These stimuli were used in the following experiment:
LINDERHOLM, T., GERNSBACHER, M. A., VAN DEN BROEK, P., NENIDE, L., ROBERTSON, R. R. W., & SUNDERMEIR, B. (2004). Suppression of story character goals during reading. Discourse Processes, 37, 67-78. [view PDF]
GR – goal remention
NG – no goal
NEUT – neutral
1. INTRODUCTION: Judy wanted to surprise her boyfriend by fixing him dinner one evening. She thought that he seemed a little down lately. Judy decided that fixing him dinner might cheer him up.
TRANSITION 1: Judy called her boyfriend and told him to come over at six o’clock that evening.
TEST 1 (target/no): DINNER/SAD
GR: She couldn’t wait to fix him the best dinner ever. In the meantime, she cleaned her apartment from floor to ceiling and made all the necessary preparations. The prospect of fixing her boyfriend dinner kept Judy going strong all afternoon.
NG: She couldn’t wait to give him a present that she had recently bought. In the meantime, she cleaned her apartment from floor to ceiling and made all the necessary preparations. The prospect of giving her boyfriend a present kept Judy going strong all afternoon.
NEUT: She couldn’t wait to see him. In the meantime, she cleaned her apartment from floor to ceiling and made all the necessary preparations. The prospect of seeing her boyfriend kept Judy going strong all afternoon.
TRANSITION 2: Judy eventually sat down to relax and turned on the TV.
TEST 2 (target/yes): DINNER/PRESENT
CONCLUSION: While Judy was watching TV, she thought about a time that she and her boyfriend were together. They were at a New Year’s Eve party, and once they had some time to themselves, he surprised Judy with a present.
TEST 3 (yes/no): PRESENT/SAD
Judy felt that she really fell in love with him at that moment. She smiled as she looked toward the wall at the handmade clock from Germany inscribed with a poem by her boyfriend.
2. INTRODUCTION: David had recently inherited a million dollars from his rich grandfather and wanted to invest in his own business. His current boss, Mr. Wilson, had just decided to move to Montana because he was tired of city life. David thought he could use some of his inheritance to make a bid on Mr. Wilson’s business.
TRANSITION 1: He lay awake in bed for hours weighing his options for the future.
TEST 1 (target/no): BUSINESS/NEVADA
GR: David decided to go to the bank the next morning to discuss purchasing the business. David met with the woman who had been handling his account for years. He spoke with her about buying the business for nearly an hour.
NG: David decided to go to the bank the next morning to discuss purchasing a new house. David met with the woman who had been handling his account for years. He talked to her about buying a house for nearly an hour.
NEUT: David decided to go to the bank the next morning. David met with the woman who had been handling his account for years. He talked to her for nearly an hour.
TRANSITION 2: David walked out of the bank to find that it had started to rain.
TEST 2 (target/no): BUSINESS/NEVADA
CONCLUSION: The rain was a refreshing change from the stuffiness of the bank. David couldn’t imagine working in such an atmosphere.
TEST 3 (no): THUNDERSTORM
He had once thought of working as a bank teller to get himself through college. David was glad he had bagged groceries instead!
3. INTRODUCTION: Suzy and her parents were redecorating the bedroom that she just moved into, and she wanted to paint it pink. She was the youngest child in the family and the last of her older siblings had just moved away from home. Suzy inherited the room and now she really wanted to paint the walls pink.
TRANSITION 1: Her new room would have lots of space, and she was really looking forward to playing with her friends in it.
TEST 1 (target/no): PAINT/DRAPES
GR: In fact, Suzy’s best friend had just painted her own bedroom pink, and Suzy wanted to do the same. They had been friends since they were three years old and were like sisters. Suzy couldn’t wait to show her friend the newly painted walls.
NG: In fact, Suzy’s best friend had just recarpeted her own bedroom with a deep white carpet, and Suzy wanted to do the same. They had been friends since they were three years old and were like sisters. Suzy couldn’t wait to show her friend her new white carpet.
NEUT: In fact, Suzy’s best friend had just redecorated her own bedroom recently, and Suzy wanted to do the same. They had been friends since they were three years old and were like sisters. Suzy couldn’t wait to show her friend her new room.
TRANSITION 2: Suzy knew it would be a couple of weeks before she could invite her over, however.
TEST 2 (target/yes): PAINT/CARPET
CONCLUSION: After Suzy finished redecorating her bedroom she decided to have all of her friends over. She had the best slumber party ever. As she sat on her new white carpet, Suzy made a wish that everyone would be friends forever.
TEST 3 (yes/no): CARPET/DRAPES
4. INTRODUCTION: Bob was hoping that Barbara would go out on a date with him. They had been working together in the office for several years. Bob had a good feeling that Barbara would say “yes” to a date.
TRANSITION 1: One morning, Bob went into his office early.
TEST 1 (target/no): DATE/KISS
GR: Once at the office, Bob decided that he would ask Barbara to go out on a date that Saturday. He asked his work buddies for advice as to where he should go. Bob realized it had been a long time since he had gone out on a date.
NG: Once at the office, Bob decided to buy a new CD player that Saturday. He asked his work buddies for advice as to where he should go. Bob realized it had been a long time since he had bought new electronic equipment.
NEUT: Once at the office, Bob decided to do something that Saturday. He asked his work buddies for advice as to where he should go. Bob realized it had been a long time since he had been out.
TRANSITION 2: At five o’clock sharp, Bob left the office for the day.
TEST 2 (target/no): DATE/KISS
CONCLUSION: Bob was excited for the weekend. Lately, he hadn’t had any plans on the weekend so he just ended up sitting around the house watching golf on TV. It would be nice to get out of the house and do something different for a change.
TEST 3 (no): BOREDOM
Bob left his office in good spirits.
5. INTRODUCTION: Renee was on a long bike ride and was craving some lemonade. She was taking her friends for a ride in the hills of Napa Valley to enjoy the summer afternoon. Lemonade was the only thing that could satisfy her thirst right now.
TRANSITION 1: Renee and her friends had been riding those hills for hours.
TEST 1 (target/no): LEMONADE/WINTER
GR: Renee began fantasizing about drinking some lemonade. It was a very hot summer day, and she began to feel faint. She knew lemonade would make her feel better.
NG: Renee began fantasizing about taking a long nap. It was a very hot summer day, and she began to feel faint. She knew taking a nap would make her feel better.
NEUT: Renee began fantasizing. It was a very hot summer day, and she began to feel faint. She was hoping she’d soon feel better.
TRANSITION 2: They were only two miles from the closest rest stop.
TEST 2 (target/yes): LEMONADE/NAP
CONCLUSION: Renee wondered if biking so many miles was such a smart idea. She just couldn’t wait to get home and take a nap. Next time, she would tour the wine country by train.
TEST 3 (yes/no): NAP/WINTER
6. INTRODUCTION: Stacy was having a party and wanted to make a special three-layer cake. She was hoping that her sister would be well enough by then to attend the party. Stacy couldn’t wait for all of her guests to see the cake she was going to bake.
TRANSITION 1: Stacy grabbed her purse and prepared to leave the house.
TEST 1 (target/no): CAKE/BANQUET
GR: Stacy went to the store to buy ingredients for the cake. She couldn’t believe how expensive grocery items were these days! She hurried to collect all the things she needed for the cake.
NG: Stacy went to the store to buy ingredients for the appetizers. She couldn’t believe how expensive grocery items were these days! She hurried to collect all the things she needed for the appetizers.
NEUT: Stacy went to the store. She couldn’t believe how expensive grocery items were these days! She hurried to collect all the things she needed.
TRANSITION 2: Stacy was running out of time, so she rushed out of the store.
TEST 2 (target/no): CAKE/BANQUET
CONCLUSION: The party was going to start in two hours. Stacy hoped it would turn out well. Almost everything was ready except Stacy. She still needed to change her clothes and fix her hair. She figured two hours would be enough for that.
TEST 3 (no): MANICURE
7. INTRODUCTION: Lee wanted to keep with his annual tradition and barbecue ribs on the Fourth of July. The entire block was coming over for their annual celebration. Lee couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into some of his famous barbecued ribs.
TRANSITION 1: He and his neighbors had been holding a Fourth of July party for years.
TEST 1 (target/no): RIBS/HOLIDAY
GR: Every year, Lee made a big production of barbecuing ribs. He couldn’t disappoint his friends. Lee spent half the day preparing his special ribs.
NG: Every year, Lee made a big production of baking homemade apple pies. He couldn’t disappoint his friends. Lee spent half the day preparing his special apple pie.
NEUT: Every year, Lee made a big production of the event. He couldn’t disappoint his friends. Lee spent half the day preparing.
TRANSITION 2: Luckily, it looked like the weather was going to be nice.
TEST 2 (target/yes): RIBS/PIE
CONCLUSION: Although it rained last year although he still didn’t cancel the party. But because few people showed up, Lee had ten apple pies left over.
TEST 3 (yes/no): PIE/HOLIDAY
He froze most of the pies, and his family enjoyed them for months.
8. INTRODUCTION: Ricky had just returned from visiting his favorite Aunt Sarah and was dying to show off the new toy truck she had given him. Ricky was lucky that Aunt Sarah lived in town because he really liked to visit her. Ricky thought that his new truck was the best gift ever and he was eager to show it off.
TRANSITION 1: Just then, his friend Jimmy called to say that a bunch of kids were getting together.
TEST 1 (target/no): TRUCK/BICYCLE
GR: Ricky definitely wanted to go play with his new truck with his friends. He raced up the stairs to his room. Ricky grabbed his new truck and headed toward the front door.
NG: Ricky definitely wanted to go play baseball with his friends. He raced up the stairs to his room. Ricky grabbed his new baseball mitt and headed toward the front door.
NEUT: Ricky definitely wanted to go play with his friends. He raced up the stairs to his room. Ricky grabbed his stuff and headed toward the front door.
TRANSITION 2: It was already late afternoon and it had gotten a lot colder.
TEST 2: TRUCK/BICYCLE
CONCLUSION: As Ricky was heading out the front door, his mother yelled at him for forgetting to wear a jacket and made him come back in and put one on.
TEST 3: COAT
Last year, Ricky got an ear infection that lasted for a long time. Remembering that, Ricky was glad his mother reminded him to bundle up.
9. INTRODUCTION: Leanne loved working in her yard, so she decided that this year she would plant a vegetable garden. In addition, her doctor had advised her to incorporate more relaxing activities into her lifestyle. Her husband, George, also thought starting a vegetable garden would be a good idea.
TRANSITION 1: On the first sunny spring day Leanne went outside.
TEST 1 (target/no): GARDEN/FRUIT
GR: Leanne thought she couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to start her vegetable garden. She walked around the yard, examining everything. Leanne was looking forward to having some time alone while she worked in her garden.
NG: Leanne thought she couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to sunbathe in the yard. She walked around the yard, examining everything. Leanne was looking forward to having some time alone as she sunbathed.
NEUT: Leanne thought she couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. She walked around the yard, examining everything. Leanne was looking forward to having some time alone.
TRANSITION 2: Leanne noticed many of her neighbors were out enjoying the day, too.
TEST 2 (target/yes): GARDEN/SUNBATHE
CONCLUSION: Next door, a group of teenage girls came out to their backyard to sunbathe and chat. Leanne was disappointed when they turned on some loud music. She felt her peaceful time outside was being ruined.
TEST 3 (yes/no): SUNBATHE/FRUIT
Leanne finally decided to ask the girls to turn down their music, and peace was restored.
10. INTRODUCTION: Robin had just bought a new van and couldn’t wait to take it for a long drive. It was fall, and the leaves were changing colors. Robin had been waiting for a beautiful weekend like this to take a drive.
TRANSITION 1: She worked hard as a public defender, so on the weekends she really needed a break.
TEST 1(target/no): DRIVE/ATTORNEY
GR: Right after lunch Robin decided to take her drive. She gathered the items she needed to make her afternoon tension-free. She decided to drive along the river that was just east of town.
NG: Right after lunch Robin decided to do some yoga. She gathered the items she needed to make her afternoon tension-free. She decided to do her yoga along the river that was just east of town.
NEUT: Right after lunch Robin decided to get out. She gathered the items she needed to make her day tension-free. She decided to go to the river that was just east of town.
TRANSITION 2: Before locking her apartment door, Robin checked to make sure that she had her sunglasses.
TEST 2(target/no): DRIVE/ATTORNEY
CONCLUSION: She was glad to be getting out of her apartment. She loved the location and the neighborhood, but she often felt cooped up. Besides, it was a beautiful day and she intended to make good use of it.
TEST 3 (no): MILD
11. INTRODUCTION: Molly needed a break, so she decided to have some tea. Her back was aching and sore from working on her pottery wheel. Molly hoped that having some herbal tea would make her feel better.
TRANSITION 1: Molly turned off her pottery wheel and stretched her arms into the air.
TEST 1 (target/no): TEA/CLAY
GR: Next, she went into the kitchen to boil some water for her tea. The kitchen was always a nice place to gather her thoughts. Having some tea was a good distraction from her work.
NG: Next, she went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. The kitchen was always a nice place to gather her thoughts. Washing the dishes was a good distraction from her work.
NEUT: Next, she went into the kitchen. The kitchen was always a nice place to gather her thoughts. Being there was a good distraction from her work.
TRANSITION 2: Through the kitchen window, Molly noticed the sun had nearly set.
TEST 2 (target/yes): TEA/DISHES
CONCLUSION: Molly finished her tea and quickly put away the dishes so she could get back to her work. She loved creating pottery, but sometimes it wore on her.
TEST 3 (yes/no): DISHES/CLAY
It required the extensive use of arm muscles to control the clay. It also hurt the skin of her hands that scraped along the wheel. Overall, Molly felt it was still a worthwhile craft.
12. INTRODUCTION: Luke had been so busy, he had forgotten that he needed to do his taxes. It frustrated him that he was always putting things off until the last minute. Luke knew he needed to learn to set aside time for getting things done, like his taxes.
TRANSITION 1: Luke was glad that he had a three-day weekend coming up.
TEST 1 (target/no): TAXES/WILL
GR: Luke decided he would spend his weekend working on his taxes. He had a lot to do and would have no time to relax. He was determined to do his taxes if it was the last thing he did.
NG: Luke decided he would spend his weekend cleaning his garage. He had a lot to do and would have no time to relax. He was determined to clean his garage if it was the last thing he did.
NEUT: Luke decided he would spend his weekend being productive. He had a lot to do and would have no time to relax. He was determined to be productive if it was the last thing he did.
TRANSITION 2: Luke set his alarm for early Saturday morning.
TEST 2 (target/no): TAXES/WILL
CONCLUSION: He was going to get a jump start on the day. Nothing was going to stop Luke from being productive! He was going to make a large pot of coffee to make sure he got to work right away.
TEST 3 (no): DONUTS
A certain amount of caffeine was good for the soul, he thought.
13. INTRODUCTION: Erica was so excited because tonight she would get to wear her glamorous new dress to the New Year’s Eve party. She hadn’t been to a formal occasion in quite some time. Erica hoped that her dress would be fancy enough.
TRANSITION 1: The first stop of the day was the hair salon.
TEST 1 (target/no): DRESS/PANTS
GR: At the hair salon, Erica talked about the dress that she thought would impress everyone that evening. The employees soon became bored with Erica’s boasting. Erica was a little too excited about her new dress, they thought.
NG: At the hair salon, Erica talked about the diamond earrings that she thought would impress everyone that evening. The employees soon became bored with Erica’s boasting. Erica was a little too excited about her diamond earrings, they thought.
NEUT: At the hair salon, Erica talked about how she would impress everyone that evening. The employees soon became bored with Erica’s boasting. Erica was a little too excited about her evening, they thought.
TRANSITION 2: The hair salon employees were relieved when Erica left.
TEST 2 (target/yes): DRESS/EARRINGS
CONCLUSION: Erica continued her errands, and walked briskly down the street. She stopped at the jewelers to pick up the diamond earrings she would be wearing to the party.
TEST 3 (yes/no): EARRINGS/PANTS
The jeweler was happy, as usual, to see Erica. Erica stopped regularly, spending hundreds of dollars on a single purchase. Because Erica was a valued customer, the jeweler was letting her borrow the earrings for the evening.
14. INTRODUCTION: Margie had put on some pounds in the past few hectic months, so she decided to begin an exercise program. She looked woefully at the wedding dress hanging in her closet. Margie’s wedding was not far off, and she hoped that getting some exercise would help her look better in her wedding dress.
TRANSITION 1: Looking at her calendar, she was shocked to realize that the wedding was only six weeks away!
TEST 1 (target/no): EXERCISE/REHEARSAL
GR: The next morning, Margie signed up for an exercise class in anticipation of her wedding. She couldn’t believe how the time had flown. If she didn’t start an exercise class now, soon it would be too late.
NG: The next morning, Margie ordered flowers in anticipation of her wedding. She couldn’t believe how the time had flown. If she didn’t order the flowers now, soon it would be too late.
NEUT: The next morning, Margie started to prepare in anticipation of her wedding. She couldn’t believe how the time had flown. If she didn’t start now, soon it would be too late.
TRANSITION 2: Margie was amazed at the amount of time it took to plan a wedding.
TEST 2 (target/no): EXERCISE/REHEARSAL
CONCLUSION: The details were overwhelming. But, Margie knew that all the work she put into the wedding would pay off in the end.
TEST 3 (no): BRIDE
She loved planning big events and had always imagined having a large wedding. Her family was flying in from Georgia and she wanted them to be very proud.
15. INTRODUCTION: Monroe had a lot to do Sunday afternoon, but he really needed to finish a paper for his history class. He always procrastinated over the weekend. Now, Monroe was in serious trouble because he had to finish the paper by Monday morning.
TRANSITION 1: Monroe trudged up to his room.
TEST 1 (target/no): PAPER/EXAM
GR: On his desk were the articles he needed to read for his paper. Monroe flipped through the pages. He soon became overwhelmed by all the work he needed to do for his paper.
NG: On his desk was the script he needed to read for the play he was in. Monroe flipped through the pages. He soon became overwhelmed by all the work he needed to do for the play.
NEUT: On his desk were some materials he needed to read. Monroe flipped through the pages. He soon became overwhelmed by all the work he needed to do.
TRANSITION 2: Monroe finally sat down and got to work.
TEST 2 (target/yes): PAPER/PLAY
CONCLUSION: After working for several hours, he finally decided to take a break and go downstairs. His mother had made him a snack to give him the energy to continue working.
Later that night his mother told him how proud she was of him. She was particularly proud of him for balancing his interest in the play with his classes.
TEST 3 (yes/no): PLAY/EXAM
16. INTRODUCTION: Chris dreamed of being promoted to Manager of Human Resources. He was an ambitious man and excelled in most of his undertakings. It was Chris’ goal to be promoted to Human Resources Manager by spring.
TRANSITION 1: He had worked for the 3M Corporation for 15 years.
TEST 1 (target/no): PROMOTED/SUPERVISOR
GR: Chris made an appointment with the vice president to see about getting promoted. He worked long hours and often worked during the weekend. Chris felt confident that the vice president would recognize his efforts and would honor his request to be promoted.
NG: Chris made an appointment with the vice president to see about getting a paid vacation. He worked long hours and often worked during the weekend. Chris felt confident that the vice president would recognize his efforts and would honor his request to take a paid vacation.
NEUT: Chris made an appointment with the vice president to see about getting rewarded. He worked long hours and often worked during the weekend. Chris felt confident that the vice president would recognize his efforts and would honor his request to be rewarded.
TRANSITION 2: After all, Chris’ relationship with the vice president had been getting better and better.
TEST 2 (target/no): PROMOTED/SUPERVISOR
CONCLUSION: Chris believed he had started to get to know the vice president on a more personal level. They talked about their families from time to time, and they both liked talking about golf. The vice president had even mentioned once that they should play together one day.
TEST 3 (no): TENNIS
17. INTRODUCTION: All Liz could think about was going surfing at the beach during her two-week vacation in the spring. She had been working very hard all year and really needed some fun. Liz was going to make the most of her vacation time by going surfing.
TRANSITION 1: Despite her daydreaming, Liz tried to stay focused at work.
TEST 1 (target/no): SURFING/TRAVEL
GR: At five o’clock she pulled out a file of information on her surfing trip. There was a lot she needed to look over. Liz poured over the information on surfing for the next two hours.
NG: At five o’clock she pulled out a file of information on new salary increases. There was a lot she needed to look over. Liz poured over the information on salaries for the next two hours.
NEUT: At five o’clock she pulled out a file of information. There was a lot she needed to look over. Liz poured over the information for the next two hours.
TRANSITION 2: By seven o’clock she was too hungry to continue.
TEST 2 (target/yes): SURFING/SALARY
CONCLUSION: She hastily headed home with her file under her arm ready to cook something delicious and filling. It would take her mind off the thoughts of the day. With her salary, at least she could afford good food.
TEST 3 (no/yes): TRAVEL/SALARY
When she had finished dinner, Liz turned on the TV to her favorite show. As it turned out, the episode took place at the beach. Now she would never be able to quit thinking about her vacation.
YNN or NYN
18. INTRODUCTION: Kent was feeling that he needed to get out of Houston and was considering moving to France. The profits of the company where he worked were going up and the company decided to expand. Kent thought this expansion might provide him with the opportunity to move to France.
TRANSITION 1: During one of his lunch breaks at work, he talked with some coworkers.
TEST 1 (target/no): FRANCE/ADVENTURE
GR: He told them about his idea to get out of Houston and move to France. Secretly, his coworkers were hiding giant grins behind their sandwiches because they didn’t like Kent at all. Kent was pleased that his coworkers seemed interested in his thoughts about moving to France.
NG: He told them about his idea to get out of Houston and go to a conference in Florida. Secretly, his coworkers were hiding giant grins behind their sandwiches because they didn’t like Kent at all. Kent was pleased that his coworkers seemed interested in his thoughts about going to a conference in Florida.
NEUT: He told them about his idea to get out of Houston. Secretly, his coworkers were hiding giant grins behind their sandwiches because they didn’t like Kent at all. Kent was pleased that his coworkers seemed interested in his thoughts.
TRANSITION 2: The others looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and smiled falsely.
TEST 2: (target/no) FRANCE/ADVENTURE
CONCLUSION: They were thrilled that Kent was planning to go away. They had all tired of his sarcasm, critical remarks, and general pessimism. Office morale might improve considerably without Kent around.
TEST 3 (no): TEXAS
But for now, everyone had a lot of work to do.
19. INTRODUCTION: Karen planned to go roller-skating for her seventh birthday party. She loved having her birthday in the summer so that all of her friends could celebrate with her. She was so excited to go roller-skating that it was all she could talk about.
TRANSITION 1: On her birthday a tornado warning was issued for the area.
TEST 1 (target/no): SKATING/VANILLA
GR: Karen told her dad that no matter what the weather was like, she wanted to go roller-skating on her birthday. Karen’s dad said that it would be very dangerous to go out while there was a tornado warning. But Karen wouldn’t listen to reason, insisting that they had to go roller-skating.
NG: Karen told her dad that no matter what the weather was like, she wanted to get ice cream cones on her birthday. Karen’s dad said that it would be very dangerous to go out while there was a tornado warning. But Karen wouldn’t listen to reason, insisting that they had to get ice cream cones.
NEUT: Karen told her dad that no matter what the weather was like, she wanted to have fun on her birthday. Karen’s dad said that it would be very dangerous to go out while there was a tornado warning. But Karen wouldn’t listen to reason, insisting that they go out.
TRANSITION 2: Fortunately, the warning was lifted by the afternoon.
TEST 2 (target/yes): SKATING/CONES
CONCLUSION: Karen and her friends had the best party ever. And on the way home her father took everyone to get double-dip ice cream cones. Karen got two scoops of chocolate chip.
TEST 3 (yes/no): CONES/ VANILLA
Before going to bed Karen apologized to her father for being stubborn and naughty. Karen said that she realized that no kind of weather could spoil her birthday when she had so many friends around.
20. INTRODUCTION: As Margaret sat on the couch she wished that she were an expert backgammon player. She was not taking any classes this semester so had a lot of free time to spend on her hobbies. Margaret imagined what it would be like to be the best at backgammon.
TRANSITION 1: After resting, Margaret decided to go to the mall.
TEST 1 (target/no): BACKGAMMON/COMPETITION
GR: While there, she stopped to talk to a friend who worked at a hobby shop about becoming a better backgammon player. Together they chatted for over an hour. They decided to get together soon to talk some more about backgammon.
NG: While there, she stopped to talk to a friend who worked at a hobby shop about becoming a better chess player . Together they chatted for over an hour. They decided to get together soon to talk some more about chess.
NEUT: While there, she stopped to talk to a friend who worked at a hobby shop. Together they chatted for over an hour. They decided to get together soon to talk some more.
TRANSITION 2: She thanked her friend and drove home in the sunshine.
TEST 2 (target/no): BACKGAMMON/COMPETITION
CONCLUSION: On the way home, Margaret thought about how much time she spent playing board games. She wondered how long some of the ancient games had existed and if they had changed much over time.
TEST 3 (no): HISTORY
Maybe she could develop her own game some day, she thought.
21. INTRODUCTION: Barry wanted to go canoeing with his wife. He heard on the radio that the weather was going to stay nice for a couple more days. As the weekend approached, Barry got even more excited about going canoeing.
TRANSITION 1: It had been months since he and his wife had been on an outdoor trip together.
TEST 1 (target/no): CANOEING/OCEAN
GR: During dinner Thursday night, Barry thought it might be a good time to discuss his desire to go canoeing. He looked over at his wife, Barbara, trying to judge her reaction. He wanted to see if she had any interest in going canoeing.
NG: During dinner Thursday night, Barry thought it might be a good time to discuss his desire to buy a Jeep. He looked over at his wife, Barbara, trying to judge her reaction. He wanted to see if she had any interest in buying a Jeep.
NEUT: During dinner Thursday night, Barry thought it might be a good time to discuss his desires. He looked over at his wife, Barbara, trying to judge her reaction. He wanted to see if she had any interest in what he was saying.
TRANSITION 2: Their discussion continued without resolution.
TEST 2 (target/yes): CANOEING/JEEP
CONCLUSION: When they finished their meal, Barry was telling Barbara about a friend of theirs who had a Jeep that he used for driving to remote areas. Barry seemed to be so envious.
TEST 3 (yes/no): JEEP/OCEAN
Eventually, Barry got tired of talking and they both sat down to watch a horror film about aliens on TV. They ended up falling asleep halfway through the movie.
22. INTRODUCTION: Spencer was very determined to rake the leaves in both the front and back yards. His mother-in-law was going to arrive at his house soon, and this made him very nervous. If the leaves weren’t raked, he would surely get a nasty look from her.
TRANSITION 1: Spencer quickly glanced down at his watch to see how much time he had before she would arrive.
TEST 1 (target/no): RAKE/BRANCHES
GR: He looked around for the things he needed in order to rake the leaves. His mind was spinning, and he felt he had excess nervous energy. Spencer hoped raking the leaves would calm him down.
NG: He looked around for the things he needed in order to clean the bathroom. His mind was spinning, and he felt he had excess nervous energy. Spencer hoped cleaning the bathroom would calm him down.
NEUT: He looked around for the things he needed. His mind was spinning, and he felt he had excess nervous energy. Spencer hoped getting ready would calm him down.
TRANSITION 2: He was also hoping that everything would go smoothly for the next couple of hours.
TEST 2 (target/no): RAKE/BRANCHES
CONCLUSION: Spencer wasn’t the only one who was worried. His wife and two daughters were very busy themselves. They turned on some music and hummed with the songs.
TEST 3 (no): SWEEP
Spencer was glad that his mother-in-law came to visit only twice a year.
23. INTRODUCTION: Nina aspired to perform in the Metropolitan Opera. She had been studying under one of the greatest performers of all time. Nina hoped that soon she would be good enough to be part of the Metropolitan Opera.
TRANSITION 1: Nina practiced day and night.
TEST 1 (target/no): OPERA/COSTUMES
GR: Nina wanted to star in the Metropolitan Opera’s performance next year. She was becoming obsessed, some people thought. Nina imagined that having the lead role in the opera would make her famous.
NG: Nina wanted to star in the local theater’s musical next year. She was becoming obsessed, some people thought. Nina imagined that having the lead role in the musical would make her famous.
NEUT: Nina wanted to be a star. She was becoming obsessed, some people thought. Nina imagined that she would be famous.
TRANSITION 2: However, Nina’s social life was suffering a great deal.
TEST 2 (target/yes): OPERA/MUSICAL
CONCLUSION: Her musical rehearsals gave her little time to lead a normal life. As a result, Nina spent a lot of time alone. She had several cats to keep her company. They loved to hear her voice.
TEST 3 (yes/no): MUSICAL/COSTUMES
24. INTRODUCTION: Paul decided to take a biology class next spring. He just realized that next semester he was going to be a sophomore and it was time to think seriously about his future. Paul always had a hard time deciding what classes would fit his schedule, but he reasoned that the introductory biology class would be a good start.
TRANSITION 1: Paul had really enjoyed his first year of college and was looking forward to the next year.
TEST 1 (target/no): BIOLOGY/CHEMISTRY
GR: Paul hoped that the biology class that he wanted to take wouldn’t be too hard. Paul met his friend Darren for coffee at Steep and Brew. Paul asked Darren what he knew about the work load for that particular biology class.
NG: Paul hoped that the English class that he wanted to take wouldn’t be too hard. Paul met his friend Darren for coffee at Steep and Brew. Paul asked Darren what he knew about the work load for that particular English class.
NEUT: Paul hoped that the classes that he wanted to take wouldn’t be too hard. Paul met his friend Darren for coffee at Steep and Brew. Paul asked Darren what he knew about the work load for those particular classes.
TRANSITION 2: Paul and Darren ended up talking for hours.
TEST 2 (target/no): BIOLOGY/CHEMISTRY
CONCLUSION: Paul learned a lot from Darren. Darren was a fifth-year senior and had taken a wide variety of courses. They discussed instructors, classes, and just about everything else.
TEST 3 (no): FRESHMAN
They both probably had a little too much coffee; neither could stop talking.
25. INTRODUCTION: Randy had broken into the house and was looking very intently at the owner’s brand new surround-sound stereo system. All the houses on this street were almost mansions. Of all the choice items, Randy thought to himself that the stereo would be a great thing to steal.
TRANSITION 1: Randy knew that the owners were on vacation, so he took his time wandering around the house planning what to do.
TEST 1 (target/no): STEREO/BOULEVARD
GR: Finally, Randy was ready to steal the stereo. His van was right out back, no one was around, and everything was set. Soon, the stereo system would be his.
NG: Finally, Randy was ready to steal the priceless jewelry. His van was right out back, no one was around, and everything was set. Soon, the priceless jewelry would be his.
NEUT: Finally, Randy was ready to steal the belongings. His van was right out back, no one was around, and everything was set. Soon everything would be his.
TRANSITION 2: The only witness would be the neighbor’s black cat.
TEST 2 (target/yes): STEREO/JEWELRY
CONCLUSION: While driving away, Randy basked in his accomplishment and smiled a devious grin. He really did love fine jewelry and expensive technology.
TEST 3 (yes/no): JEWELRY/BOULEVARD
And when Randy had a challenge nothing in the world could stop him.
26. INTRODUCTION: Peggy was at the state fair and asked her mother if she could ride on the carousel. Her mother agreed but said that they had to leave for home in about an hour. Peggy really wanted to ride on the carousel.
TRANSITION 1: It was a cool and sunny day at the fair.
TEST 1 (target/no): CAROUSEL/CARNIVAL
GR: While standing in line, Peggy stared at the colorful carousel in anticipation. She was getting very impatient waiting in the line. Peggy told her mom that she was excited to ride the carousel.
NG: While standing in line, Peggy stared at the cotton candy stand. She was getting very impatient waiting in the line. Peggy told her mom that she was excited to get some cotton candy.
NEUT: While standing in line, Peggy stared ahead. She was getting very impatient waiting in the line. Peggy told her mom that she was excited.
TRANSITION 2: Peggy wished there were more days like this one.
TEST 2 (target/no): CAROUSEL/CARNIVAL
CONCLUSION: Many children were becoming antsy from waiting in line. A girl in front of Peggy started crying uncontrollably, and her parents took her out of line to go home. Peggy tried not to be bothered by other kids because she really wanted to enjoy the fair.
TEST 3 (no): CROWD
27. INTRODUCTION: Carrie really wanted a new hairstyle for her upcoming high-school reunion. So many things had happened to her since she had graduated from high school. Even though Carrie was very busy this time of the year in her work, she intended to get a new hairstyle for the event.
TRANSITION 1: The upcoming reunion was only a week away .
TEST 1 (target/no): HAIRSTYLE/CRUSH
GR: Fortunately, Carrie had a friend who could help her with her hairstyle. She called her friend immediately. They talked about the options and soon Carrie felt more confident about getting a new hairstyle.
NG: Fortunately, Carrie had a friend who could help her with her makeup. She called her friend immediately. They talked about the options and soon Carrie felt more confident about getting her makeup right.
NEUT: Fortunately, Carrie had a friend who could help her get ready. She called her friend immediately. They talked about the options and soon Carrie felt more confident.
TRANSITION 2: Carrie got together with her friend right away.
TEST 2 (target/yes): HAIRSTYLE/MAKEUP
CONCLUSION: The next week, Carrie went to her reunion in all her glory. She had a wonderful time seeing all of her old friends in fancy clothes and makeup and reminiscing about old times.
TEST 3 (yes/no): MAKEUP/CRUSH
28. INTRODUCTION: Joan desperately wanted to go to the symphony for her anniversary, but she hadn’t told her husband yet. She could not believe that it had been twenty years since they got married. Joan thought that going to the symphony with her husband would be a special way to celebrate their anniversary.
TRANSITION 1: Joan and her husband discussed their plans.
TEST 1 (target/no): SYMPHONY/FRIDAY
GR: Eventually, they decided to go to the symphony. It was snowing heavily that day, just as it had on the day they got married. The roads were treacherous but they made it to the symphony.
NG: Eventually, they decided to go to the most expensive restaurant in town. It was snowing heavily that day, just as it had on the day they got married. The roads were treacherous but they made it to the restaurant.
NEUT: Eventually, they decided what to do. It was snowing heavily that day, just as it had on the day they got married. The roads were treacherous.
TRANSITION 2: Joan and her husband reminisced about the difficulty of getting married during a snow storm.
TEST 2 (target/no): SYMPHONY/FRIDAY
CONCLUSION: Their wedding had been delayed for two hours because Joan got stuck in snow on the way to the church. Hardly anyone was able to arrive on time. Fortunately, everyone got there safely and the wedding continued without a hitch.
TEST 3 (no): BELL
Snow and rain seemed to accompany all of their memorable activities together. They could never figure out why.
29. INTRODUCTION: For her nineteenth birthday, Tracy had been hoping for a new tent. Ever since she was a little girl she loved family outdoor trips. Tracy hoped she could use her birthday money to buy a tent.
TRANSITION 1: Tracy picked up an Eddie Bauer catalog and began leafing through it.
TEST 1 (target/no): TENT/COUPON
GR: While whipping through the pages, she decided that she really wanted to order a tent. She called the toll-free number in the catalog and asked to speak to a sales representative. Tracy told the sales representative that she wanted to order the tent that was advertised on p. 23 in the catalog, and the sales representative explained how to place an order.
NG: While whipping through the pages, she decided that she really wanted to order a backpack. She called the toll-free number in the catalog and asked to speak to a sales representative. Tracy told the sales representative that she wanted to order the backpack that was advertised on p. 23 in the catalog, and the sales representative explained how to place an order.
NEUT: While whipping through the pages, she decided that she really wanted to place an order. She called the toll-free number in the catalog and asked to speak to a sales representative. Tracy told the sales representative that she wanted to place the order from the catalog she was looking at, and the sales representative explained how to place the order.
TRANSITION 2: Tracy hung up the phone after telling the sales representative her credit card number.
TEST 2 (target/yes): TENT/BACKPACK
CONCLUSION: What an exciting week this had been. Tracy knew it wouldn’t last very long, because soon school would start and her freedom would be over. She could just see it now: All of her coursework crammed into her backpack as she made her way around the crowded campus.
TEST 3 (yes/no): BACKPACK/COUPON
Tracy wondered why she had chosen to come to such a large university.
30. INTRODUCTION: Todd wanted to sell his car. He figured his life would be much better if he wasn’t so broke. Todd really hoped that someone would buy his ten-year-old car.
TRANSITION 1: Financially, things had taken a turn for the worse for Todd.
TEST 1 (target/no): CAR/LOAN
GR: It was clear that he needed to sell his car. He couldn’t just sit around his apartment all day and hope that things would get better. Todd finally got himself off the sofa and resolved to sell his car that day.
NG: It was clear that he needed to get another job. He couldn’t just sit around his apartment all day and hope that things would get better. Todd finally got himself off the sofa and resolved to find a new job that day.
NEUT: It was clear that he needed to do something. He couldn’t just sit around his apartment all day and hope that things would get better. Todd finally got himself off the sofa and resolved to figure out what to do that day.
TRANSITION 2: In a matter of minutes, he was out the door.
TEST 2 (target/no): CAR/LOAN
CONCLUSION: Todd wondered what had taken him so long to get motivated to do something. He had spent weeks worrying about his lack of money, but hadn’t done anything constructive about it before.
TEST 3 (no): RENT
Now Todd was finally motivated.
31. INTRODUCTION: Hank had always been interested in learning how to sail. He was very athletic and enjoyed participating in non-traditional activities. Hank thought that learning to sail would be good physical exercise.
TRANSITION 1: The summer had just started, and he had plenty of free time.
TEST 1 (target/no): SAIL/SEA
GR: Hank decided to sign up for a class that would teach him how to sail. He really wanted to take advantage of the warm summer weather. However, Hank knew that he needed to put a lot of effort into learning how to sail.
NG: Hank decided to sign up for a class that would teach him how to rock climb. He really wanted to take advantage of the warm summer weather. However, Hank knew that he needed to put a lot of effort into learning how to rock climb.
NEUT: Hank decided to sign up for a class that would teach him something new. He really wanted to take advantage of the warm summer weather. However, Hank knew that he needed to put a lot of effort into learning.
TRANSITION 2: Hank hoped that one day he would be able to share his skills with his brother.
TEST 2 (target/yes):SAIL/CLIMB
CONCLUSION: Although his brother was four years younger, Hank and he had been very close since childhood. Hank hoped that they could remain close through adulthood. Maybe some day they would go on a trip and climb a mountain together
TEST 3 (yes/no): CLIMB/SEA
32. INTRODUCTION: Wendy really wanted to learn Spanish this year. She had just started a position in a new firm. Wendy hoped that she could learn enough Spanish to be useful in the firm’s upcoming international project.
TRANSITION 1: The company prided itself on providing learning opportunities for its employees.
TEST 1 (target/no): SPANISH/PROPOSAL
GR: In the hallway, Wendy saw her boss and told him that she was excited about the opportunity to learn Spanish. He was delighted and asked Wendy more about it. She then proceeded to tell him all about her year-long plan to learn Spanish.
NG: In the hallway, Wendy saw her boss and told him that she was excited about the opportunity to learn to manage the firm’s data bases. He was delighted and asked Wendy more about it. She then proceeded to tell him all about her year-long plan to learn how to manage the firm’s data bases.
NEUT: In the hallway, Wendy saw her boss and told him that she was excited about the opportunity to learn something new. He was delighted and asked Wendy more about it. She then proceeded to tell him all about her year-long plan to learn something new.
TRANSITION 2: Wendy’s boss thought that she was talking very fast, but could tell she was definitely inspired.
TEST 2: (target/no): SPANISH/PROPOSAL
CONCLUSION: After they finished talking, Wendy took a lunch break. She went straight to a nearby bookstore to look up some information on her new interest. She could barely contain her excitement and smiled the entire walk back to her office.
TEST 3 (no): SANDWICH
FILLERS
1. YNN-OLD
INTRODUCTION: Maureen planned to finish her Christmas shopping before the end of the week. She recently retired from her job and had a lot of free time. Maureen realized that with a good list of what she needed to buy she would be able to finish her Christmas shopping soon. The time was going by very quickly, and the long-waited holiday season was almost here.
TEST 1: SHOPPING
OLD: Every year Maureen did her Christmas shopping in the city mall. The mall was very beautiful with all the lights and decorations. Maureen really enjoyed being in the mall at Christmas time. Indeed, this was Maureen’s favorite time of the year.
TEST 2: ORNAMENT
CONCLUSION: After Christmas, Maureen would look forward to celebrating the New Year. She couldn’t believe that it was already going to be 1999. And next year, it would be a new millennium.
TEST 3: CENTURY
2. YNY-NEW
INTRODUCTION: Regina wanted very badly to go to the prom. It was her senior year, and she was ready to have some fun. Besides, there was a special someone with whom she hoped to go to the prom.
TRANSITION 1: Regina realized that graduation was not far off.
TEST 1 (yes): PROM
NEW: Regina was hoping to get into a prestigious college. The year had flown by. Regina thought her high SAT score and recommendation letters would help her to get admitted into a college of her dreams.
TRANSITION 2: Regina knew that everything changed after high school.
TEST 2 (no): JUNIOR
CONCLUSION: She thought about how she would miss her friends. They had all become so close that year. Regina was wondering how new life would change them.
TEST 3 (yes):FRIENDS
She hoped that they would correspond with each other often.
3. YNY-NEITHER
INTRODUCTION: Jake was on a mission to go ice-fishing. He had lived in northern Michigan all his life. In Michigan, ice-fishing was an important part of a young man’s entertainment.
TRANSITION 1: That week, it had snowed nearly three feet.
TEST 1 (yes): ICE-FISHING
NEUT: So much snow restricted outdoor activities. Many people were stuck inside. It took hearty souls to live through tough Michigan winters.
TRANSITION 2: To pass the time, Jake often played cards with his family.
TEST 2 (no): CHECKERS
CONCLUSION: His siblings had always been very competitive, and a riveting game of poker could keep them going for hours. Jake had once lost a fairly large sum of money to his brother in a poker game.
TEST 3 (yes): CARDS
It was embarrassing to him that his kid brother could beat him. Jake decided he was going to have to brush up on his poker game before the winter set in.
4. YNY-NEITHER
INTRODUCTION: Brett rushed to the store, hoping to buy a new modem. He was a technology buff and always wanted the latest gadget. Brett wanted the new EP400 modem that had just been put on the market.
TRANSITION 1: Entering the store, Brett saw a sales clerk who he knew from high school.
TEST 1 (yes): MODEM
NEUT: They chatted for several minutes. Brett commented that they hadn’t seen each other in almost five years. Brett asked his friend for some news about mutual friends.
TRANSITION 2: Before long, the store was closing.
TEST 2 (no): MOUSE
CONCLUSION: Brett chuckled at how fast the time had passed. It was always good to see old friends, he thought. Although they were close in school, Brett was not good at keeping in touch.
TEST 3 (yes): NEWS
5. YNN-OLD
INTRODUCTION: Rose dreamed of marrying Dave. She had known Dave ever since they were in high school together, and they had been steadily dating for over two years. Lately, Rose had suspected that Dave would also like to get married.
TRANSITION 1: Tonight they were planning to have an exquisite dinner, complete with candles, music, and flowers.
TEST 1 (yes): MARRIAGE
GR: At dinner, all Rose could think about was her desire to marry Dave. As they ate Alaskan crab dipped in melted butter, they talked about recent events and funny stories. Rose was overcome by her emotions and impulsively asked Dave to marry her.
TRANSITION 2: Dave was overjoyed and immediately said “yes.”.
TEST 2 (no): SAUCE
CONCLUSION: After dinner they telephoned their families to tell them the good news. Dave’s mother broke into tears of joy immediately. She said that she had been wondering what was taking Dave so long to ask Rose to marry him.
TEST 3 (no): ENGAGEMENT
Dave and Rose just laughed, remembering who had asked whom.
6. YNY-NEW
INTRODUCTION: Mike was tired of managing a record store and wanted a new career. He had always been good in school and believed he could accomplish anything. Mike started planning what steps were necessary to begin a new career.
TRANSITION 1: Mike went out to his front porch and got the morning newspaper.
TEST 1 (yes): CAREER
NG: Mike decided to relax for a minute and leaf through the sports section. He was a big football fan and wanted to see last night’s scores. Reading the sports section was the only thing he wanted to do at that moment.
TRANSITION 2: The newspaper was full of advertisements.
TEST 2 (no): BASKETBALL
CONCLUSION: Mike found it difficult to read the articles because of the numerous ads. He knew they were necessary income for the newspaper, but he still had problems with the abundance of them.
TEST 3 (yes): ARTICLES
He considered how much extra he would pay for a newspaper without advertisements.
7. YNY-OLD
INTRODUCTION: Anita was going to be very upset if she did not win some concert tickets soon. The local radio station was hosting the summer’s hottest concert and was giving out tickets to lucky callers. Anita spent a lot of her time calling in to the station to win some tickets.
TRANSITION 1: It seemed as if everyone within earshot of the station was trying desperately to go to this show, which promised to be nothing less than spectacular.
TEST 1 (yes): TICKETS
GR: Again, the radio station announced that it was time to give away some tickets. Anita ran to the phone and dialed as fast as her fingers would allow. Anita was absolutely determined to get through and win those tickets.
TRANSITION 2: All Anita could imagine was having front row seats to a sold-out performance in an auditorium packed with fans.
TEST 2 (no): WINNER
CONCLUSION: The city’s summer concert series was a tradition that brought crowds from all backgrounds.
TEST 3 (yes): SEATS
For ten days in July, everything from New York City jazz to Nashville bluegrass was being performed by the biggest names in the business.
8. YNN-NEITHER
INTRODUCTION: Kerry was determined to get the grant money for her new research project. She was confident and outspoken, which always gave her an advantage. Kerry was prepared to work non-stop until her grant was funded.
TRANSITION 1: Unfortunately, Kerry’s ulcer had been acting up lately.
TEST 1 (yes): GRANT
NEUT: Her doctor told her that she just had to stop working so hard. The doctor suggested that Kerry try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night. She wasn’t certain if she had the time!
TRANSITION 2: Kerry tried to think of things that would help her relax.
TEST 2 (no): NURSE
CONCLUSION: She decided to treat herself to a massage. It wasn’t often that she allowed herself to be pampered.
TEST 3 (no): WHIRLPOOL
She thought she might sit in the sauna for a while after the massage.
