Poetry_ Lessons and Family Strings

1. Lines 1 and 2 help the reader determine that Mrs. Graham --

• is skilled at playing the piano

• enjoys both music and dance

• is playing a song at a fast pace

• likes creating her own songs

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

2. The second stanza suggests that he speaker--

• wants to take lessons with Mrs. Graham more often

• uses homework as an excuse for not practicing

• wants to play the piano better than he does

• has become tired of practicing the piano every day

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

3. Mrs. Graham's dialogue with Ruben shows that she is --

• playful

• encouraging

• honest

• creative

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

4. The alliteration in liner 32 highlights the speaker's --

• relief when the lesson is over

• dislike for the song he is learning

• desire to please his piano teacher

• frustration when he makes mistakes

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5

5. What does the personification in lines 33-36 help the reader visualize?

• The reason that music becomes important to the boy

• The moment when the boy becomes interested in the guitar

• The relationship the boy has with his grandfather because of the guitar

• The role that music will have in the boy's life

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

6. The poet includes onomatopoeia in line 40 to emphasize that ---

• the boy's efforts to play are awkward

• the guitar is many years old

• the boy does not have permission to play the guitar

• the strings of the guitar are not working correctly

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

7. The poet uses the poem's structure to emphasize--

• the places the guitar has traveled with the family

• the types of music that have been played on the guitar

• the ways the guitar has been used in the past and in the present

• the personal connections the family has with the guitar

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

8. Which lines does the poet include to convey that the guitar is a valued treasure to the family?

• humming quietly along

  as his small children slept.

• a gift from her father,

  with love.

• sits mostly idle

  and quiet.

• yet still able to recall

  the feeling of making music.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5

9. Based on the endings of the texts, which of these predictions can the reader make about both Ruben in "Lessons" and the daughter's son in "Family Strings"?

• They may want to learn songs that are challenging for them.

• They might ask a family member to teach them an instrument.

• They might be nervous to play music well.

• They may make an effort to play music well.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.9

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

10. One way the texts are different is that only "Lessons" has a character who---

• is trying to resolve a conflict

• takes an opportunity for granted

• finds enjoyment in a new challenge

• is careful to respect the feelings of others

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.9

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7