THE BALL POEM (HOTS)

The extract suggests that the poet is __________

• a) an onlooker observing

• b) a parent recounting the incident

• c) the boy talking about himself

• d) imagining the incident

The poet seems to have indicated the merry bouncing of the ball to

• a) create a sense of rhythm in these lines.

• b) support the happiness of the experience of playing.

• c) contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy.

• d) a & b

Choose the situation that corresponds to the emotion behind the exclamation mark in the poem.



• a) option 1

• b) option 2

• c) option 3

• d) option 4

The poem begins with a question. Based on your reading of the poem, the speaker

• a) wants the boy to answer the question.

• b) expects the passers-by to respond.

• c) is looking for answers in a self-help book.

• d) is thinking to himself.

Pick the option that showcases an example of alliteration from the extract.

• a) What is the boy now

• b) who has lost his ball

• c) I saw it go

• d) and then/ Merrily over

An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy

As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down

All his young days into the harbour where

His ball went. I would not intrude on him;

The poet uses the word ‘ultimate’ to describe the boy’s reaction. Pick the meaning that DOES NOT display what, ‘ultimate’ means in the context given.

• a) consequent

• b) final

• c) conclusive

• d) fateful

The boy is very young in this poem. As a mature, balanced grown-up, he might look back and think that his reaction of ‘ultimate shaking grief’ was

1) disproportionate to the loss.

2) pretension to procure a new toy.

3) according to his exposure and experience then.

4) a reaction to the failure of retrieving the toy.

5) justified and similar to what it would be currently.

• a) 5 & 2

• b) 1 & 3

• c) 2 & 4

• d) 3 & 5

Pick the option that lists the boy’s thoughts, matching with the line-As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down

• a) Option 1

• b) Option 2

• c) Option 3

• d) Option 4

Why does the speaker choose not to intrude? This is so because the poet

.

• a) knows that it would embarrass the boy in his moment of grief

• b) feels that it’s important that the boy learn an important life lesson, undisturbed.

• c) realises that he doesn’t have sufficient funds to purchase a new ball for the boy.

• d) Experiences a sense of distress himself, by looking at the boy’s condition.

Choose the option that lists the meaning of ‘harbour’ as used in the extract.

Noun:

(1) a place on the coast where ships may moor in the shelter.

(2) a place of refuge.

Verb:

(3) keep (a thought or feeling, typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly.

(4) shelter or hide (a criminal or wanted person).

• a) Option 1

• b) Option 2

• c) Option 3

• d) Option 4