Word
Power
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
Justification: "rough places" becoming "plain" refers to terrain becoming level.
The poet uses parantheses 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 roads looks now
Justification: Parentheses provide descriptive aside info about the landscape change
In line 18, 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
Justification: Line 20 explicitly uses "like 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
Justification: Crossing the river is a milestone that the speaker recognizes even in sleep.
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
Justification: Repetition emphasizes the transition into a familiar / peaceful state
In line 20, 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
Justification: Spin describes the circular motion of wheels on a track
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
Justification: the poet uses the simile "They run like running water" to suggest the train's movement is "continuous and effortless". Just as water flows without stopping, this simile emphasizes that the train does not jolt or struggle.
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
Justification: The poet repeats the first two lines of the poem in lines 15 and 16 to "emphasize the steady, peaceful rhythm of the trainjourney." In poetry, repetition often creates a "mantra" or rhythm that reflects the physical experience of the smooth, steady train.
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
Justification: Mentioning a "sleeper" and "opening my window" implies a passenger car.
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
Justification: Onomatopoeia-like words create the auditory rhythm of the train.
In line 10, the word weary-hearted most likely describes someone who is --
A. feeling very energetic and excited
B. tired and discourged 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
Justification: in line 10, the poet uses the word "weary-hearted" to describe a traveler who is "tired and discouraged from a long journey." The word "weary" serves as a context clue meaning tired, and when paired with "hearted," it suggests a deep exhaustion often felt by travelers at the end of a long trip.
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
Justification: the imagery "Singing and humming" in lines 21 and 22 appeals to the reader's sense of hearing. These are specific auditory details that the reader would imagine hearing during the train ride.
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)
Justification: Line 11, "I open my window and let the air blow in", signals a change in the speaker's actions. This is the first time the speaker takes a physical action to engage directly with the outside environment.
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
Justification: The title sets the purpose for the train's "rejoicing" and the speaker's peace.
Why does the poet compare the train to "Youth" in line 19?
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
Justification: Youth is often associated with speed, energy, and "running away."
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
Justification: In lines 8 through 14, the poet uses the words noise and wake (9 and 10) to help the reader to determine that the meaning of the word jolting is "rough." This contrasting word helps emphasize the smooth and quiet movement of the train.
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)
Justification: Figurative language is language that uses the words that mean something different from their literal interpretation. In lines 20 and 21, the poet uses personification to describe the wheels of the train as "spin[ning] bright along the bright rails" and "singing and humming." The word bright has a connotation of liveliness, and the words sining and humming make the wheels seem alive and joyful.
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
Justification: The train travel makes the speaker want to “open my window and let the air blow in” and take in the “smells of grass and earth.” This action causes the speaker to feel an appreciation for 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
Justification: "Beyond the Missouri" refers to the Great Plains where the land opens up.
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
Justification: The poem is a descriptive, lyrical account of an experience, not an argument or manual.
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, empy} because it provides {CHOOSE ONE: water, shelter, food, wind}.
productive / food
Justification: In lines 13 and 14, the speaker refers to the earth as the "grain-giver". This term implies that the land produces crops (grain), making it a productive source of food.
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)
Justification:
Part A: By attributing the human emotion of "gladness" to the wheels, the poet uses personification to show that the journey feels "positive and full of energy", reflecting the speaker's excitement.
Part B: Line 24, "They run rejoicing", uses "rejoicing" as another human emotion to describe the train's movement, mirroring the use of "glad" in Part A.
How does the structure of the poem help the reader understand the speaker's experience? Select TWO correct answers.
A. The short, choppy lines show that the speaker is nervous.
B. The repetition of "Singing and humming" mimics the sound of the train.
C. The use of stanzas separates the different days of the journey.
D. The consistent focus on smooth movement creates a feeling of calm.
E. The rhyming couplets explain the technical parts of the train engine.
B. The repetition of "Singing and humming" mimics the sound of the train.
D. The consistent focus on smooth movement creates a feeling of calm.
Justification: The repetition of "Singing and humming" provides an auditory mimicry of the train's sound, and the consistent focus on smooth movement throughout the poem creates a feeling of calm for the reader. These structural elements define the reader's experience of the journey.
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
Justification: "Even in my sleep I know" implies a very familiar, repeated route.
Based on the last stanza, how does the speaker feel about the train's journey?
smooth, happy, positive