Questions: What theme is developed in the text through Lily's choices? A. Desperate times call for desperate measures. B. Patience rewards those who practice it. C. Success eludes those who do not put forth effort. D. Intelligence is given to some but not to others.

The answer is C. Success eludes those who do not put forth effort.

This option suggests that in difficult situations, people must take drastic actions. However, Lily's situation does not involve taking any drastic measures; instead, she relies on Cathy to do all the work, which is not a desperate measure but rather a lack of effort.

This option implies that being patient will lead to positive outcomes. In the text, Lily is not practicing patience; she is avoiding responsibility and relying on Cathy, which does not lead to a reward.

This option is supported by the text, as Lily's lack of effort in contributing to the project results in a stressful situation where she is unprepared for the presentation. Her reliance on Cathy without contributing herself demonstrates that success is not achieved without effort.

This option suggests that intelligence is an innate trait that some people have and others do not. While Lily does express a belief that she is not as smart as Cathy, the theme of the text is more focused on the consequences of not putting in effort rather than the distribution of intelligence.