How does the first paragraph help develop the plot of the passage? Making Friends Fiona turned and stared at the red brick building. All last year, she had waited excitedly to pass fifth grade and start middle school. Now that day was here, and it took all her strength not to cry. This was not the school she had planned to attend. Her family had moved from Florida to California over the summer, and she did not know a single person in her new town. Last night, her mother had given her some advice: "Honey, people will want to be your friend if they think you like them." "How am I supposed to show that?" Fiona asked. "I don't even know them." "A simple way to show interest is to give them a compliment. Try saying something like, 'Those are pretty earrings. Where did you get them?' You will be surprised how quickly a conversation starts," her mother replied. Fiona was doubtful. Fiona took a deep breath, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and walked up the steps. A tall boy skidded his mountain bike into the bike rack and called out, "Hey, Todd! How was your summer?" "My parents took us camping. It was great!" Todd yelled back. "Julie, wait up! Who do you have for homeroom?" shouted a perky blond girl as she shoved past Fiona on the steps. Great, Fiona thought, it is worse than I thought. No one even notices me. Anxiety about having to sit alone in the cafeteria made her stomach do flips. Fiona hesitated at the doorway of her homeroom and warily eyed the scene, Kids acted like they all knew each other. She sighed and sat in her assigned desk. She took out a book and