The Space Before the Downbeat

• ○A. He must interpret routines that the other musicians already understand.
• ○B. He must persuade the director to give him a place in the trumpet section.
• ○C. He must learn an instrument that the other students already play.
• ○D. He must prepare music that he has not been allowed to take home.

• ○A. “As the musicians opened their folders, Zain slipped into the last trumpet chair.”
• ○B. “The winter concert was nine days away, and today's rehearsal had been shortened for a school assembly.”
• ○C. “Transfer student Zain knew the notes on his trumpet, but not these signals.”
• ○D. “Instrument cases lined the wall beneath a clock with a loud second hand.”

• ○A. It makes him explain how rehearsals worked at his previous school.
• ○B. It makes him hide his confusion rather than interrupt the group.
• ○C. It makes him ask Marisol to practice with him after the assembly.
• ○D. It makes him suggest that the director skip the difficult passage.

• ○A. “Director Ms. Varela raised her baton, then pointed toward the middle of the page.”
• ○B. “With the clock ticking above him, he decided that asking would delay everyone.”
• ○C. “The trumpets entered together—except Zain, whose first note arrived alone after everyone else had stopped.”
• ○D. “Beside him, trumpet player Marisol whispered, ‘We take that from the pickup.’”

• ○A. It shows him that Marisol wants to replace him in the trumpet section.
• ○B. It shows him that his assigned music is easier than Marisol's music.
• ○C. It shows him that softer playing is the director's goal for the passage.
• ○D. It shows him that staying quiet can interfere with another musician's work.

On the next attempt, Zain barely blew into his instrument.Marisol lowered her trumpet.“I need to hear your part to know whether mine fits,” she said.She moved her stand closer so they could see the same page.

• ○A. It suggests that another musician disagrees with the director's answer.
• ○B. It suggests that another musician is preparing to change instruments.
• ○C. It suggests that another musician also benefits from the clarification.
• ○D. It suggests that another musician wants Zain to speak more quietly.

• ○A. “The director lowered her arm.”
• ○B. “Across the room, a clarinet player quietly erased a mark and wrote eighteen.”
• ○C. “Marisol circled the starting note lightly in pencil.”
• ○D. “Zain raised his hand before he could talk himself out of it.”

• ○A. It makes the deadline less important because Zain can miss the concert.
• ○B. It makes the deadline seem unfair because Marisol has more time to prepare.
• ○C. It turns the deadline into a reason for Zain to practice without the band.
• ○D. It turns the deadline from a private pressure into a shared challenge.

He almost heard the words as a warning.Then she added, “Come five minutes early. We can mark mine too.”Zain tucked the pencil into his folder.The concert was still nine days away, but now the short time ahead seemed like something they would use together.

• ○A. His difficulty following routines that the rest of the band already knows.
• ○B. The musicians' need to put their instruments away when the bell rings.
• ○C. The director's need to adjust the balance between different sections.
• ○D. His responsibility to practice the trumpet music assigned to him.