POETIC TEXT STRUCTURED
What is an end-stopped line in poetry?
a) A line that ends with a punctuation mark, creating a pause or break in the reading.
b) A line that continues without pause or break into the next line.
c) A line that repeats a word or phrase for emphasis.
d) A line that uses vivid imagery to create a mental picture.
Answer: a) A line that ends with a punctuation mark, creating a pause or break in the reading.
Explanation: An end-stopped line in poetry is a line that comes to a complete pause or break at the end, usually marked by a punctuation mark such as a period, comma, or semicolon. This pause allows the reader to take a breath and reflect on the meaning of the line before moving on to the next line.
How does the speaker feel about their past experience of living on coffee and bread?
a) Regretful
b) Nostalgic
c) Content
d) Resentful
Answer: b) Nostalgic
Explanation: The speaker expresses nostalgia for the years they lived on coffee and bread, indicating that they have fond memories of that time.
What is the main theme of the short story "Money"?
a) The importance of saving money
b) The struggles of a working-class family
c) The generosity of strangers
d) The power dynamics between parents and children
Answer: b) The struggles of a working-class family.
Explanation: The story explores the challenges faced by a family in managing their finances and dealing with the constant presence of needy callers.
What is the main theme of the poem "Avarice"?
a) Greed
b) Love
c) Family
d) Nature
Answer: a) Greed
Explanation: The main theme of the poem "Avarice" is greed, as shown through the speaker's actions of hoarding and counting valuable items.
What does the speaker of “Avarice” list?
a. things the girl has desired
b. men the girl has married
c. people the girl has hurt
d. food the girl has eaten
a. things the girl has desired
What is an enjambed line in poetry?
a) A line that ends with a punctuation mark, creating a pause or break in the reading.
b) A line that continues without pause or break into the next line.
c) A line that repeats a word or phrase for emphasis.
d) A line that uses vivid imagery to create a mental picture.
Answer: b) A line that continues without pause or break into the next line.
Explanation: An enjambed line in poetry is a line that does not have a pause or break at the end, but instead continues into the next line without any punctuation. This creates a sense of continuity and flow in the poem, as the reader's eye and voice move smoothly from one line to the next.
What is the main theme of the poem "The Good Life"?
a) The importance of money in one's life
b) The struggle of living with limited resources
c) The joy of indulging in luxury
d) The nostalgia for a simpler time
Answer: d) The nostalgia for a simpler time
Explanation: The poem explores the speaker's experience of living with limited resources and the nostalgia they feel for a simpler time when they had to survive on coffee and bread.
What does the mother do with the money she receives from the children's father?
a) Saves it in a bank account for each child
b) Spends it on household expenses
c) Buys herself a sewing machine
d) Gives it to the needy callers at the door
Answer: a) Saves it in a bank account for each child.
Explanation: The mother opens a savings account for each child and deposits the money she receives from their father into those accounts.
How many engagement rings does the speaker count?
a) Eight
b) Twelve
c) Sixteen
d) Twenty
Answer: a) Eight
Explanation: The speaker counts at least eight engagement rings multiple times a day.
In “Money,” which people come to the door while the family is eating? Choose two options.
a. members of the Church
b. a man seeking yard work
c. boys paid to mow the lawn
d. a boy with a tattered booklet
e. women wanting sewing work
b. a man seeking yard work
d. a boy with a tattered booklet
Which of the following lines from the poem "Avarice" by Yusef Komunyakaa is an example of an enjambed line?
a) "& hid them in a Prince Albert can"
b) "At least twelve times a day."
c) "Locked in the beauty of her bones,"
d) "On a sill crisscrossing the house"
Answer: d) "On a sill crisscrossing the house"
Explanation: This line does not have a pause or break at the end, but instead continues into the next line without any punctuation. The reader's eye and voice flow smoothly from "On a sill crisscrossing the house" to the next line.
What does the comparison of money to a "mysterious lover" suggest?
a) Money is unpredictable and unreliable
b) Money brings excitement and adventure
c) Money is elusive and hard to understand
d) Money is essential for a fulfilling life
Answer: a) Money is unpredictable and unreliable
Explanation: The comparison suggests that money can be unpredictable and unreliable, just like a mysterious lover who disappears without warning.
Why are the children forced to save their money instead of spending it?
a) To learn the value of money
b) To buy something special in the future
c) To help support the family financially
d) To donate it to charity
Answer: a) To learn the value of money.
Explanation: The children are taught the importance of saving money and are encouraged to save instead of spending it right away.
What does the speaker do with the peach?
a) She eats it
b) She throws it away
c) She weighs it until it rots
d) She gives it to her brother
Answer: c) She weighs it until it rots
Explanation: The speaker weighs a peach in her hands until it rots.
If a man stares at the display in a shop’s window with avarice, which of the following statements is most likely to be true? Base your answer on the meaning of avarice.
a. He is attracted by the pretty display of items.
b. He is interested only in the display’s food items.
c. He very much wants what he sees in the display.
d. He cannot afford anything displayed in the window.
c. He very much wants what he sees in the display.
