Poems
How many times should you read a poem?
At least twice?
What is tone?
The authors attitude towards the text.
Examples of Tone:
What is the central idea?
What the text is mostly about?
What is figurative language?
Language that uses words in a non-literal way to create deeper meaning, stronger imagery, or emphasis. It means the writer is not saying exactly what the words literally mean.
In what type of text do we typically see arguments and claims?
Persuasive Texts.
What should you read for in the first read?
What should you read for in the second read?
literal meaning
deeper meaning
The Last Train Station
Beneath the station’s vaulted dome,
The lamps exhaled a pallid glow.
Their trembling light on benches worn
Revealed the dust of years below.
A porter swept in measured strokes,
His footsteps hushed, his shoulders bent.
The clock above, with solemn hands,
Counted each vanished moment spent.
Beyond the glass, the iron rails
Extended through the misted night.
No whistle broke the waiting air,
No lantern cast approaching light.
Yet still one woman kept her seat,
Her gloved hands folded, calm and still.
She watched the dark with steadfast eyes,
As silence pressed against her will.
1. What is the tone of the poem?
A. Joyful and energetic
B. Tense and humorous
C. Somber and reflective
D. Angry and chaotic
C. Somber and reflective
The Price of Convenience
When the first self-checkout machines appeared in grocery stores, many shoppers viewed them as little more than a novelty. Customers approached the glowing screens with curiosity, scanning items slowly while attendants hovered nearby to explain each step. Over time, however, these machines became a common feature of modern retail. Today, in many stores, rows of self-checkout stations outnumber traditional cashier lanes, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward speed, independence, and automation.
Supporters of self-checkout technology argue that it benefits both businesses and consumers. For companies, automated lanes can reduce labor costs and allow fewer employees to manage larger areas of the store. For customers purchasing only a few items, self-checkout often provides a faster alternative to waiting in long lines. Some shoppers also prefer the privacy and control these systems offer. They can bag groceries according to personal preference, move at their own pace, and avoid unnecessary conversation after a long day.
Yet the convenience of self-checkout has introduced new concerns. Critics note that machines often transfer responsibilities once handled by paid workers onto customers who receive no discount or compensation. Shoppers are expected to scan, bag, troubleshoot errors, and sometimes verify identification for restricted purchases. At the same time, stores may reduce staffing levels, limiting assistance for elderly customers, people with disabilities, or anyone unfamiliar with the technology. What appears efficient for some may become frustrating or exclusionary for others.
There are also economic and social consequences to consider. Cashier positions have traditionally offered entry-level employment for students, retirees, and individuals seeking flexible work. As automation expands, these opportunities may shrink. In addition, routine exchanges between workers and customers—brief greetings, shared jokes, simple conversations—can quietly strengthen a sense of community. When machines replace those moments, shopping may become quicker, but also more impersonal.
The debate surrounding self-checkout is not truly about scanning groceries. It reflects a larger question society continues to face: when technology can make life faster and cheaper, what forms of human labor, connection, and accessibility are people willing to surrender in return?
Multiple Choice Questions
What is the central idea of the passage?
A. Self-checkout machines should be removed from all stores immediately.
B. Self-checkout technology offers convenience, but it also creates social and economic trade-offs.
C. Grocery stores make too much money from automation.
D. Customers dislike learning new technology
B. Self-checkout technology offers convenience, but it also creates social and economic trade-offs.
Where do we see a lot of figurative language?
Poems
The Illusion of “Instant Decisions”
In a world where notifications, deadlines, and constant updates compete for attention, people often believe that the best decisions are made quickly. Many argue that being able to act fast is a sign of confidence and intelligence. However, research in psychology and behavioral economics suggests that rushed decisions are often shaped more by emotion than logic, and they can lead to outcomes people later regret.
One major concern is that quick decisions are often influenced by cognitive bias. Cognitive bias refers to mental shortcuts the brain uses to simplify information. While these shortcuts can be helpful in daily life, they can also distort judgment. For example, a person might choose a product simply because it is labeled “most popular,” without considering whether it is actually the best choice for their needs. In this way, speed can sometimes replace careful thinking.
Another issue is the role of emotional pressure. When people feel stressed or excited, they tend to prioritize immediate relief or reward over long-term consequences. This is why impulsive purchases, sudden arguments, or snap judgments often happen in moments of heightened emotion. In contrast, individuals who take time to pause and evaluate options are more likely to consider consequences and alternative perspectives.
Some critics argue that overthinking can be just as harmful as rushing. They claim that too much analysis can lead to “paralysis by analysis,” where people avoid making decisions altogether. While this concern is valid, experts suggest that thoughtful decision-making does not require endless hesitation. Instead, it involves slowing down just enough to evaluate key information before acting.
Ultimately, the ability to make strong decisions is not about speed—it is about balance. The most effective decision-makers are those who can recognize when to act quickly and when to pause, reflect, and think critically about the consequences of their choices.
Which claim supports evidence that cognitive bias can affect decision-making accuracy?
A. People should always trust their instincts without question.
B. Quick decisions are often influenced by mental shortcuts that distort judgment.
C. Technology has eliminated poor decision-making.
D. Emotions never affect choices.
B. Quick decisions are often influenced by mental shortcuts that distort judgment.
What questions can you ask yourself to help you with the literal meaning?
Who, what, when, where, why and how?
Which detail best supports the overall tone of the poem?
A. “The lamps exhaled a pallid glow”
B. “The porter swept in measured strokes”
C. “No whistle broke the waiting air”
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Which sentence best supports the central idea?
A. “Customers approached the glowing screens with curiosity...”
B. “Some shoppers also prefer the privacy and control these systems offer.”
C. “Shopping may become quicker, but also more impersonal.”
D. “Rows of self-checkout stations outnumber traditional cashier lanes...”
C. “Shopping may become quicker, but also more impersonal.”
What are three types of figurative language?
