Read the excerpt from Wonder by R. J. Palacio.
Which inference correctly identifies how August and his
mother are most likely feeling?
The other kids had started out the door, so I followed them.
"See you soon," said Mom, her voice sounding a little higher
than normal. I didn't answer her.
August follows the other kids out the door, which shows
that he is excited and curious; his mother's voice sounds
a little higher than normal, which shows that she is
regretful.
August follows the other kids out the door, which shows
that he is confused; his mother says she will see him
soon, which shows that she is nervous and protective.
August does not answer his mother, which shows that he
is angry and scared; his mother's voice sounds a little
higher than normal, which shows that she is worried.
August does not answer his mother, which shows that he
is surprised; his mother says she will see him soon,
which shows that she is excited and confident.

When i was young enough to still spend a long time buttoning my shoes in the morning, i'd listen toward the hall: daddy upstairs was shaving, in the bathroom, and mother downstairs was frying the bacon. they would begin whispering back and forth to each other up and down the stairwell. my father would whistle his phrase, my mother would try to whistle, then hum hers backi drew my buttonhook in and out and listened to it -know it was "the merry widow." the difference was, their song almost floated with laughter. how different from the record, which growled from the beginning, as if the victrola were only slowly being wound up. they kept it running between them, up and down the stairs where i was now just about ready to run clattering down and show them my shoes. what is the effect of the parallelism used in the above excerpt? it establishes the rhythm of a duet to echo the song. it expresses the same ideas. it mirrors opposite ideas. it is a paradox.