Constructed Response Step Two: Answer with Evidence

• Analyzing why Mike went into the haunted house is complex.

• Explaining the best way to make a vampire baby stop crying is a snap.

• Describing the coolest toy on planet Ziest is difficult.

Mike's palms were sweating. His stomach was turning flips like it was trying to set a record. When his uncle asked him if he wanted to go to the haunted house with his older cousins, he jumped at the chance, but suddenly it didn't seem like such a great idea. His cousins were cool. If he could get it together and go into this haunted house with them, maybe he could be cool too.

When your vampire baby cries, there are several things you must do. First, make sure your baby doesn't have a fever. Vampire babies should be a cool 37 degrees. Make sure your baby isn't hungry and has a clean diaper. Check that you have the right blood type in the bottle. Your own blood is always best. Rock or walk with your baby vigorously while singing or talking. Take the baby for a ride in a stroller after the sun sets. Hold your baby close against your body and take calm, slow breaths. Always listen to your babies cries to help guide you.

If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that Ziest kids today are extremely lucky when it comes to toys. The toys that came out this year are incredibly innovative, designed to spark imaginations, allow them to become their favorite characters and teach them everything from STEM concepts to social-emotional learning. Kids still love to be surprised: mystery unboxing, blind bags, and collectible surprises are still big this year. Water is also a hot new ingredient in toys, and you can find lots of items that transform or change colors when dipped in liquid. And kids still love getting their hands dirty, messing around with compounds that you can squish, squeeze or stretch.