Poetry Practice. The common cormorant (or shag) Lays eggs inside a paper bag, The reason you will see no doubt, Is to keep the lightning out.

Transcription

1 THE COMMON CORMORANT Christopher Isherwood The common cormorant (or shag) Lays eggs inside a paper bag, The reason you will see no doubt, Is to keep the lightning out. But what these unobservant birds Have failed to notice is that herds Of wandering bears may come with buns And steal the bags to hold the crumbs. 1. According to the poem, a cormorant (line 1) is a: (a) seal (b) egg (c) paper bag (d) bear (e) bird 2. According to the poem, paper bags are a good protection against: (a) bears (b) cormorants (c) buns (d) lightning (e) crumbs 3. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the poem? I. Cormorants do not notice the obvious II. Cormorants are afraid of bears III. Bears are tidy animals (b) III only (c) I and II only (d) I and III only 4. The tone of this poem could best be described as: (a) sarcastic (b) humorous (c) factual (d) optimistic (e) tragic Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 1

2 5. According to the passage, bears find bags useful for: (a) holding buns (b) catching chickens (c) carrying cubs (d) collecting crumbs (e) hiding their faces A DIRGE Christina Rossetti Why were you born when the snow was falling? You should have come to the cuckoo s calling, Or when grapes are green in the cluster, Or, at least, when lithe swallows muster For their far off flying From summer dying. 6 Why did you die when the lambs were cropping? You should have died at the apples dropping, When the grasshopper comes to trouble, And the wheat-fields are sodden stubble, And all winds go sighing For sweet things dying The author asks, Why were you born when the snow was falling? because: (a) it is very difficult for newborns to survive in winter (b) winter is an unusual time to be born (c) it is inconvenient for mothers to give birth during blizzards (d) snow is bad luck to newborn babies (e) winter represents old age and death rather than new life 7. According to the passage, we can infer that swallows muster (line 4) in: (a) winter (b) spring (c) summer (d) autumn (e) all year round 8. The author mentions all of the following except: (a) ripe apples (b) the sound of a cuckoo (c) grapes on the vine (d) falling snow (e) ripening wheat Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 2

3 9. We can infer that the poet is addressing someone who: (a) was born in the winter and died in the summer (b) was born in spring and died in the autumn (c) should have been born in the autumn (d) was born in the winter and died in the spring (e) was born and died in the winter 10. The mood of this passage could best be described as: (a) jubilant (b) ambivalent (c) factual (d) pessimistic (e) mournful 11. We can infer that the author would agree with which of the following statements? I. There is an appropriate season for everything in life II. Death only happens in the winter III. Lambs are usually born in the spring (b) I and II only (c) I and III only (d) II and III only 12. A dirge, as used in the title of the poem, is a: (a) joyful celebration of life (b) solemn expression of grief (c) wrathful account of anger (d) unbiased examination (e) tragic tale of misfortune Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 3

4 THE FROG Hilaire Belloc Be kind and tender to the Frog, And do not call him names, As "Slimy skin," or "Polly-wog," Or likewise "Ugly James," 4 Or "Gap-a-grin," or "Toad-gone-wrong," Or "Bill Bandy-knees": The Frog is justly sensitive To epithets like these. 8 No animal will more repay A treatment kind and fair; At least so lonely people say Who keep a frog (and, by the way, 12 They are extremely rare.) 13. The word epithets in line 8 is closest in meaning to: (a) swear words (b) descriptive names (c) physical attacks (d) insulting songs (e) backhanded compliments 14. We can infer from the poem that you should not insult frogs because: (a) it hurts their feelings (b) it makes them angry (c) they will retaliate (d) their owners don t like it (e) frogs are easily depressed 15. The author implies that people who own frogs: I. treat them kindly and fairly II. are lonely III. are not very common (a) II only (b) I and II only (c) I and III only (d) II and III only Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 4

5 16. The author s tone in this poem could best be described as: (a) naïve (b) advisory (c) informative (d) humorous (e) pleading THE DISTANCE THAT THE DEAD HAVE GONE Emily Dickinson The distance that the dead have gone Does not at first appear Their coming back seems possible For many an ardent year. 4 And then, that we have followed them, We more than half suspect, So intimate have we become With their dear retrospect This poem is primarily about: (a) the death of a king (b) the journey that people take after they die (c) soldier who sacrificed their lives for their country (d) the grief that follows the loss of a loved one (e) a woman who mourns the death of her husband 18. The author believes that after loved ones die, we often: (a) die as well (b) wish that we were dead too (c) feel like they could still return someday (d) cry for many years (e) soon forget them 19. The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements? I. The dead can come back to life. II. There are many suspicious deaths in the world. III. Dead people travel long distances. (b) I and II (c) II and III (d) I, II and III (e) None of the above Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 5

