SC READY ELA Grade 6 Practice Questions - South Carolina College- And Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) English Language Arts - Grade 6 Exam

Read the passage below before answering the question. "The Watchmaker's Apprentice" For three months, twelve-year-old Leo sat at Master Thomas's oak workbench, trying to assemble the delicate brass gears of a pocket watch. Every time he attempted to set the tiny escapement wheel, his fingers trembled and the tiny spring snapped out of place. Frustrated, Leo sighed loudly and threw his tweezers onto the table. Master Thomas smiled gently and placed a calm hand on Leo's shoulder. "Clockwork cannot be forced, Leo," the old master said softly. "If you rush the mechanism, the gears lock. But if you take a deep breath, observe how each gear fits into the next, and respect the rhythm of the work, the watch will tick on its own." Leo took a slow breath, picked up his tweezers, and carefully set the spring into place. Moments later, the steady, rhythmic ticking filled the quiet workshop. Which statement best expresses the theme of the passage?