Graded Quiz 1.2: Banana Bread Brainstorm

This graded quiz will ensure that you’ve mastered all of the skills from this lesson.

First, read the story. Then, choose the answer that best completes each question.

As I paced around the kitchen wondering what to make for Mom’s Christmas party, I noticed a bunch of bananas that had turned brown. Inspired, I grabbed the fruit from the shelf and got out my mixing bowls. I took flour and sugar from the cabinet and eggs and butter from the refrigerator, and I began to make the batter. The recipe said to bake the banana bread at 350 degrees for one hour. I set the temperature and poured my batter into the already greased pans.

After the oven pinged to let me know that it was hot enough. I slid the loaves onto the second shelf, letting the batter softly settle inside the metal pans, and gently closed the door. I turned the timer to 60 minutes and thought, “Okay, I’m all set.”

Leaving my banana bread to bake, I headed to my room to find an outfit. Before I could leave the kitchen, the phone rang.

As soon as I picked it up, I heard my sister’s frantic voice: “Kris, what am I going to bring to Mom’s Christmas party?”

“The whole family loves your oatmeal cake; why don’t you make that?”

“That’s a good idea,” Jules replied, “Everybody really does love that cake.”

“What’s not to love?” I asked.

“You’re right,” Jules acknowledged. “My oatmeal cake is pretty good. In fact, it’s the sweetest dessert that I make.”

“Then, go make it,” I said, laughing. “The party starts in two hours!” I continued, “Anyway, I have to check on my banana bread and get ready. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hung up the phone and opened the oven door cautiously. The banana bread’s delicious scent filled the air. I sniffed the cinnamon-scented steam and beamed in satisfaction; although the two loaves of bread took a whole hour to bake, they smelled awesome! I took them out of the oven and left them to cool.

Turning to the stack of dishes, I sighed. Reluctantly, I turned on the water to fill the sink with hot water, squirted in some soap, and grabbed a sponge. I began to wash a bowl, but before I could rinse it, the phone rang again.

“What now?” I thought, reaching for my cell phone with a sudsy hand.

“Hello,” Sara said before I could open my mouth. “Kris, what’re you doing?” Her voice ran at me in a breathless rush that spoke of panic.

“I’m washing dishes and getting ready to go. What’s up?”

Sara sighed and said, “Oh, the party. Kris, what can I bring? I can’t go if I don’t bring something. What can I bring? Any ideas? What?” Sara sounded as frantic as a small child up late on Christmas Eve.

I laughed and told her, “So many people have asked me that today! I’m an encyclopedia of ideas! Jules is bringing her famous oatmeal cake, so why don’t you bring your eggnog? They will go great together. Plus, your eggnog is heaven in a mug.”

“It is good,” Sara responded. “I think I will make eggnog. Thanks for your help. See you tonight!” Her voice calmer, Sara hung up.

When I finished the dishes, I realized I had just enough time for a shower. In thirty minutes, I was as freshly scrubbed as the dishes drying in the drainer. I stared at the pile of clothes in my room.

Taking a deep breath, I dug through it until I found my favorite sweater, a cleanish pair of jeans, and my Christmas socks. I hopped from one foot to the other, pulling on the socks as I headed back down the stairs. I ran a finger along the top of one loaf of banana bread; it was nice and cool.

“These loaves should be as festively dressed as I am,” I thought, so I wrapped them in silver foil and tied bright red ribbons around them.

“Fifteen minutes and counting.”

In record time, I finished getting ready, grabbed my keys, dashed out of the house, jumped in the car, and peeled out of the drive.

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What happens next? Help to conclude the story and add more detail throughout by choosing the word(s) that best complete the sentences, keeping the same time period as the storyline.