IXL | Analyze passages from The Lightning Thief: Part 2

Read the following passage from The Lightning Thief. In this excerpt, Percy and his friends, Grover and Annabeth, are preparing to carry out a plan.

We stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS.

Underneath, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.

It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.

I turned to my friends. "Okay. You remember the plan."

"The plan," Grover gulped. "Yeah. I love the plan."

Annabeth said, "What happens if the plan doesn't work?"

"Don't think negative."

"Right," she said. "We're entering the Land of the Dead, and I shouldn't think negative." [ . . . ]

Annabeth put her hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Percy. You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine."

She gave Grover a nudge.

"Oh, right!" he chimed in. "We got this far. [ . . . ] No problem."

I looked at them both, and felt really grateful. Only a few minutes before, I'd almost gotten them stretched to death on deluxe water beds, and now they were trying to be brave for my sake, trying to make me feel better. [ . . . ]

We walked inside the DOA lobby.

Muzak played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, and every seat was taken. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or waiting for the elevator. Nobody moved, or talked, or did much of anything. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see them all just fine, but if I focused on any one of them in particular, they started looking . . . transparent. I could see right through their bodies.

Based on the passage, what is most likely true about Annabeth?

She is bossy and thinks she could have come up with a better plan.

She cares more about safety than the success of the quest.

She is an encouraging friend, even in difficult situations.

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question

Read the following passage from The Lightning Thief. In this excerpt, Percy Jackson, the narrator, is describing a dream.

In my dreams, I stood in a dark cavern before a gaping pit. Gray mist creatures churned all around me, whispering rags of smoke that I somehow knew were the spirits of the dead.

They tugged at my clothes, trying to pull me back, but I felt compelled to walk forward to the very edge of the chasm.

Looking down made me dizzy.

The pit yawned so wide and was so completely black, I knew it must be bottomless. Yet I had a feeling that something was trying to rise from the abyss, something huge and evil.

The little hero, an amused voice echoed far down in the darkness. Too weak, too young, but perhaps you will do.

The voice felt ancient—cold and heavy. It wrapped around me like sheets of lead.

[The gods] have misled you, boy, it said. Barter with me. I will give you what you want. [ . . . ]

I tried to cry out, but my voice wouldn't work.

Cold laughter echoed from the chasm.

An invisible force pulled me forward. It would drag me into the pit unless I stood firm.

Help me rise, boy. The voice became hungrier. Bring me the bolt. Strike a blow against the treacherous gods!

The spirits of the dead whispered around me, No! Wake! [ . . . ]

The thing in the pit tightened its unseen grip around me.

I realized it wasn't interested in pulling me in. It was using me to pull itself out.

Good, it murmured. Good.

Wake! the dead whispered. Wake!

Someone was shaking me.

My eyes opened, and it was daylight.

What is most likely true about the spirits in Percy's dream?

The spirits will cooperate with the ancient voice.

The spirits want to lead Percy into the pit.

The spirits are trying to protect Percy.

solution

Review these details from the passage:

The spirits of the dead try to pull Percy back from the edge of the pit.
The spirits whisper, "No! Wake!" when the voice asks for Percy's help.

The spirits are trying to keep Percy away from the pit and the terrifying voice. They're trying to get him to wake up from his dream before the voice emerges from the pit.

So, these details suggest the spirits are trying to protect Percy.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

J.1Analyze passages from The Lightning Thief: Part 1

G.2Draw inferences from literary texts

Q.2Identify supporting details in literary texts

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B.2Determine the themes of short stories

B.New!Determine multiple themes of short stories

C.2Compare and contrast characters

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