"Oh, good, you're all here," said Pola as she walked into the community theater. She began handing out copies of her script to the assembled actors.
"This is a lot to memorize," remarked Gerhardt, flipping through the pages. "Neville, your character's name is Rhombus Fairchild. Boy, I bet he was picked on as a kid."
"You're Aces—what kind of title is that?" Neville asked.
"The play takes place in the 1920s, Neville," replied Pola irritably. "People used catchphrases like that back then. It means 'You're the best.' "
"If the play takes place in the past, why are the main characters fighting giant evil robots in the third act?" asked Nadezhda. Gerhardt and Neville gasped in surprise and started reading the script with renewed interest.
"Cool! I get to fire a laser gun," bragged Neville.
"Oh, man!" Gerhardt groaned. "My character gets killed at the end of Act III. Death scenes are the worst."
"Quit complaining, everyone," exclaimed Pola. "I had to write this by myself in two days while working a full-time job. It may not be Shakespeare, but it's good enough for community theater. I think we should just do the best we can with what we've got."
"That's a terrible attitude," Nadezhda said. "The proceeds from this play will be donated to charity, and I think we should try our hardest to give people their money's worth. Why don't we all work together to write a new script?"
"Fine!" Pola yelled. "I'll let you guys take over the play, and I'll save my efforts for people with better taste in entertainment." The three actors watched in amazement as Pola stomped out of the theater.
"Whoops," said Nadezhda with an embarrassed smile. "I forgot that she hates for anyone to question her talent as a writer."
"I'm just sad I won't get to wear a jet pack and use phrases like 'You're the bees' knees,' " Neville laughed.
"I thought doing a death scene was bad," said Gerhardt. "If we don't get a script put together by tonight, we'll all be in serious trouble." Nadezhda grabbed a notebook from her purse.
"This will be a snap," she said confidently. "What's a good topic for a play?"
"I know!" declared Gerhardt. "Neville and I will be lawmen sent from the future who try to stop a giant monster from destroying Dubuque, Iowa."
"Well, it is original," Nadezhda replied slowly. "But how would we create a giant monster on our $10 prop budget?"
"Good point," admitted Gerhardt.
"Here's an idea," said Neville. "What if Gerhardt and I play Elvis and Abraham Lincoln, who have been brought back to life by scientists. We use our skills to defend the president, played by Nadezhda, from the cast of the musical Cats, who have been turned into vicious zombies." Neville's voice trailed off as he realized that both Nadezhda and Gerhardt were staring at him with their mouths open.
"That's very ambitious," Nadezhda finally said. "I think it would be a little difficult for three people to perform onstage, though."
"You're probably right," said Neville.
"I hate to say it, but our ideas are terrible," Gerhardt remarked. "What are we going to do?" The three actors dashed off the stage and hurried outside.
"She's over by her car!" exclaimed Nadezhda. "Let's go get her. I'm not too proud to beg; are you guys?"
"No way," replied Gerhardt. "As far as I'm concerned, death scenes are the bees' knees."



8. Which of the following contributes to the conflict in the passage?


A.

Pola's sensitivity about her writing skills


B.

Neville's ambition to become the lead actor


C.

Nadezhda's jealousy over Pola's talent


D.

Gerhardt's lack of talent as an actor



9. Which of the following best explains the primary conflict in the passage?


A.

Three actors collaborate with a script writer to produce a play that will earn enough money to support a charity.


B.

Three actors struggle to pursue their childhood dream of becoming script writers for a community theater.


C.

After offending the script writer, three actors struggle to produce a new script in time for their first performance.


D.

After treating a script writer with disrespect, three actors find out that they have been fired from the community theater.



10. What causes Pola to feel upset in the passage?


A.

She is unable to think of a new topic for the play.


B.

She doesn't get to participate in the play as an actress.


C.

She believes that her hard work is unappreciated.


D.

She is jealous of Nadezhda's talent as a writer.