I Love the Look of Words

Popcorn leaps, popping from the floor

of a hot black skillet

and into my mouth. Black words leap,

snapping from the white page.

Why does the poet compare eating popcorn to reading books?

• To persuade children to like poetry.

• To show that all children like popcorn.

• To explain why reading makes you hungry.

• To help the reader visualize a reading experience.

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Rushing into my eyes. Sliding

into my brain which gobbles them

the way my tongue and teeth

chomp the buttered popcorn.

Which word describes the brain "reading" the words?

• rushing

• gobbles

• chomp

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When I have stopped reading,

ideas from the words stay stuck

in my mind, like the sweet

smell of butter perfuming my

fingers long after the popcorn is finished.

The word perfuming means...

• chewing

• popping

• scenting

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I love the book and the look of words

the weight of ideas that popped into my mind

I love the tracks

of new thinking in my mind.

Which word describes the feeling the poet creates?

• enjoyment

• confusion

• sadness

• unease

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CCSS.RL.3.4

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CCSS.RL.4.4

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What kind of poem is this?

• Lyrical

• Narrative

• Free Verse

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What is the main message of Maya Angelou's poem?

• Words leap off the page.

• Reading can be an enjoyable activity.

• Popcorn is a healthy snack.

• Reading is difficult.

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Popcorn leaps, popping from the floor

of a hot black skillet

These lines from the poem describe...

• what popcorn tastes like.

• what popcorn looks like.

• what popcorn smells like.

• what popcorn feels like.

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CCSS.RL.3.4

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How does Maya Angelou probably feel about books?

• She thinks they are boring.

• She wonders why anyone would read them.

• She loves them.

• She would rather watch a movie.

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CCSS.RL.8.3