1standing near the window, joshua viewed the moving vans pull up next door. he couldn’t wait to meet his neighbors. joshua saw a boy his own age hop out of the truck. walking outside, joshua waved to his new neighbors.

2joshua boldly walked up to the young man and shot a hand out in front of him. the young man looked like he did not know what to do with joshua’s outstretched hand. joshua scooped up the young man’s hand and shook it vigorously. while looking down at his shoes, the young man quietly introduced himself as dong soo.

3over the next few weeks, joshua and dong soo became great friends and did almost everything together. because the young men were so drastically different, their friendship surprised some people. joshua was sociable; he loved cracking jokes and playing tricks. dong soo, however, was quiet and calm. he thought for a long time before speaking.

4sometimes joshua and dong soo had difficulty understanding each other. some days at school dong soo ate a lunch that, to joshua, didn’t look edible—or maybe it looked just barely safe to eat. joshua was sure he would never eat it. dong soo explained that, because he was korean, he ate foods that other kids at school might not. sometimes joshua played pranks on his older brother. dong soo was horrified at what he saw as his friend’s thoughtless and imprudent actions.

5joshua thought it was important to know what would offend dong soo and his family. therefore, understanding his friend’s culture was vital. joshua asked dong soo to tell him about the korean culture. dong soo suggested that they start with food. he explained that food was very important in korean culture. for instance, koreans would never sit down in front of a television while eating a meal. to koreans, meals are more than mere nourishment—they are a way to show manners.

39)
in paragraph 4, the word edible means
a) safe to eat.
b) good tasting.
c) overly seasoned.
d) thoroughly cooked.
40)
what does this story teach us about differences?
a) being different is bad
b) being different is the end of a friendship
c) it is difficult to get along with people who are different from you
d) it is possible to learn new things from someone who is different from you
41)
because joshua and dong soo became close friends, a reader can infer that
a) neither noticed the cultural differences between them.
b) both accepted and appreciated their cultural differences.
c) joshua had a harder time understanding dong soo's culture.
d) dong soo had a harder time understanding joshua's culture.
42)
how does the setting of this story influence the characters' development?
a) the urban setting influences both of these young men to develop a strong sense of toughness and self-confidence.
b) the setting of a korean neighborhood makes joshua unsure and hesitant while dong soo is confident and comfortable.
c) the setting of an american neighborhood gives joshua confidence and ease while instilling reluctance and shyness in dong soo.
d) the natural setting explains why both young men feel at ease spending time in the outdoors and doing outside jobs and sports.