In the Ebony Room

The poet titled this poem "In the Ebony Room" most likely because -

• the students and teachers fall asleep

• it is raining outside

• the students cannot go outside and play

• the classroom becomes dark

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

The reader can tell the poem is written in free-verse form because it does not have-

• a serious subject

• plot and conflict

• a rhyming pattern

• a common theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

The paragraph above the title of the poem is included to-

• help readers understand how the students feel about school

• show readers the appearance of the wooden shutters

• encourage the reader to think about their own classroom

• let the readers know why the classroom in Africa is dark

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

In the second stanza, how does the rain affect the students?

• they are fascinated by the noise of the storm

• they are happy to have a break from their lessons

• they are bored because recess has been cancelled

• they are upset because they must stay in their seats

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

Read these lines from the second stanza: On wooden desks students rest their heads. On wooden tables teachers rest their heads. The repetition in these lines emphasizes the idea that-

• school work is boring for students and teachers

• the desks are an uncomfortable place to rest

• the storm affects everyone in the classroom

• some students have nowhere to sit

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

The poet uses lines 29 through 33 to signal that the students change from-

• cheerful to disinterested

• sleepy to frustrated

• anxious to curious

• interested to bored

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

Line 34 states that the rain has "a mind of its own". Which of the following lines supports this image?

• And the whistling wind

• Stop, rain, stop

• I will rain till I'm through

• So in the dark room we nod and doze

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

What is a theme of the poem?

• Mother Nature can be cruel and unfair to the Earth.

• Rain often spoils fun for students.

• Students learn best in unpredictable environments.

• Rain is a gift that helps the Earth care for itself.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

Which of these lines from the poem helps the reader know what the word pupils means in line 28?

• On the wooden windpanes

• Stop, rain, stop

• Come back another day

• We cannot go home to our parents

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

What idea does the poet convey through the description of the weather in lines 2 through 9?

• That a rainstorm is coming

• That the teachers are concerned

• That the children are fearful

• That the school is unsafe

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4