General Instructions: Read all questions carefully. Manage your time wisely. Write legibly. For essay questions, ensure your arguments are well-supported and clearly organized.

Passage 1: The Last City

The year was 2077, and Neo-Veridia hummed with a quiet, regulated efficiency. Citizens moved with purpose, their faces serene, their emotions muted by the daily Calm-Dose administered through the city’s omnipresent air filtration system. Elara, a girl of thirteen, often wondered what true laughter felt felt like, or the sting of real tears. She had only ever known the gentle hum of contentment, a feeling manufactured and dispersed by the Governing Council. Her own emotions felt like watered-down versions of what she read in banned, ancient texts—texts her grandmother had secretly kept, hidden beneath a loose floorboard.

One crisp morning, as the automated food dispenser delivered her nutrient paste, a flicker of something unusual crossed her mother’s face – a momentary tightening around the eyes, a faint tremor in her hand as she reached for her utensil. Elara had learned to observe, even when the data suggested there was nothing to see. The Calm-Dose was supposed to eliminate such fluctuations, to ensure perfect equilibrium. Later that day, while attending her scheduled ‘Civic Harmony’ lesson, the instructor’s voice, usually a soothing monotone, cracked slightly when discussing the 'Great Uprising' of 2025. It was barely perceptible, a ghost of a sound, but Elara noticed. It was like a discordant note in an otherwise flawless symphony.

That evening, a tiny, almost invisible crack appeared on the pristine surface of her bedroom window. It was a hairline fracture, no bigger than an eyelash, yet it captivated Elara. She pressed her finger to it, feeling a faint chill that wasn't from the air conditioning. It was a tiny flaw in the perfect, ordered world of Neo-Veridia, a microscopic rebellion against perfection. It sparked a curiosity within her, a quiet, unfamiliar hum that was distinctly her own, not a product of the Calm-Dose. She began to wonder if the city's flawless exterior hid other, deeper cracks, not just in the infrastructure, but in the people. Could others feel this strange, un-manufactured feeling too? A sense of unease, but also a thrilling spark of something new, began to stir in her chest, a feeling she couldn't name, but instinctively knew was important. The omnipresent cameras in her room seemed to watch, silent and unblinking, yet for the first time, Elara felt truly alone with her thoughts, and paradoxically, more alive.

The year was 1863, and the scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the metallic tang of fear in the small Virginia town of Willow Creek. Ten-year-old Samuel stood by the window of their modest farmhouse, watching the endless stream of soldiers, both Union blue and Confederate gray, pass along the dusty road. His father was away, fighting for the Confederacy, leaving Samuel, his mother, and his younger sister, Lily, to tend the farm and navigate the ever-present dangers of a nation at war. Each passing day brought new rumors, new anxieties, and the distant rumble of cannons was a constant, unsettling lullaby.

Samuel missed his father desperately, the man who used to tell him stories by the fire and teach him to carve wood. Now, Samuel had to be strong, for his mother’s sake and for Lily, who still believed their father would return with a medal and stories of glory. The reality, Samuel knew, was far grimme. Supplies were scarce, and even the simple act of fetching water from the well became an ordeal, as soldiers often stopped, demanding food or a place to rest. The farm animals, once a source of comfort, now seemed skittish, sensing the unrest in the air. One afternoon, a Union patrol, their uniforms grimy and faces tired, knocked on their door. Samuel’s heart hammered against his ribs like a drum. His mother, her face pale but resolute, offered them what little she had: a few potatoes and a pail of fresh water.

The Union sergeant, a stern-faced man with weary eyes, accepted the meager offering with a nod. "Thank you, ma'am," he said, his voice gravelly. "It's a hard road for all of us." Before he left, he looked at Samuel, who stood clutching a faded wooden soldier, and offered a half-smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hold onto your hope, son. This will end." Samuel watched them march away, their boots kicking up dust, wondering if the sergeant's words were meant to comfort him or simply to offer a glimpse into the universal weariness of war. The war wasn't just in the distant battlefields; it was here, in their fields, their homes, etched into the faces of soldiers and civilians alike. He tightened his grip on the wooden soldier, a silent promise to himself to endure, to keep the home fires burning until his father, or at least peace, returned.

Beyond the fence, where shadows creep, The ancient woods their secrets keep. Tall oaks stand, with boughs so wide, Where emerald mosses gently ride.

A silver stream, it whispers low, Of journeys far, and where winds blow. The ferns unfurl in verdant grace, A hidden world, a sacred space.

No human voice, no hurried sound, Just rustling leaves on hallowed ground. A sunbeam dances, soft and bright, A solitary, golden light.

The air is cool, with earthy scent, As peace profound is gently sent. The world outside, it fades away, Within the woods, time seems to stay.

Instructions: In this section, you will write a well-structured argumentative essay. This essay will assess your ability to research a topic, synthesize information, and construct a persuasive argument supported by evidence.

Essay Prompt: Research the impact of social media on teenage mental health. Argue whether its overall effects have been more positive or negative, providing evidence from credible sources. Your essay should take a clear stance and defend it with specific examples and facts.

Essay Requirements:

• Clear Thesis Statement: Your essay must begin with a clear thesis statement in your introduction that presents your main argument.
• Well-Supported Arguments: Develop at least three body paragraphs, each presenting a distinct argument or point to support your thesis. Each argument must be supported by evidence from your research (e.g., statistics, expert opinions, studies, examples).
• Organization: Structure your essay logically, typically following a 5-paragraph format (introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion). Use clear topic sentences for each body paragraph and effective transition words and phrases to connect ideas smoothly.
• Credible Sources: Use information from reliable and credible sources (e.g., academic journals, reputable news organizations, government reports, educational websites). Avoid opinion blogs or unreliable forums.
• Citations: Provide simple in-text citations for all information that comes from your research (e.g., "(Source Name, Year)" or just "(Author's Last Name)").
• Conventions: Ensure your essay demonstrates correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.

Presentation Note for Students: This essay will serve as the foundation for a potential future presentation. As you write, consider how you might adapt your arguments and supporting details into a verbal presentation. Focus on presenting clear points that could be easily communicated to an audience.

Essay Scoring Rubric:

• Thesis Statement (10 points): Clear, arguable, and addresses the prompt directly.
• Evidence and Support (30 points): Arguments are well-supported with relevant, sufficient, and credible evidence from research.
• Organization and Cohesion (30 points): Essay is logically structured with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Ideas flow smoothly with effective transitions.
• Conventions (Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation) (15 points): Minimal errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
• Research & Citation (15 points): Use of credible sources; proper application of simple in-text citations.

(Total: 100 points)