Which details should the writer add before sentence 6 to best help readers imagine how the author physically
feels when she opens the attic door?
A
When I tiptoed into the room, I imagined all the interesting things I would find when I
uncovered what was in the old boxes that filled every corner and wall of the attic room-
there was so much to look through and so little time!
The following is a student draft. It may contain errors.
Mystery in the Attic
(1) it was pitch dark and cold, and I could hear the
creaking of my footsteps as I crept up the stairs.
(2) Despite my fear, I continued to keep pace until
reached the top of the staircase. (3) There it was, the
door that opened to what I imagined to be a dimly lit
cave, home of ancient bats and the unknown. (4)
knew I needed to open the door. (5) Finally, holding my
breath, I grabbed the key from my pocket and
unlocked the door
(6) To my surprise, it was a room full of treasure!
(7) That summer, I went through every box I could and
scoured through old photos, letters, keepsakes, and
clothes. (8) There was one photo, however, that really
caught my attention. (9) The photo was of a woman
who I did not recognize. (10) Her hair was long, curly,
and full (11) Her eyes were piercing as she smiled into
B. When I peered into the dark room, I noticed that there were shelves upon shelves full of old
boxes sealed with tape that has not been tampered with; it was evident that no one had
opened any of the boxes for a very long time.
c.
As I walked into the room, I realized most people would be scared of going up to the attic
alone, but I proved to myself how brave I was to venture up here all by myself-I felt a sense
of accomplishment I never felt before!
D
As I stepped into the room, a cold breeze brought me chills and a cloud of dust burst into
the air as I coughed and gasped for fresh airI was convinced no one had been in this room
for ages and I was the first explorer