John's Pumpkin CASE Poem

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.

Which set of lines from the poem BEST tells about the theme of the poem? (Sometimes you can get sad if things don't go your way).

• “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)

How was John able to remember where he planted this pumpkin seed?

• John left a green ball near the spot.

• John put his watering can near the spot.

• John put a stick in the ground near the spot.

• John left a picture of a Jack-a-lantern near the spot.

Based on the poem, which choice describes Aunt Matilda?

• Aunt Matilda was unaware that John had grown the pumpkin.

• Aunt Matilda was a talented baker of pumpkin pies.

• Aunt Matilda wondered why John had hidden the pumpkin.

• Aunt Matilda preferred not to eat her own pumpkin pies.

What is the meaning of the phrase "high and dry" as it is used in line 34?

• fully protected from the weather

• all alone and out of place

• at a height that cannot be reached

• thrown out and unwanted

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.