Close reading--Thai Cave Boys 1. The physiological reactions the boys would have experienced when first trapped are meant to…
A help them stay calm.
B help them survive.
C force them to conserve energy.
D make them more positive.

2. How did the boys and their coach react to the life-threatening situation?
A They kept themselves alive and mentally stable.
B They made poor decisions due to the chemical changes in their brains.
C They became too weak to react, due to lack of food and water.
D They became physically and mentally weak from the trauma they went through.

3. Mental health…
A is more important than physical health to stay alive.
B can be strengthened by overcoming adversity.
C can’t be easily developed in people.
D is a necessary part of surviving difficult situations.

4. How did the boys remain positive while trapped?
A They were confident they would be saved.
B Their coach was able to reassure them.
C They relied on each other.
D Their coach hid the severity of the situation from them.

5. If the boys had to wait for the end of the rainy season in the cave, they would…
A likely get sick and die.
B never be able to return to normal life.
C likely adjust to live in the environment.
D be physically and mentally damaged.

6. What does the author think will happen to the boys if they’re rescued from the cave?
A They might encounter some obstacles while recovering from the experience.
B They will likely be permanently changed from the negative experience.
C They will be physically and mentally stronger from experience.
D They will have formed lifelong friendships with each other.

7. PART A: Which statement identifies the central idea of the text?
A. The boys trapped in the cave were able to stay fed and properly hydrated, which helped them maintain their mental functions and stay calm.
B. Living through a traumatic incident, like being trapped in a cave, is not likely to have immediate physical and mental effects, but they are likely to show up later.
C. The boys trapped in the cave showed amazing mental strength, despite the strain the traumatic experience likely put on their minds and bodies.
D. Children are better able to recover from traumatic experiences because of their strong physical health and their still developing minds.

8. PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “The Thai footballers seem to have managed to keep themselves hydrated, and although they were clearly hungry when they were found, they appeared cognitively intact, looking alert and asking appropriate questions.” (Paragraph 6)
B. “Another way to maintain mental strength is to draw on any social support available in the situation. This can be a friend or family member: anyone you feel you can count on in a time of need.” (Paragraph 9)
C. “First, teaching them to swim and use diving equipment, so they can leave the cave the same way their rescuers came in. Or option two, to leave the boys in the cave for the duration of the rainy season, which could last four to five months.” (Paragraph 10)
D. “Once, hopefully, the 12 boys and their coach are rescued they will need to readapt to their everyday lives, and some are worried that they might suffer long term mental health problems as a result of their experience.” (Paragraph 12)

9. Which of the following best describes the author’s purpose in the text?
A. to encourage readers to take care of their minds over their bodies during an emergency
B. to prove that children are mentally and physically stronger than we give them credit for
C. to highlight the amazing bravery of the boys trapped and the experts rescuing them
D. to show how people’s minds impact and are impacted by a life-threatening incident

10. How do paragraphs 7-8 contribute to the development of ideas in the text?
A. They show how remaining physically healthy is only slightly more important than having a positive attitude.
B. They provide suggestions for what readers can do to strengthen their mental processes and positivity.
C. They suggest that people are more likely to die in a life-threatening situation from a psychogenic death than anything physical.
D. They emphasize the importance of being mentally strong and positive when trying to survive something life-threatening.