects following a preposition in the main clause.

Select the sentence that does not follow the style guidelines.