Read the excerpt from The Cruisers.When Mr. Culpepper, the assistant principal and chief executioner, came in, he did it with a flourish, breathing through his nose and looking like a cross between a really mad Santa Claus and a swishy dragon."Well, what are we to say this morning?” he asked, looking over his rimless glasses. "Or have the grades said enough? Hmmm?”No response."We have noted two trends among this small group of miscreants,” Mr. Culpepper went on. "The first is that none of you are living up to your potential. And yes, we do know your individual abilities because you have all tested very well on the IQ tests. What I strongly suspect is that you just don’t care enough about education or about Da Vinci Academy for the Gifted and Talented. I’m wondering if you are really Da Vinci material.”
Answer
A
Mr. Culpepper has disdain for his students and does not respect them.
B
Mr. Culpepper is trying to create a supportive environment for his students.
C
Mr. Culpepper does not know his students and does not try to know them.
D
Mr. Culpepper wants to help his students but does not know how to do it.
Explanation
Mr. Culpepper calls the students “miscreants” and questions whether they belong at the academy, even though he knows they have strong abilities. His insulting, contemptuous language suggests he disdains them rather than offering support. The best choice is A: Mr. Culpepper has disdain for his students and does not respect them.
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