Story needs to be completed:
When Ian wrote a published article, Dennis was very pleased because 
OPTIONS:
- Ian had been rejected many times in the past.
- Dennis had been rejected many times in the past.

My choice:
Ian had been rejected many times in the past.
Problem: Continue the following story.

During the traffic jam, Justin cheered up Derrick since 
OPTIONS:
- Justin was having a bad day and their finger hurt.
- Derrick was having a bad day and their finger hurt.
Here's how I want to continue it: Derrick was having a bad day and their finger hurt.
Problem: Betty was considered to be less worldly than Megan because 
OPTIONS:
- Betty had traveled to more places in the world.
- Megan had traveled to more places in the world.

My choice: Megan had traveled to more places in the world.
[Q]: How does the sentence end?

The employees went on strike because the business wouldn't pay them more even though the 
OPTIONS:
- business were poor.
- employees were poor.

[A]: employees were poor.
QUES: Continue writing.

Irma and Clark decided to picnic by the river and skipped the park. The 

OPTIONS:
- river was more crowded.
- park was more crowded.
+++++++++
ANS: park was more crowded.
QUES: Continue writing.

Visiting New York City interested Dennis but not Samuel because 

OPTIONS:
- Dennis enjoys being around crowds of people.
- Samuel enjoys being around crowds of people.
+++++++++
ANS:
Dennis enjoys being around crowds of people.