Drawing Text-Based Conclusions Practice Test

The ancient city of Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted. For centuries, the city remained hidden beneath layers of hardened ash and pumice. When excavations began in the 18th century, archaeologists discovered something remarkable: the ash had preserved not only buildings and artifacts but also the final moments of the inhabitants' lives. The victims' bodies had decomposed over time, leaving hollow spaces in the hardened ash. By filling these cavities with plaster, archaeologists created casts that revealed the exact positions and expressions of people at the moment of death.

Maria had always been the family's peacekeeper. When her parents argued, she would quietly slip away to her room. When her siblings fought over toys, she would offer to share hers instead. At school, when classmates disagreed, Maria would suggest compromises that satisfied everyone. But on this particular Tuesday morning, something was different. Maria slammed her locker shut with unusual force, ignored her best friend's greeting, and walked past the cafeteria argument without her customary intervention.