1. Simile
Compares two things using like or as.
Her smile was as bright as the sun.
2. Metaphor
Compares two things without using like or as.
Time is a thief.
3. Personification
Gives human traits to nonhuman things.
The wind whispered through the trees.
4. Hyperbole
Extreme exaggeration.
I’ve told you a million times.
5. Idiom
A phrase whose meaning is different from the literal words.
It’s raining cats and dogs.
6. Alliteration
Repeated beginning consonant sounds.
Peter Piper picked peppers.
7. Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate sounds.
Buzz, crash, hiss
Which quote provides support for the claim that emotions can lead to impulsive decisions?
A. “Cognitive bias refers to mental shortcuts the brain uses to simplify information.”
B. “Individuals who take time to pause and evaluate options are more likely to consider consequences.”
C. “When people feel stressed or excited, they tend to prioritize immediate relief or reward over long-term consequences.”
D. “The ability to make strong decisions is not about speed—it is about balance.”
C. “When people feel stressed or excited, they tend to prioritize immediate relief or reward over long-term consequences.”
The Watcher on the Hill
Upon the ridge where night winds sighed,
Old Mara climbed the path with pride.
The heavens wore a somber veil,
And distant thunder crossed the vale.
Below, the village sealed each door,
And feared the tempest’s rising roar.
Yet Mara knew through murky air
Lost travelers wandered in despair.
She bore a lantern, slight yet clear,
Whose radiant beam subdued their fear.
Though burdened limbs and breath grown slow
Made arduous each step below,
Still upward through the dark she pressed,
With constant courage in her chest.
For when the world is overcast,
What is the meaning of somber in line 3?
A. Bright and cheerful
B. Dark and serious
C. Loud and violent
D. Warm and peaceful
B. Dark and serious
What impact does the phrase “pallid glow” in line 2 have on the tone?
A. It creates a cheerful tone by showing warmth and comfort.
B. It creates a gloomy tone by emphasizing weak, pale light.
C. It creates an exciting tone by showing movement.
D. It creates a proud tone by highlighting wealth.
B. It creates a gloomy tone by emphasizing weak, pale light.
How does paragraph 3 contribute to the development of the central idea?
A. It explains only the history of grocery stores.
B. It introduces drawbacks of self-checkout, showing convenience can come with costs.
C. It proves machines are always better than workers.
D. It changes the topic to customer service training.
B. It introduces drawbacks of self-checkout, showing convenience can come with costs.
Winter Street
The morning dragged its silver feet,
Through alleys dim and narrow.
The rooftops wore a coat of frost,
Each chimney stark and bare.
The sun, a reluctant traveler,
Peered over rows of stone.
Its pale hands touched the frozen road,
Then vanished, quickly gone.
A vendor called through brittle air,
His voice a cracking flame.
And windows blinked with amber eyes
As life returned again
What is an example of figurative language in the poem?
A. “Through alleys dim and narrow”
B. “The morning dragged its silver feet”
C. “Then vanished, quickly gone”
D. “His voice a cracking flame”
B. “The morning dragged its silver feet”
Which quote provides evidence that rushed decisions may lead to regret or poor outcomes?
A. “Many argue that being able to act fast is a sign of confidence and intelligence.”
B. “Rushed decisions are often shaped more by emotion than logic, and they can lead to outcomes people later regret.”
C. “Decision-making does not require endless hesitation.”
D. “Some critics argue that overthinking can be just as harmful as rushing.”
B. “Rushed decisions are often shaped more by emotion than logic, and they can lead to outcomes people later regret.”
How do lines 9–10 contribute to the development of the theme?
"She bore a lantern, slight yet clear, / Whose radiant beam subdued their fear."
A. They show that small acts can bring comfort and hope.
B. They explain that Mara wanted attention.
C. They show the lantern was dangerous.
D. They suggest travelers feared Mara.
A. They show that small acts can bring comfort and hope.
What impact does the phrase “Counted each vanished moment spent” in line 8 have on the tone?
A. It creates a playful tone by personifying the clock.
B. It creates a reflective tone by emphasizing time passing and loss.
C. It creates a hopeful tone by suggesting new beginnings.
D. It creates a peaceful tone by describing nature.
B. It creates a reflective tone by emphasizing time passing and loss.
Which statement best expresses the author’s perspective?
A. Technology should always replace people when possible.
B. Technology is harmful in every situation.
C. Technological convenience should be examined alongside its human consequences.
D. Grocery stores should ban customers from using machines.
C. Technological convenience should be examined alongside its human consequences.
Winter Street
The morning dragged its silver feet,
Through alleys dim and narrow.
The rooftops wore a coat of frost,
Each chimney stark and bare.
The sun, a reluctant traveler,
Peered over rows of stone.
Its pale hands touched the frozen road,
Then vanished, quickly gone.
A vendor called through brittle air,
His voice a cracking flame.
And windows blinked with amber eyes
As life returned again.What does the phrase “The morning dragged its silver feet” in line 1 mean?
A. The morning was running quickly.
B. Someone was walking through the street.
C. The morning seemed slow and cold as the day began.
D. The street was made of silver.
C. The morning seemed slow and cold as the day began.
Which quote supports the author’s disbelief in the claim that quick decisions are always better?
A. “Many argue that being able to act fast is a sign of confidence and intelligence.”
B. “The most effective decision-makers are those who can recognize when to act quickly and when to pause.”
C. “Cognitive bias refers to mental shortcuts the brain uses.”
D. “Overthinking can be just as harmful as rushing.”
B. “The most effective decision-makers are those who can recognize when to act quickly and when to pause.”