Inference
Reading Skills
Figurative Language
Author's Purpose
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100

Based on details in Keep Going, the reader can conclude that the poet - 

A   does not understand the reader 

B   has also experienced bad times 

C  has only lived a happy life  

D  does not want to relive hard times 

B   has also experienced bad times

100

Which line from the poem Keep Tryin’ best expresses a positive outlook on life? 

A  Don't sit down somewhere and cry,
B   Men who never whine a bit--
C  That you'll win out anyhow,

D  Where the true man is revealed,

C  That you'll win out anyhow,

100

In line 1 of Keep Tryin’, the poet uses the simile “blue as ink” to emphasize the - 

A  color of the darkest blue

B   darkness of feeling sad

C  inability to see through 

D  permanent effect of ink

B   darkness of feeling sad

100

Why does the poet of Keep Tryin’ put IT in all capital letters? 

A  to demonstrate an important figure 

B   to express the importance of yourself

C  to highlight the feeling of making it in life

D  to express regret for overconfidence 

C  to highlight the feeling of making it in life

100

In what way is the structure of the two poems similar? 

A  Both use rhyme.

B   Both are free verse. 

C  Both have six stanzas. 

D  Both repeat a similar phrase.

D  Both repeat a similar phrase.

200

Lines 7 and 8 of Keep Going address the issue of people - 

A   not trusting you 

B    saying mean things 

C   not believing in you

D   saying you are not worthy 

C   not believing in you

200

What does the word solemn mean in line 22 of Keep Tryin’?

A  sad

B   serious

C  formal 

D  hopeful

B   serious

200

The author included the figurative language in line 12 of Keep Tryin’ to show the - 

A  darkness when good leaves your life

B  sadness of a cloudy day 

C  importance of the sun and it’s light 

D  difficulty when people abandon you 




A  darkness when good leaves your life

200

Why does the poet of Keep Going change the poem structure for the final three lines?

A  To show more examples

B   To emphasize the message

C  To convey a feeling of joy 

D  To highlight the difficult road ahead 

B   To emphasize the message

200

What message is present in Keep Going but not mentioned in Keep Tryin’? 

A  Things are not really that bad. 

B  Things will get better.

C  Things will get worse before better. 

D  Things are not going the right way. 



B  Things will get better.

300

What inference can be made about line 16 in Keep Tryin’? 

A The speaker values courage.

B  The speaker thinks people are weak. 

C The speaker values honesty. 

D The speaker thinks men are strong. 

A The speaker values courage.

300

Lines 19 and 20 of Keep Going are mainly about -

A   doing better than you did before

B   asking for help when you need it 

C  getting good grades in school 

D  working to reach your potential

D  working to reach your potential

300

The poet uses a metaphor in line 26 of Keep Tryin’ to show that the speaker - 

A will go to battle with himself 

B  thinks people of the world are always at war

C understands that the world is not there to 

    help out 

D believes there are many obstacles in the 

    world that people must overcome



D believes there are many obstacles in the 

    world that people must overcome

300

The poet of Keep Tryin’ put NOW in all capital letters to -

A  emphasize that time will make things 

     better 

B   indicate he means to do promptly

C  show there is value in not waiting 

D  highlight the meaning of hustle 

B   indicate he means to do promptly

300

Both poems include information about - 

A  why life is worth living 

B   how to overcome adversity 

C  continuing on through difficult times

D   the discrimination present in the 

      world

C  continuing on through difficult times

400

The fifth stanza of Keep Tryin’ leads the reader to believe that - 

A  making a promise is only the start

B   hustling will bring you more joy 

C  it is not too late to win 

D  everyone is capable of change

D  everyone is capable of change

400

What message is at the root of the poem Keep Going?

A  Things always seem bad until you look at 

     them in a different way. 

B   Many people come up against difficult 

     times in their youth. 

C  People who keep going are stronger 

     individuals. 

D  Continue living life because there is always 

     something good in the future.

D  Continue living life because there is always 

     something good in the future.

400

What does “life is all uphill” mean in line 13 of Keep Going?

A   Hills may block your path at times. 

B   When your life is always going up. 

C   Everything you do seems hard.

D   Life makes you out of breath. 

C   Everything you do seems hard.

400

Which mood best matches Keep Going?

A  optimistic

B   warning 

C  cautious

D      prideful 

A  optimistic

400

The speakers in both poems would most strongly agree that - 

A  people give up too soon

B   you should not be depressed 

C  life is worth living 

D  every person has value 

D  every person has value

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