Word Choice

Word Choice

RL 8.4

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the impact of the meadows and gardens metaphor?

• A The metaphor completes the image developed in the first three lines of the poem.

• B The metaphor starkly contrasts with the description in the first three lines of the poem.

• C The metaphor is frightening and creates a jarring image that is completely disconnected from the earlier description.

• D The metaphor reveals that the speaker is confused or in conflict with her feelings about the seeds

Multiple Choice

Reread lines 3–6 from the poem.

One group of trees, lean,

naked and cold,

Inking their cress ‘gainst a

sky green-gold;

What does the word cress mean in the context of these lines?

• A dark clouds at sunset

• B long tree shadows

• C soft wind sounds

• D bare black branches

Multiple Choice

2 Which phrase from the poem best helps the reader understand the

meaning of inking their cress, which question 1 asked about?

• A “Yet chased by a whisper, a sigh”

• B “One group of trees, lean, naked and cold”

• C “Lonely, apart, unyielding, one fir”

• D “ere the fields went brown”

Multiple Choice

Which of the phrases from the poem best helps the reader to understand the meaning of the phrase “restless surge” in line 16?

• A “A pillar of fire by night”

• B “that rises and subsides”

• C “from each projecting cape”

• D “a dim, gigantic shape”

Multiple Choice

2 Reread lines 17–20 from the poem.

Like the great giant Christopher it stands

Upon the brink of the tempestuous wave, Wading far out among the rocks and sands,

The night-o’ertaken mariner to save.

Which of the following statements about the stanza is accurate?

• A The stanza compares a legendary giant named Christopher to the tempestuous waves in which he stands.

• B The stanza compares the lighthouse to a giant named Christopher who watches over sailors in their ships on the high seas

• C The stanza compares the lighthouse to Saint Christopher and provides a comforting image of a giant wading out to save sailors

• D The stanza describes the brave efforts of a lighthouse keeper named Christopher to save a drowning sailor

Multiple Choice

3 Reread lines 33–36 of the poem. What do the words and phrases reveal about the speaker’s attitude toward the lighthouse?

• A The speaker views the lighthouse as a thing of the past that has outlived its usefulness.

• B The speaker admires the lighthouse for its reliability and as a source of comfort.

• C The speaker dwells on the unrelenting nature of the lighthouse’s light, as if tired of it.

• D The speaker is bored by the sameness of the lighthouse and its performance.

Multiple Choice

4 Which phrase from the poem best helps the reader to understand the meaning of inextinguishable in line 36

• A “Gleam for a moment only”

• B “through all the silent night”

• C “Burns on forevermore”

• D “with the kiss of peace”