6 20. The author implies that: (a) Grief can sometimes feel like death (b) Love can bring people back to life (c) Death can come suddenly (d) Crying is a way to heal (e) The dead are soon forgotten 21. The mood of this poem could best be described as: (a) joyful (b) objective (c) mysterious (d) sorrowful (e) optimistic 22. The word retrospect in line 8 most closely means: (a) memory (b) adventure (c) hate (d) anger (e) regret PHENOMENAL WOMAN Maya Angelou Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. 4 I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. 9 I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me The author s tone could best be described as: (a) doubtful (b) confident (c) secretive (d) questioning (e) fatigued 24. When the author says the curl of my lips she is probably describing a: Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 6

7 24. When the author says the curl of my lips she is probably describing a: (a) frown (b) yawn (c) pout (d) smile (e) scar 25. With which of the following statements would the author most likely AGREE? (a) It is always important to look your best (b) Fashion models are beautiful (c) If you have a positive attitude you will be beautiful (d) A phenomenal woman has many secrets (e) Traditional ideas about beauty are not always right 26. According to the passage, which of the following statements are FALSE? I. The author looks like a fashion model II. Pretty women can see the author s inner beauty III. Beauty comes in many different forms (b) II only (c) I and II only (d) II and III only CAMOMILE TEA Katherine Mansfield 27. The poem takes place: (a) in a cottage in the evening (b) on a morning by the sea (c) on a starry night (d) under an almond tree (e) in a tea shop Outside the sky is light with stars; There's a hollow roaring from the sea. And, alas! for the little almond flowers, The wind is shaking the almond tree. 4 How little I thought, a year ago, In the horrible cottage upon the Lee That he and I should be sitting so And sipping a cup of camomile tea Which of the following statements can we infer from the poem? Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 7

8 28. Which of the following statements can we infer from the poem? I. The author enjoys camomile tea II. The author is sitting with her son III. The author does not live in a cottage (b) I and II only (c) I and III only (d) II and III only 29. The author says alas! for the little almond flowers (line 3) because: (a) they are all scared (b) they are very sad (c) she is about to eat them (d) they are being blown away (e) she thinks they re beautiful 30. All of the following are mentioned in the poem EXCEPT: (a) the sounds of waves crashing against the shore (b) a tree blown in a strong wind (c) an overcast sky (d) a cup of herbal tea (e) an awful cottage 31. With which of the following statements would the author most likely AGREE? I. It is pleasant to sit in a warm house and drink tea on a windy night II. All cottages are unpleasant places to live III. Almond flowers are good in tea (b) III only (c) I and II only (d) I and III only Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 8

9 THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN Walter D. Wintle If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don't; If you'd like to win, but think you can't, It's almost a cinch you won't. 4 If you think you'll lose, you're lost, For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow's will, It's all in the state of mind. 8 If you think you're outclassed, you are; You've got to think high to rise. You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. 12 Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man; But soon or late the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can The purpose of this passage is to: (a) encourage people to give up (b) convince people of the importance of a good attitude (c) show how people can win prizes in life (d) explain why athletes are more successful than others (e) contrast parents attitudes with children s attitudes 33. With which of the following statements would the author most likely AGREE? I. Strong people never win II. Your thinking affects your performance III. You must have faith in yourself to succeed (a) II only (b) III only (c) I and III (d) II and III (e) I, II and III 34. As used in line 13, life s battles most likely refer to: (a) obstacles in life (b) fights with relatives (c) arguments with siblings (d) long-lasting wars (e) sudden, deadly attacks Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 9

10 35. The style of this passage could best be described as: (a) ridiculing (b) fatalistic (c) pessimistic (d) cheerful (e) motivational 36. The author s tone in this passage could best be described as: (a) encouraging (b) optimistic (c) sarcastic (d) melancholy (e) melodramatic METAPHOR Eve Merriam Morning is a new sheet of paper for you to write on. 3 Whatever you want to say, all day, until night folds it up and files it away. 8 The bright words and the dark words are gone until dawn and a new day to write on The main purpose of this poem is to: (a) Compare a day to a sheet of paper (b) Give some examples of bright words and dark words (c) Describe what morning feels like to a poet (d) Analyze how events change when they re written down (e) Contrast the brightness of morning with the darkness of night Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 10

11 38. The author would most likely agree that: (a) the present is heavily influenced by the past (b) most filing is done at night (c) morning is the best time for writing (d) each day presents new possibilities (e) words written at night disappear before morning 39. The mood of this poem could best be described as: (a) enraged (b) lazy (c) upbeat (d) pessimistic (e) ecstatic 40. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE? I. New mornings hold unlimited possibilities II. The night erases all of our memories III. We should never look back at the past (b) I and II only (c) I and III only (d) II and III only Empey-Hemming Educational Centre! Page 11