“In Winter the Steep Lane”

1st 9 Weeks Test
“In Winter the Steep Lane”

Multiple Choice

17. Read lines 3-7.

it brings me to my hands and dodgy knees absurd under trees tall as the sky

What is the effect of the simile in these lines?

• A It describes the distance between the man and the trees that could help him get to his feet.

• B It provides the perspective of the trees from the ground where the man has found himself.

• C It highlights the wide-open spaces around the man as he takes his walk.

• D It emphasizes the amount of time the man has lived in his home.

Multiple Choice

18. Read line 12.

young old man

What is the meaning of the contrasting description?

• A The situation has caused the speaker to walk hunched over.

• B The beauty of nature has caused the speaker to feel energized.

• C The speaker is aware that his days as a child are over.

• D The speaker is concerned he will not make it safely to his destination.

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Multiple Choice

19. Which lines from the poem provide context to support the answer chosen in Part A?

• A “tall as the sky a mile or two to go” (lines 7-8)

• B “then scramble to my feet but stay low,” (lines 10-11)

• C “I stop at a dry stone wall then step” (lines 13-14)

• D “to a field that might be snow” (lines 22-23)

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Multiple Choice

20. How do lines 21-23 contribute to the poem’s theme?

• A by showing that scouting out the journey is part of moving forward

• B by showing the necessity of pausing before making decisions

• C by showing how devastating a setback can be to one’s confidence

• D by showing the value of appreciating the uncertainty of nature

Multiple Choice

21. Which lines from the poem support the inference that the poem takes place at night?

• A “it brings me to my hands and dodgy knees” (lines 3-5)

• B “owl call far city constellation” (lines 18-20)

• C “then down to a field that might be snow” (lines 21-23)

• D “nothing to do but keep going” (lines 24-25)