word power
In line 7, the poet uses the word plain to show that the ground is —
A. boring to look at
B. flat and smooth
C. easy to understand
D. covered in grass
B. flat and smooth
The poet uses parentheses in lines 6 and 7 most likely to —
A. show that these lines are a secret
B. provide extra details about how the road looks now
C. indicate that the speaker is shouting
D. list the things the speaker needs to buy
B. provide extra details about how the road looks now
In line 20, the poet uses a simile to compare the trains to —
A. running water
B. bright rails
C. morning air
D. the Missouri river
A. running water
How does the speaker feel about the Missouri river?
A. Afraid to cross it
B. Happy to leave it behind
C. It is a sign that they are almost home
D. It is too noisy for them to sleep
C. It is a sign that they are almost home
The repetition of lines 1-2 in lines 16-17 is used to —
A. show that the train has stopped moving
B. emphasize that the speaker has reached a familiar area
C. suggest that the speaker is bored with the trip
D. explain how the river was formed
B. emphasize that the speaker has reached a familiar area
In line 21, the word spin refers to —
A. the train moving in a circle
B. the fast rotation of the wheels
C. a person getting dizzy
D. the wind blowing outside
B. the fast rotation of the wheels
Read line 18 from the poem.
They run like running water,
The poet uses this simile to suggest that the train's movement is —
A. loud and powerful
B. cold and uncomfortable
C. continuous and effortless
D. sudden and splashing
C. continuous and effortless
The poet repeats the first two lines of the poem in lines 15 and 16 to —
A. show that the speaker has finally woken up from a nap
B. emphasize the steady, peaceful rhythm of the train journey
C. explain why the Missouri River is difficult to cross
D. remind the reader that the train is moving very slowly
B. emphasize the steady, peaceful rhythm of the train journey
What is the speaker most likely doing during the poem?
A. Driving the train
B. Walking beside the tracks
C. Relaxing as a passenger
D. Crossing the river in a boat
C. Relaxing as a passenger
Lines 23 and 24 ("Singing and humming") are repeated to create a sense of —
A. musical rhythm
B. extreme sadness
C. loud confusion
D. scary danger
A. musical rhythm
n line 10, the word weary-hearted most likely describes someone who is —
A. feeling very energetic and excited
B. tired and discouraged from a long journey
C. angry about the train's loud noises
D. confused about the direction of the train
B. tired and discouraged from a long journey
The imagery in lines 21 and 22 ("Singing and humming") appeals primarily to the reader's sense of —
A. sight
B. touch
C. smell
D. hearing
D. hearing
Which line from the poem signals a change in the speaker's actions and a more direct connection with the environment?
A. Nor jolting to wake the weary-hearted. (Line 10)
B. I open my window and let the air blow in, (Line 11)
C. How smoothly the trains run beyond the Missouri; (Line 15)
D. Singing and humming, (Line 21)
B. I open my window and let the air blow in, (Line 11)
The title "Going Home" is important because it —
A. tells where the train is stored at night
B. explains the emotional reason for the journey
C. identifies the names of the passengers
D. describes the house the speaker lives in
B. explains the emotional reason for the journey
Why does the poet compare the train to "Youth" in line 21?
A. To show that the train is small
B. To capture the feeling of energy and fast movement
C. To suggest that only young people should ride the train
D. To complain about how fast time goes by
B. To capture the feeling of energy and fast movement
In lines 8 through 14 of the poem "Going Home (Burlington Route)," the word jolting describes movement that is -
A. comforting
B. rough
C. exciting
D. dangerous
B. rough
Part A
In line 3, the poet uses personification by saying the wheels turn "as if they were glad to go." What does this suggest about the journey?
A. The train is moving faster than it is supposed to.
B. The journey feels positive and full of energy.
C. The wheels are making a very loud, happy noise.
D. The train is relieved to be finished with the trip.
Part B
Which other line from the poem uses personification in a similar way?
A. The roadway wide open, (Line 5)
B. The air of morning, (Line 12)
C. They run rejoicing, (Line 24)
D. Even in my sleep I know (Line 2)
Part A: B. The journey feels positive and full of energy.
Part B: C. They run rejoicing, (Line 24)
Read lines 11 through 14 of the poem "Going Home (Burlington Route)."
I open my window and let the air blow in,
The air of morning,
That smells of grass and earth–
Earth, the grain-giver.
The poet uses a cause-and-effect organizational structure in these lines most likely to–
A. show how train travel makes the speaker appreciate the land
B. show the reader what passengers did on trains while traveling
C. show the reader how the weather changes during train travel
D. show what the speaker is looking at while traveling on the train
A. show how train travel makes the speaker appreciate the land
Why is the roadway described as "wide open" in line 5?
A. The train has reached the flat, open prairie
B. The train has crashed through a fence
C. The windows of the train are all open
D. There are no other trains on the track
A. The train has reached the flat, open prairie
What is the most likely reason the author wrote this poem?
A. To persuade people to buy tickets for the Burlington Route
B. To describe the sensory experience of a peaceful journey home
C. To explain the scientific process of how a train moves
D. To tell a story about a person who got lost on a train
B. To describe the sensory experience of a peaceful journey home
Read lines 13 and 14 from the poem.
That smells of grass and earth—
Earth, the grain-giver.
In these lines, the word grain-giver suggests that the speaker views the land as {CHOOSE ONE: dangerous, productive, colorful, empty} because it provides {CHOOSE ONE: water, shelter, food, wind}.
productive / food
Which lines from the poem "Going Home (Burlington Route)" use figurative language to build a sense of happiness?
A. The sharp curves and windings left behind,
The roadway wide open, (lines 4-5)
B. (The crooked straight
And the rough places plain.) (lines 6-7)
C. I open my window and let the air blow in,
The air of morning, (lines 11-12)
D. They spin bright along the bright rails,
singing and humming, (lines 20-21)
D. They spin bright along the bright rails,
singing and humming, (lines 20-21)
How does the structure of the poem help the reader understand the speaker's experience? Select TWO correct answers.
The short, choppy lines show that the speaker is nervous.
The repetition of "Singing and humming" mimics the sound of the train.
The use of stanzas separates the different days of the journey.
The consistent focus on smooth movement creates a feeling of calm.
The rhyming couplets explain the technical parts of the train engine.
The repetition of "Singing and humming" mimics the sound of the train.
The consistent focus on smooth movement creates a feeling of calm.
Based on the poem, the reader can conclude that the speaker —
A. prefers the city to the country
B. has traveled this path many times before
C. is a train conductor
D. does not like the smell of the morning air
B. has traveled this path many times before
Read lines 11 through 14 of the poem "Going Home (Burlington Route)."
I open my window and let the air blow in,
The air of morning,
That smells of grass and earth–
Earth, the grain-giver.
The poet uses a cause-and-effect organizational structure in these lines most likely
to–
A. show how train travel makes the speaker appreciate the land
B. show the reader what passengers did on trains while traveling
C. show the reader how the weather changes during train travel
D. show what the speaker is looking at while traveling on the train
A. show how train travel makes the speaker appreciate the land