John's Pumpkins Poetry

John's Pumpkins Poetry

Multiple Choice

This question has two parts. First answer Part A, then answer Part B.

Part A

What is the theme of the poem?

• One should be respectful by returning a found item to the person who lost it.

• One can become sad when a situation does not end up as expected.

• One will bring another joy by surprising him or her with an unexpected gift.

• One may not reach a goal when a task is completed too slowly.

Multiple Choice

Part B

Which set of lines from the poem best supports the answer to Part A?

• “Till by and by there came a flower

  The color of the sun,

  Which withered up, and then I saw

  The pumpkin was begun;” (lines 17-20)

• “But oh! I knew I’d have to wait

  So long to have my fun,

  Before that small green ball could be

  A great big yellow one.” (lines 21-24)

• “Said Aunt Matilda: ‘John, I found

  A pumpkin, high and dry,

  Upon a pile of rubbish, down

  Behind that worn-out sty!’” (lines 33-36)

• “O, dear, I didn’t cry, because

  I’m quite too big to cry,

  But, honestly, I couldn’t eat

  A mouthful of the pie.” (lines 37-40)

Multiple Select

Which two sets of lines from the poem support the inference that John was patient in caring for his pumpkin?

• “And plant it in a secret place,

  That no one else would know,” (lines 3-4)

• “And watch all summer long to see

  It grow, and grow, and grow,” (lines 5-6)

• “I stuck a stick beside the seed,

  And thought that I should shout” (lines 9-10)

• “Which withered up, and then I saw

  The pumpkin was begun;” (lines 19-20)

• “But oh! I knew I’d have to wait So long to have my fun,” (lines 21-22)

Multiple Choice

What can the reader infer about John based on lines 9-16?

• John enjoyed singing loudly while he took care of his growing pumpkin.

• John looked after his pumpkin carefully and was proud of his hard work.

• John thought his pumpkin was growing slowly and wanted it to grow faster.

• John spent time caring for his pumpkin because he had very few friends.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the word proper as it is used in line 26?

• delicious; tasty

• happy; delighted

• popular; favorite

• right; correct

Multiple Choice

Which choice describes John at the end of the poem?

• John was mad with himself for not hiding his pumpkin in a more secretive spot.

• John was confused and troubled by the fact that his pumpkin had grown to such a large size.

• John was shocked and disappointed that his aunt had turned his pumpkin into pies.

• John was angry with his aunt for using his pumpkin to make pies instead of a Jack-a-lantern.

Multiple Choice

What does the poet mean by lines 23-24?

• The pumpkin will roll away if unwatched.

• The pumpkin will look different than other pumpkins.

• The pumpkin will get larger over time.

• The pumpkin will be an enjoyable toy with which to play.

Multiple Choice

How do lines 1-8 contribute to the overall structure of the poem?

• The lines introduce how the main characters are connected in the poem.

• The lines explain how the main character’s problem is solved.

• The lines provide background information about the main character’s actions.

• The lines describe the conflict the main characters face in the poem.