4-31 Mrs. Kilgallin
Directions: Choose the item that best answers each question about the selection you just read.

                                                            A Noisy Silence

          Emma sat down next to Deanna at the cafeteria table. Emma started talking, while
Deanna kept on eating her lunch. They had only thirty minutes for lunch and recess. Deanna
wanted to get outside quickly to play kickball, but Emma wanted to talk about the new boy
in their fourth-grade class. She did not care about playing kickball.

 “Collin looks smart, but he never talks,” Emma said. “What do you think is wrong
with him? He sits with Grant on the bus to school. Grant talks and asks Collin questions
sometimes. But Collin never answers.”

 “He’s probably shy because he’s new,” Deanna answered. “I’d be quiet, too, if I
moved to a new school.”

        “I wouldn’t,” said Emma. “I’d want to make friends right away. I’d talk to everybody
who was nice to me. Collin doesn’t talk to anyone. He doesn’t even talk to Ben or Carlos,
and they’re the friendliest boys in class.”

       “We should just leave him alone and give him time,” said Deanna. “He’ll make friends
when he’s ready.”

       Deanna finished her lunch and raced outside to play kickball. Emma moved to sit by
another girl and slowly ate her sandwich. As she ate and talked, she watched Collin. He was
sitting by himself at the end of the line of tables. The other boys had already gone outside
for recess.

       By the time Emma left the cafeteria, recess was nearly over. Outside, the younger
children were using the swings and slides. The older students were on the blacktop, playing
kickball and jump rope. A few boys were throwing around a baseball. Collin had followed
Emma outside. He walked over to the fence and stood there by himself, leaning against the
fence. Emma watched him.

       Suddenly, Collin jumped and pointed toward Emma’s head. He yelled, “Watch out!”

       Emma turned just as a baseball sailed past her face. Grant raced up to her and said, “I’m
sorry, Emma. I made a wild throw. It’s a good thing you moved, or the ball would have hit
your head!”

       “It’s a good thing Collin warned me,” Emma answered. “Those were the first words I’ve
ever heard him say.”

       “Go easy on Collin,” Grant said. “My mom talked to his mom. She found out that Collin
stutters. He’s afraid to talk. He thinks everyone will make fun of him. We should just give
him time.”

        Just then the bell rang. It was time to go back to class. Emma smiled at Collin and
thanked him as they lined up to go back inside. Collin just nodded, but he smiled back.

        Emma thought about Collin for the rest of the day. That night she made a decision. She
wasn’t going to just give Collin time. She was going to do something. She planned to talk to
all the kids in their class. She would get them to agree to never make fun of Collin. Then she
would talk to Collin. She would tell him that she knew about his problem. She would say
it didn’t matter, and that she wanted to be his friend. She would tell him that no one would
tease him. Emma would NOT just wait. She was going to solve this problem.