22. In context, which of the following sentences would most effectively be placed immediately after sentence 10 (reproduced below)? Eventually my stubbornness paid off.
Answer: D
I became a pretty competent juggler and am now almost as skilled as my brother.
This sentence effectively connects the narrator's stubbornness to their success in juggling, providing a direct continuation of the theme established in the prior sentence.
A) Stubbornness seems to run in my family, since my brother is just as stubborn as I am.
While this option references the narrator's sibling, it does not directly relate to the success achieved through stubbornness. It shifts focus away from the narrator's accomplishments in juggling, making it less effective in this context.
B) Stubborn people can achieve much success and satisfaction.
Although this option aligns with the idea of stubbornness leading to success, it presents a general statement rather than a personal anecdote. It lacks the necessary connection to the narrator's specific journey in juggling, thus failing to maintain the narrative flow.
C) I still like to juggle, even though I am no better at it now than I was in grade school.
This choice introduces a contrast that undermines the positive outcome suggested by the previous sentence. It implies a lack of progress, which contradicts the message of success that follows the narrator's stubbornness.
D) I became a pretty competent juggler and am now almost as skilled as my brother.
This option effectively ties the narrator's stubbornness to their achievement in juggling, reinforcing the idea that persistence leads to success. It directly relates to the theme of accomplishment following stubborn determination.
Conclusion
Option D is the most effective choice as it directly illustrates the outcome of the narrator's stubbornness, linking it to their development as a juggler. The other options either divert from the main theme or present contrasting ideas, thereby failing to support the narrative established in sentence 10.