A Thousand to One

“A Thousand to One”

by Berton Braley

Multiple Choice

11. Which statement summarizes the poem?

• A People with hopeless views of what is possible outnumber those with hopeful views, but it is the hopeful people who have positive influences.

• B While optimistic people can seem unrealistic and too hopeful, they are good friends and worth getting to know.

• C The people who say something cannot be done may be frustrating, but they are right because few people reach their dreams

• D Optimistic people are more common than negative people, and that is why the world remains a mostly hopeful place.

Multiple Choice

12. What is a theme of the poem?

• A Dreams must be realistic to be accomplished.

• B Hard work will always lead to achieving one’s goals.

• C Other people’s opinions do not matter.

• D Believing in possibilities is valuable.

Multiple Choice

13. Which evidence from the poem supports the answer chosen in Part A?

• A “There’s a thousand ‘Can’t-be-done-ers’ For the one who says ‘It can!’” (lines 1-2)

• B “For the ‘Can’t-be-done-ers’ grumble, And hamper, oppose and doubt,” (lines 5-6)

• C “For the ‘Can’t-be-done-ers’ mutter While the ‘Can-be’s’ cool, sublime, Make their ‘notions’ work till the others smirk.” (lines 13-15)

• D “But it’s better to be a ‘Can-be,’ And labor and dream—and die, Than one who runs with the ‘Can’t-be-done’s’” (lines 21-23)

Multiple Choice

14. What is the meaning of the phrase “deeds that count” in line 3?

• A good work done for fame

• B actions that earn money

• C new ideas

• D accomplishments that matter

Multiple Choice

15. Read lines 5-6 from the poem. For the “Can’t-be-done-ers” grumble, And hamper, oppose and doubt, How does the word choice impact the tone?

• A by creating an excited tone

• B by creating a grateful tone

• C by creating a critical tone

• D by creating a hateful tone

Multiple Choice

16. Read lines 15-16 from the poem. Make their “notions” work till the others smirk. “Oh, we knew it all the time!” How do these lines contribute to the overall meaning of the poem?

• A The “Can’t-be-done-ers” pretend they expected a positive outcome when “Can-bes” succeed.

• B The “Can’t-be-done-ers” only pretend to be negative but are actually hopeful people.

• C The “Can-bes” could not succeed without the support of the “Can’t-be-done-ers.”

• D The “Can’t-be-done-ers” and the “Can-bes” are actually very similar.

Multiple Choice

17. What does the speaker mean by saying “And it’s mighty few who see their dreams come true/Or hear fame’s trumpet call” in lines 19-20?

• A Only people who work hard will reach their goals.

• B Most people do not achieve their dreams or become famous.

• C Negative people will never reach their goals.

• D Reaching dreams leads to being popular.

Multiple Choice

18. What is the meaning of the word pluck as it is used in line 24?

• A wisdom

• B fame

• C dreams

• D courage

Multiple Choice

19. How does the speaker’s point of view shift in the final stanza?

• A The speaker shifts from confident in the “Can-be’s” ability to accomplish goals to cautionary that hope is valuable even apart from outcomes.

• B The speaker shifts from encouraging readers to be “Can-bes” to warning them about the downsides of having that positive mindset.

• C The speaker shifts from focusing only on the negative aspects of “Can’t-be-done-ers” to focusing on the positive aspects of “Can-bes.”

• D The speaker shifts from looking at the differences between “Can’t-be-done-ers” and “Can-bes” to looking at their similarities.