1. PART A: Which of the following identifies a central idea of the text?
A. Jackie Robinson's undeniable talent made it easy for coaches and team
members to accept him, despite the racial tension of the era.
B. While Jackie Robinson faced racial discrimination early on in his life, this stopped
once he became the first African-American Major League Baseball player.
C. As the first African-American Major League Baseball player, Jackie Robinson was
significant in the increased racial diversity that followed in baseball and in other
aspects of American culture.
D. Once Jackie Robinson left baseball, the impact he had on the sport dwindled,
and the racial diversity present on teams decreased.

"the monkey's paw" is a rare story in that the theme is actually stated in the story. sgt. maj. morris tells the whites that the old fakir who put the spell on the paw said, "fate rules people's lives and those who interfere with fate do so to their sorrow." the message is a warning, but mr. white doesn't believe it. even though sgt. maj. morris makes it clear that he tried wishing with unfortunate results and he tries to throw the paw on the fire,   mr. white makes a wish for 200 pounds only to find that he receives the money when herbert dies in a factory accident. according to the fakir, then, because mr. white had wished for something he should not have had, his son lost his life.

the second wish that mrs. white encourages him to make is for herbert's return--one week after his death. when the strange knocking begins at the door during the windy night, mr. white panicks, believing that the previously dead but still mangled herbert could have walked home from the cemetary and is now at the door. because he fears what his wife will find if she opens the door, mr. white makes his third wish--for the noise to stop.

therefore, he uses his three wishes and to his sorrow, loses his son and disappoints his wife, who fervently believed that their son was at the door. she wanted him back, regardless of his condition.

explanation: