Sarah was torn. Should she stop being friends with Connie just because of a rumor? Sarah heard the rumor from another good frien
d, a person who was usually very kind. Sarah didn't think she could be friends with Connie if the rumor was true. Yet, Sarah felt certain that confronting Connie, whether the rumor was true or not, would lead to disasterous results. But she felt that she had no choice; Sarah would have to ask. Sarah suddenly realized that the teacher had called her name; the other students were staring. Ugh, I'm going to get detention again! She thought to herself. Sure enough, Ms. Peterson angrily handed her the slip of paper that Sarah's mom would surely be pleased to sign later that night. Fuming, Sarah was temporarily distracted from thoughts of Connie, but then the bell rang and ended her reprieve. Sarah walked out of the classroom and imagined seeing Connie walking toward her seconds before the real Connie walked out of third period math. Connie waved and walked towards Sarah, grininning.
Which statement describes the main conflict in the passage best?
A. It's an internal conflict because Sarah has to decide whether or not to confront her friend.
B. It's an external conflict because Ms. Peterson has given Sarah a detention.
C. It's an internal conflict because Sarah will probably argue with her mom later that night.
D. It's an external conflict because the bell interrupted Sarah's angry and worried thoughts.
Answer: A. It's an internal conflict because Sarah has to decide whether or not to confront her friend.
In the excerpt, we see that Sarah is faced with a serious conflict. She has heard a rumor about her friend Connie, and she is not sure whether the rumor is true or not. However, if it is, it is probably enough to ruin their friendship. This type of conflict is an internal one, because Sarah is weighing all the possibilities and managing her indecision within herself, with no input from or impact on, anyone else.
