Margaret looked at the flickering sign. “Because nobody remembers the last waitress. But they might remember a warm bus depot.”
– Inference. The diner is closing forever in minutes. She isn’t stealing for greed; she is breaking a pointless rule to do one last good thing.
The young man hesitated. Pride fought with hypothermia. Pride lost. “Why?”
He left. At 6:55 AM, the owner, Frank, arrived with a padlock. Margaret handed him her apron. “The coffee pot needs scrubbing,” she said. Frank nodded. Neither mentioned the missing twenty dollars from the till. 1. (Literal) What time does Margaret’s shift end? A. 3:15 AM B. 6:55 AM C. 7:00 AM D. 11:00 PM 2. (Vocabulary) In paragraph two, the phrase “tasted like regret” implies that the coffee is: A. Sweet and comforting B. Stale, bitter, and unpleasant C. Freshly brewed but cold D. Full of sugar 3. (Inference) Why does the young man “stumble in” with “pockets turned inside out”? A. He is drunk. B. He just won money at a casino. C. He is homeless or has lost his wallet. D. He is looking for a fight. 4. (Main Idea) The central theme of this passage is: A. The importance of drinking black coffee. B. The struggle between pride and survival in the face of closure. C. How to become a waitress. D. The dangers of talking to strangers at night. 5. (Author’s Craft) The author describes the neon sign as having a “final, stubborn hum.” This is an example of: A. Hyperbole (exaggeration) B. Personification (giving human traits to an object) C. Alliteration (repeating sounds) D. Irony (opposite of what is expected) 6. (Inference) Why does Margaret give the man twenty dollars “from the till” instead of from her own pocket? A. She has no cash on her. B. She wants Frank to fire her. C. She doesn’t value the owner’s money. D. She has already decided the rules don’t matter because the diner is closing. 7. (Numerical Response - Order of Events) Arrange the following events in chronological order according to the passage: (1) The young man asks for a phone charger. (2) Margaret hands Frank her apron. (3) Margaret pours a stale coffee. (4) Frank arrives with a padlock.
– Inference. She feels her 15 years of work will be forgotten instantly. This is a moment of melancholy, not anger or pride.
– Literal. The text says her shift is "11 p.m. to 7 a.m." Frank arrives at 6:55 AM, but her shift technically ends at 7.
– Inference. “Pockets inside out” suggests emptiness. He stumbles (weakness/lack of food). He doesn’t ask for food, just a charger—a survival necessity.
– Main Idea. The text shows the man’s “pride fought with hypothermia” and Margaret’s quiet sacrifice. The closure of the diner frames their actions.