9. YNY-OLD
INTRODUCTION: Geoffrey had just bought a house in an old downtown district and he really wanted to redecorate it. Downtown had recently been renovated to entice more homeowners back from the suburbs. Geoffrey’s house was beautiful, but would be absolutely perfect once it was redecorated with his own personal style.
TRANSITION 1: All of his friends were really looking forward to seeing his new house.
TEST 1 (yes): REDECORATE
GR: Geoffrey began looking through magazines and catalogs to get ideas for his redecoration. He didn’t really have a lot of free time because he worked long hours at his accounting job for the national steel company. But Geoffrey’s urge to redecorate this house was strong enough that it became a high priority and he even took to take some days off from work.
TRANSITION 2: Geoffrey was looking forward to peaceful evenings, enjoying the quiet of his new home.
TEST 2 (no): FURNITURE
CONCLUSION: He eventually wanted to add some landscaping, but decided to wait until the next summer.
TEST 3 (yes): LANDSCAPING
For the meanwhile he’d focus his energies on the houses’ interior.
10. YNY-NEW
INTRODUCTION: Jane wanted a position as a professor. She had been in graduate school for six years and was ready for a real job. Jane fantasized about the things she could buy on the income of professor.
TRANSITION 1: Jane had grown thin during her years as a graduate student.
TEST 1 (yes): PROFESSOR
NG: She wanted to become healthy again. Some weeks she ate only macaroni and cheese. Jane thought of ways she could change her eating habits to healthy ones.
TRANSITION 2: Jane made plans to visit the farmer’s market.
TEST 2 (no): EARNINGS
CONCLUSION: Jane had heard that the produce at the farmer’s market was fresh and inexpensive. Jane ended up buying several bags of vegetables. She was surprised at the variety of foods there
TEST 3 (yes): MARKET
11. YNY-NEUT
INTRODUCTION: This year Debra decided to get a flu shot. The winter was coming and it was getting very cold outside. Debra promised her mother that this year she would find the time to get a flu shot. Debra knew that no matter how old she got her mother would always treat her as a child
TEST 1: SHOT
NEUT: This semester Debra has been very busy with her classes. She tried really hard to keep up with the work load. Debra was glad that the classes that she had were interesting and challenging for her. Debra realized that living on her own made her more organized person.
TEST 2: LECTURE
CONCLUSION: Even though Debra had a lot of studying to do she was planning to visit her mother this weekend. It was always nice to go back home and spend time with the family. Besides, Debra knew how much joy her visit would bring to her mother.
TEST 3: VISIT
12. YNN-NEW
INTRODUCTION: Tami decided to buy a yacht. She was tired of vacationing the “old fashioned” way, staying in hotels and eating marginal restaurant food. Tami called a boat dealership so she could begin her search for a yacht.
TRANSITION 1: The dealership she spoke to seemed to have a wide selection.
TEST 1 (yes): YACHT.
NG: Tami wanted to find a good sales agent. She had asked a friend for a reference. Tami believed it was important to work with an agent who you can trust.
TRANSITION 2: Tami always had a problem trusting salespeople.
TEST 2 (no): DEALERSHIP
CONCLUSION: She thought salespeople seemed more interested in selling than helping people. Tami was becoming frustrated.
TEST 3 (no): QUOTA
Tami finally decided to shop for a boat on her own. She was independent and could make a purchase such as this without consultation,
13. YNY-OLD
INTRODUCTION: George found out at the last minute that he needed to get some more library books for his research project. As finals were drawing near, his stress level increased, and he felt irritable and tired. Finding those books was one of the last tasks George really needed to do.
TRANSITION 1: The walk to the library was very relaxing and allowed George to take a mental rest.
TEST 1 (yes): BOOKS
GR: Once George was in the library stacks, he focused on getting his research books. There were many students there, some wide-eyed with caffeine, others with eyes half closed. George wondered how long it would take him to get his books.
TRANSITION 2: He hadn’t been to the library very much this term so it seemed a bit unfamiliar.
TEST 2 (no): STUDY
CONCLUSION: As George was walking by a study carrel, he saw something begin to move.
TEST 3 (yes): CARREL
He was momentarily shocked when he saw a rat scurry down from the shelf, onto the floor, and under a desk.
14. YNY-NEW
INTRODUCTION: Ryan was desperate to change his image. He was often accused of being snobbish, which was not the case. Ryan wanted to improve his image so that he could make some new friends.
TRANSITION 1: Unfortunately, Ryan had other things to worry about that day.
TEST 1 (yes): IMAGE
NG: Ryan needed a new fan because his old one had just broken. It was such a hot summer and the evenings were just as merciless. Ryan couldn’t sleep in the extreme heat, which made getting a fan a top priority.
TRANSITION 2: To make matters worse, Ryan was an insomniac.
TEST 2 (no): WIND
CONCLUSION: He realized he hadn’t slept a full night in two weeks. Ryan started to wonder if he could make it through the day. He was so desperate, he considered taking medication. Ryan was opposed to relying on pills to cure his insomnia, but he was beginning to see that they might be a viable solution.
TEST 3 (yes): MEDICATION
15. YNY-NEITHER
INTRODUCTION: Shawna had trained hard to become an astronaut in hopes of someday living in a space station. As a little girl, she had often told her parents about her dreams. Now it seemed that visiting a space station was almost within her grasp.
TRANSITION 1: Her parents were proud of her for realizing her childhood dream.
TEST 1 (yes): STATION
NEUT: Shawna couldn’t wait to begin her journey. She imagined that it would be difficult to be away from Earth for such long periods of time but didn’t mind too much. After all, she was very excited about doing something she had never done before.
TRANSITION 2: Shawna’s parents often called to see if she would be leaving for a mission soon.
TEST 2 (no): MARS
CONCLUSION: She frequently reminded them that space flights were scheduled far in advance. Shawna had to reassure them that she wouldn’t leave for a mission without notifying them first.
TEST 3 (yes): MISSION
She welcomed their enthusiasm but was often put off by their paranoia.
16. YNY-OLD
INTRODUCTION: Byron wanted to do something funky and have his graduation party at the zoo. He had just graduated from law school and was ready to unwind. To him, a party at the zoo seemed like the perfect end to his schooling and the beginning of his new career.
TRANSITION 1: His wife teased him for wanting to do such a childish activity on such a momentous occasion.
TEST 1 (yes): ZOO
GR: But Byron loved animals, which made having a party at the zoo his top priority. His brother was a zookeeper and could arrange everything to his liking. Byron thought the zoo would provide a great atmosphere, and he was really looking forward to holding a party there.
TRANSITION 2: Byron had acquired quite a reputation for devising strange party themes.
TEST 2 (no): FATHER
CONCLUSION: In law school, Byron often threw parties. He believed that having fun was the only way to live, regardless of what test he had the next day. One time, he made his party guests dress as their favorite cartoon characters.
TEST 3 (yes): PARTIES