Correct Response: D. The passage contains many instances of words and phrases used idiomatically to convey important information about the characters' interaction (e.g., "eyes met," "I wouldn't know," "snapped Jo," "about to blow a fuse"). While English learners with expanding- level proficiency would have been explicitly taught grade-level academic language found in literary texts, they are less likely to have been taught or even exposed to less common idiomatic English phrases and slang. Options A and C are incorrect because they identify grade-level reading and language skills that should not be too difficult for a second-grade English learner with expanding- level English language proficiency. Would and know (A) are first- and second-grade high- frequency words; the words blinked and shrugged (C) are typical of a grade-level literary text.
Option B is incorrect because, while applying knowledge of print concepts associated with dialogue is not systematically studied until third grade, this skill is not likely to affect students who are English learners more than their peers whose home language is English. Furthermore, other clues in this passage make the dialogue clear (e.g., "Jo asked," "he said").
