Swimming in a Pool of Doubt/ The Road Not Taken

What is the best summary of the poem?

• While walking in the woods, the speaker notices a divided path. He studies each possibility to determine which road will be easier to travel. After making his decision, he complete his journey.
• The speaker embarks on a journey to discover a fork in the road. When he arrives at the fork, he concludes that both paths are very similar. Unable to make a choice between the two he turns around, realizing that he will later regret his decision.
• The speaker comes to a fork in the road and must decide between similar paths. The speaker makes a choice, thinking that he might return one day to take the other path. He determines that in the future his choice will be validated.
• While walking along a path, the speaker comes to a division in the road. He wonders why there is a split in the road and whether or not the direction he decides to take will affect his future.

Why does the poet include the words "Because it was grassy and wanted wear" in line 8?

• To hint that the second road was close to a stream that ran through the woods
• To imply that the second road got a lot of sunlight
• To emphasize that many people had taken the second road
• To show that few people had taken the second road

Read the dictionary entry. diverge: 1. to move or extend in different directions from a common point 2. to become or be different in character or form 3. relating to or being an infinite sequence that does not have a limit 4. causing rays to draw apart Which definition best matches the way the word diverged is used in stanzas 1 and 4?

• Definition 1
• Definition 2
• Definition 3
• Definition 4

Read the first and second stanza. The imagery in these lines helps the reader understand the -

• similarity of the paths
• beauty of the forest
• condition of the undergrowth
• danger of the roads

Which sentence from the poem best supports the idea that the speaker wishes he or she did not have to make a choice between the roads?

• And sorry I could not travel both/And be one traveler, long I stood
• Though as for that the passing there/Had worn them really about the same,
• And both that morning equally lay/In leaves no step had trodden black.
• Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --/ I took the one less traveled by,

The point of view from which the story is told gives the reader insight into -

• Cameron's thoughts about failure
• the complexity of Cameron's decision
• the support of Cameron's parents
• Cameron's plans for sharing his decision

The narrator's observations in paragraph 1 are important to the story because they -

• suggest that Cameron is feeling conflicted
• imply that Cameron has become bored with competitive swimming
• convey Cameron's pride in his accomplishments
• illustrate Cameron's need for free time

Read this sentence form paragraph 2. CAMERON HAD BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO HOMEWORK AND TIME WITH FRIENDS TAKING A BACKSEAT TO SWIMMING. The sentence illustrates the -

• turmoil Cameron experiences
• commitment Cameron displays
• dejection Cameron Faces
• determination that Cameron exhibits

Which sentence demonstrates how the setting contributes to Cameron's conflict in the story?

• Five days a week, Cameron attended practice before and after school; every Saturday he competed in swim meets or practiced with his coach.
• When Cameron joined the swim team at the age of seven, it was mostly becasue he liked swimming more than nay other sport he had tried.
• This transformation happened gradually at first, but now it seemed to be spinning rapidly out of control.
• Lately, however, he thought about confiding in a friend or his parents, but he was uncertain if anyone would understand.

Read this sentence from paragraph 14. THE POEM STRUCK A CHORD WITH CAMERON BECAUSE THE SPEAKER WAS IN A POSITION TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO PATHS. The figurative language in this sentence emphasizes that -

• Cameron wants to play a musical composition
• Cameron understands the meaning of the poem
• Cameron relates to the speaker and theme of the poem
• Cameron decides to follow the example of the speaker