Part A Read this sentence from the passage.
At three o'clock on the morning of April 20, he stepped into the basket underneath the huge balloon and gave the signal to cast off.
What does the phrase "cast off" most likely mean?

A say good­bye
B check the weather
C unfasten the ropes
D take final measurements
Part B
Which phrase from the third paragraph best supports the answer to the question before this one?

. . . learned that the winds were right . . .
. . . stepped into the basket . . .
. . . rose quickly into the sky.
. . . took instrument readings . . .

Ineed with writing assignment 6.04 carry the torch

Which type of context clue does the author use to show the meaning of the word diplomats?

Which sentence from the text best develops the theme about the importance of compassion for other people? "besides, he was the only person in the whole place with skin nearly as dark as hers." "at first she wanted to intern at her dad's gas station, but her teacher told her she needed to branch out and signed michelle up at the oakcourt nursing home, only 15 minutes away from her house." "still, michelle had been curious, and she felt sorry that erkan had a bad reputation among the staff." "she too had felt like everyone mistrusted her--especially at the nursing home where she was so much younger than the rest of the staff--so she understood how he must feel."