Benchmark II Review: Poetry

What does the speaker mean in line 21 by saying, “The match was the plum of the season”?

• It should be an easy game for the Whippets to win.

• It was an opportunity for the Whippets to grow their audience.

• It was a highly anticipated game.

• It would provide a chance for the team to practice.

How do lines 37-40 impact the meaning of the poem?

• The lines clarify Joe’s experiences that prove he will do a great job.

• The lines confirm Joe’s desire to be a celebrated football player.

• The lines describe the impact the game’s atmosphere has on Joe.

• The lines emphasize the significance of the game in which Joe is playing.

How does the narrative form of the poem contribute to the meaning?

• The narrative form provides the reader with an understanding of the setting, characters, and chronological events.

• The narrative form provides the reader with an additional perspective of the characters’ motivations.

• The narrative form provides the reader with a regular rhyme scheme that makes the poem enjoyable to read.

• The narrative form provides the reader with the causes of the events that result in the main conflict of the poem.

In lines 29-32, what contrast is revealed between the points of view of Joe and his teammates?

• Joe did not want to be the goalkeeper because it was too stressful, but his teammates felt it was the one place where Joe would not have to know how to handle the ball.

• Joe knew that he could make a difference by scoring, but his teammates did not want him to take their positions on the team.

• None of his teammates wanted to be the goalkeeper because they wanted to be involved in the scoring, but Joe just wanted to be a part of the team no matter the role.

• None of his teammates had confidence that Joe could handle the job of the goalkeeper, but Joe knew he was prepared for the challenge.

24. Read lines 35-36.

Until feeling neglected and lonely,

He leaned back and went fast asleep.

How do these lines define Joe’s character?

• Joe is lazy and does not want to put in the work that will help him become a better football player.

• Joe is unconcerned with his team and unfamiliar with the concentration required to be a goalkeeper.

• Joe reluctantly accepts his substitute role on the team, and he refrains from causing any trouble.

• Joe requires an abundance of attention and reassurance, or he becomes disinterested in the game.

What is the meaning of the word clout as it is used in line 40?

• bounce

• hit

• scrape

• tug

Which quotation from the poem helps the reader understand the meaning of the word clout ?

• “…the ball that had struck him” (line 41)

• “…inside the net there it lay,” (line 42)

• “…first ball he’d punted in anger” (line 45)

• “…feelings he couldn’t restrain” (line 46)

In line 55, what is the effect of comparing Joe to Horatio Nelson?

• The comparison clarifies the strength Joe has as a football player.

• The comparison confirms Joe’s position as a leader on his team.

• The comparison emphasizes Joe’s confidence at that moment in the game.

• The comparison highlights the fear Joe generates in his opponents.

How would the meaning of the poem change if it was written about the photograph?

• The Swifts and the Whippets would work together to make sure that Joe had an appropriate spot on one of their teams.

• The news of Joe’s mistake would prevent him from being part of any football team in the future.

• The Whippet team’s unity would be strong, so Joe would not be abandoned by his team for the mistake that he made.

• The weather would not be the cause of Joe’s confusion, so he would not make the mistake of scoring in the wrong goal.