Read the sentence from paragraph 5. Lengthy droughts coupled with the recent steady rise in global temperatures are worsening the quality of Earth’s drylands.

Which meaning of the word coupled is used above?

fastened

combined

paired one person with another

brought together for energy exchange

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."