What effect does an end-stopped line have on the reader?
a) It creates a sense of continuity and flow in the poem.
b) It emphasizes the words or ideas at the end of the line.
c) It creates a pause or break, allowing the reader to reflect on the previous line.
d) It adds complexity and depth to the overall meaning of the poem.
Answer: c) It creates a pause or break, allowing the reader to reflect on the previous line.
Explanation: An end-stopped line creates a pause or break in the reading, which allows the reader to take a moment to reflect on the previous line. This pause can emphasize the words or ideas at the end of the line and add depth to the overall meaning of the poem.
What does the phrase "roast chicken and red wine" symbolize in the poem?
a) The speaker's desire for luxury
b) The speaker's longing for a balanced meal
c) The speaker's celebration of small pleasures
d) The speaker's memories of abundance
Answer: c) The speaker's celebration of small pleasures
Explanation: The phrase "roast chicken and red wine" symbolizes the speaker's celebration of small pleasures and moments of indulgence in their otherwise difficult life.
How do the children feel when the needy callers come to the door?
a) Comforted and curious
b) Annoyed and frustrated
c) Sympathetic and compassionate
d) Indifferent and uninterested
Answer: a) Comforted and curious.
Explanation: The children feel a sense of comfort in the authority of their parents when dealing with the needy callers and also express curiosity about who will be at the door.
What does the speaker do with the porcelain buttons from her sister's christening gown?
a) She sells them for money
b) She hides them in a can
c) She throws them away
d) She gives them to her sister
Answer: b) She hides them in a can
Explanation: The speaker chews off the porcelain buttons from her sister's christening gown and hides them in a Prince Albert can.
The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.
Part A Which best describes the girl’s desire in “Avarice”?
a. She wishes to hurt what she desires, not caress it.
b. She wishes to acquire what she desires, not enjoy it.
c. She wishes to share what she desires, not hoard it.
d. She wishes to love what she desires, not reject it.
Part B Which detail from “Avarice” best supports the answer to Part A?
a. She takes the buttons from her sister’s christening gown.
b. She buries the june bugs she takes from her brother.
c. She has been engaged more than once.
d. She admires the glimmer of her brother’s june bugs.
b. She wishes to acquire what she desires, not enjoy it.
b. She buries the june bugs she takes from her brother.
What effect does an enjambed line have on the reader?
a) It creates a sense of continuity and flow in the poem.
b) It emphasizes the words or ideas at the end of the line.
c) It creates a pause or break, allowing the reader to reflect on the previous line.
d) It adds complexity and depth to the overall meaning of the poem.
Answer: a) It creates a sense of continuity and flow in the poem.
Explanation: An enjambed line creates a sense of continuity and flow in the poem, as the reader's eye and voice move smoothly from one line to the next without any pause or break. This can contribute to the overall rhythm and musicality of the poem.
What is the overall tone of the poem?
a) Nostalgic
b) Hopeful
c) Bitter
d) Reflective
Answer: a) Nostalgic
Explanation: The poem has a nostalgic tone as the speaker reflects on their past experiences of living with limited resources and expresses longing for that time.
What is the overall message or lesson conveyed in the story "Money"?
a) Money can bring both joy and hardship
b) Generosity should be extended to those in need
c) Saving money is the key to financial stability
d) The value of hard work and perseverance
Answer: a) Money can bring both joy and hardship.
Explanation: The story highlights the various encounters the family has with people seeking money or selling items, showcasing the complex emotions and challenges associated with money.
Based on the poem, what can you infer about the speaker's character?
a) She is generous and selfless
b) She is materialistic and obsessed with possessions
c) She is indifferent and careless
d) She is sentimental and nostalgic
Answer: b) She is materialistic and obsessed with possessions
Explanation: Based on the poem, the speaker's actions of hoarding and counting valuable items suggest that she is materialistic and obsessed with possessions.
The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.
Part A In “Money,” which detail best suggests that the mother and father are carefully frugal and not simply hard-hearted?
a. They never splurge on frivolous things like cookies or raffle tickets.
b. The father goes to work every weekday and most Saturdays.
c. They do not spoil their children by purchasing fancy things.
d. The mother puts money in a sealed envelope for the Church.
Part B Which quotation from “Money” best supports the answer to Part A?
a. The children start to eat and don’t ask anything, because the boy was just a boy, but their father acts irritated and hasty when he sits back down.
b. She buys fabric and thread and patterns and makes dresses for the girls, to save money.
c. Their mother opened a savings account for each child and into each put the first five dollars.
d. The doorbell would ring, the familiar surprise of it, who would it be, and someone would be holding a little worn book or a bundle of dishtowels.…
c. They do not spoil their children by purchasing fancy things.
b. She buys fabric and thread and patterns and makes dresses for the girls, to save money.