Qualify Read Online Free PDF Page A

ourselves.”
    “What’s that mean? What criteria?” a boy interrupts from the back.
    “It means, we don’t know what kind of test answers are ‘correct’ and we don’t know what they are looking for.”
    “So how are we supposed to do the test?” says another student, and her voice cracks with a hint of tears.
    “Do your best. That’s all anyone can expect of you. Do the best you can, take your time with your answers, and good luck to all of you! And now, I am sorry, but I cannot answer any more questions. We need to begin.” Ms. Wayne sighs, checks the clock, and suddenly she is no longer just an automaton in a suit but a tired ordinary woman.
    She turns to Mrs. Grayland, and they both begin passing out test booklets, answer sheets, and number two pencils.
    “Clear your desks of everything, and please put away all phones and electronic devices—that includes smart jewelry—keep it turned off . And—” Ms. Wayne pauses meaningfully—“Please don’t bother cheating. Truth be told, this is one test on which you cannot cheat.”
    There are more whispers throughout the classroom.
    “Now,” Ms. Wayne continues, coming around the room. “This is the general knowledge portion of Qualification. It includes math and science and history and spelling and analytical sections. And yes, it is long. We do not know how much weight it carries in the overall examination. Format is standardized multiple choice, intentionally low-tech paper and pencil, because no computer use was designated for this portion. However you should all be sufficiently familiar with this. Be sure to use your pencils to fill in the bubbles in their entirety.”
    Groans are heard all around the room. “Excuse me, how do I use a pencil?” someone cracks.
    “Easy! Just stick it in your—”
    Snickers start in waves.
    “Why on Earth do I need to take the SAT to get to Atlantis?” someone else whispers behind me. More snickers, quickly stifled.
    Mrs. Grayland stops by my desk and hands me the test materials, then moves over to Ann’s, and then the next person.
    I stare at the super-thick text booklet. It’s so thick it’s ridiculous. It’s got a pale blue cover and a printed Atlantis logo of some kind of cube. I’ve seen this stupid logo before on TV, together with the four-color swatch. Supposedly it represents the Great Square in the constellation of Pegasus—the general region in space where the star system with the planet Atlantis is located.
    “Everyone, please open your booklets and turn to the first page of the test. You have exactly an hour and forty-five minutes. This is critical—be sure to fill out your name portion in the front of the answer sheet before you do anything else. And now, begin.”
     
     
    A n hour and a half later, I fill in the last answer bubble, put down my pencil and look up. Most everyone else is still marking their answer sheet.
    The test was easy. At least I think it was. I feel confident about ninety percent of my answers, and if anything about this is an indicator of what’s to come, this bodes well for me totally acing Qualification.
    Yeah, right.
    Next to me Ann is still biting her pencil and has a few pages of the booklet to go. She gives me a dazed look then returns to her answer sheet.
    Ms. Wayne, who is pacing quietly through the rows of desks, and watching us like a hawk, immediately notices I am done, and comes up to me. I silently hand her my finished test.
    As I turn to watch Ms. Wayne’s retreating back, I see Jenny Hawls glare at me, before returning to her test. Jenny’s a dim bulb when it comes to schoolwork, so I am sure she is having a rotten time with the test material. If I weren’t so generally stressed, I’d feel a rare moment of satisfaction. But honestly, this is not the time for petty stuff—we’re all in this sorry mess together.
    Soon, the bell rings. The teachers tell us to put down our pencils. We are reminded that our names should be clearly marked on the answer