What is the main theme of the following passage? ashley saw much of the world through books. she also gathered knowledge of other worlds through books. terry pratchett was one of her favorite authors, and she thought the setting for his series discworld was a strange and exciting place. ashley had a vivid imagination, and her reading fueled her daydreams. when she daydreamed about her life, she could be whatever she wanted to be. she could be a dragon rider, a warrior princess, or a space explorer. the possibilities were endless. every day, reading answered a lot of her questions about the world and left her with new ones. one summer, ashley joined her friends on a camping trip. most of them had gone down to the lake for a swim because it was very hot. ashley had returned earlier with jane, who was the oldest girl in the group. ashley was busy reading a book on camping and living in the wild. meanwhile, jane decided to light a fire before it got too dark. however, jane hadn’t realized that there were dried leaves and twigs all around, and the fire spread. before long, the fire was headed toward the tents. jane screamed and tried to look for water to put out the fire. ashley remembered that the book she was reading said to break the trail for the fire. so she rushed ahead and blocked the fire with dirt. the fire stopped, and her friends praised her quick thinking. but ashley told them to the book she had been reading for telling her all about camping safety. a. nature should be respected and treated wisely. b. books are a treasure trove of knowledge c. courage is tested in the most difficult situations. d. never hesitate to save a friend.

Read the excerpt from act 1, scene 3, of the tragedy of julius caesar and the background information on the allusion it contains. cassius. and why should caesar be a tyrant then? poor man, i know he would not be a wolf but that he sees the romans are but sheep. he were no lion, were not romans hinds. those that with haste will make a mighty fire begin it with weak straws. what trash is rome? what rubbish, and what offal? when it serves for the base matter to illuminate so vile a thing as caesar! but, o grief, where hast thou led me? i perhaps speak this before a willing bondman: then i know my answer must be made. but i am armed and dangers are to me indifferent. casca. you speak to casca, and to such a man that is no fleering tell-tale. hold, my hand. be factious for redress of all these griefs and i will set this foot of mine as far as who goes farthest. cassius. there’s a bargain made. now know you, casca, i have moved already some certain of the noblest-minded romans to undergo with me an enterprise of honourable dangerous consequence. and i do know by this, they stay for me in pompey’s porch. for now this fearful night there is no stir or walking in the streets; and the complexion of the element in favour’s like the work we have in hand, most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. background information: gnaeus pompeius magnus, known in english as pompey the great, was a roman general and political leader. together with caesar and crassus, pompey ruled as a member of the first roman triumvirate. as a leader, pompey was a capable administer and worked to rome grow and prosper. among other projects, he built a large amphitheater in rome. this amphitheater was named after him, and its annex became known as pompey’s porch. during this time, pompey married caesar’s daughter, julia. after her death, however, pompey and caesar began to grow apart, and within a few years, pompey sided with the senate against caesar. war followed. in 48 bce, pompey’s armies were defeated, and he was murdered by former allies who were afraid of caesar’s power. which statement best explains the meaning added by the allusion in this excerpt? a. alluding to pompey’s porch reminds the audience of the importance of pompey to roman culture and wealth, in contrast to caesar’s brutality. b. the allusion to pompey’s porch shows that the conspirators have chosen a meeting place with significance to them and one they are all familiar with. c. alluding to pompey invokes the history of his opposition to caesar, showing that the conspirators in the play are part of a longstanding battle against a tyrant. d. the allusion to pompey references his long and changing relationship with caesar, indicating that caesar is capable not only of being an enemy but also of being an ally.