by Tirzah Tyler
While taking notes in science class, Peter’s mind began to wander as Mr. Scranton taught the lesson about owls. Peter stopped taking notes and began to doodle an owl on the corner of his crumpled notebook paper. When in life was he ever going to need to know about owls? He would have rather painted a picture of an owl or even created a sculpture of one than have to hear facts about owls. It wasn’t as if he were going to grow up to become a zookeeper, he figured as he carefully drew details of the owl’s feathers in the corner of his paper.
Mr. Scranton must have said something funny, because the class suddenly laughed. Peter looked up from his notes and his drawing to see his teacher make a jerky motion with his hand over the top of his balding head. Did Mr. Scranton make a joke about owls? Or did Peter miss something good? He looked down at his half-finished drawing that he had scrawled out in messy blue ink.
“So, I told my little boy that genetics were not going to be his friend with this issue,” Mr. Scranton said, laughing. “I told him, ‘If I’m bald and your granddaddy is bald, then you’re probably gonna be bald also, son.’ ”
Peter slowly smiled as the class laughed hysterically. He wished that he had been paying closer attention during the lesson. How did his teacher get on this topic?
As the laughter in the room died down, Mr. Scranton said, “So, you see, that’s the deal with genetics and something called heredity, something that you probably learned about last year.” He wrote the word “heredity” on the chalkboard, and Peter quickly copied it down under his owl drawing.
Smacking his hands together in the air to wipe the chalk off his palms, Mr. Scranton continued. “See, basically, you kids have already inherited all of your physical characteristics from your parents. Whatever they got, there’s a good chance you’ll get it, too.”
Peter’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he realized that his dad was going bald, a lot like Mr. Scranton, and so were both his grandfathers.
9
From the passage above, it is reasonable to predict that
A.
Peter will draw owls for the rest of his life.
B.
Peter will ask Mr. Scranton's son to play outside.
C.
Peter will ask Mr. Scranton for more homework.
D.
Peter will grow up to be a bald man.