What If We Were Alone?

The author repeats the words What if in lines 1, 2, and 3. He also repeats Look and Yes in lines 6–10. Which statement best describes the effect of the repetition of these words?

• Like rhyme, repetition gives the poem a beat or meter.

• Repetition proves the poet’s viewpoint.

• Repetition directs attention to the beginning of the poem.

• Like the title, repetition keeps the reader asking questions.

How does the poet establish the mood in the first stanza of the selection?

• He mentions the sun to create a cheery mood.

• He uses a fictional quote to create a suspenseful mood.

• He asks a series of questions to create a reflective mood.

• None of the above.

Read the second stanza of the poem. Which statement best explains how the poet’s word choices contribute to the mood?

• Beckons and beyond create a curious and adventuresome mood.

• Cold and hollow create a lonesome and unfeeling mood.

• Yes and glittering create a cheerful and celebratory mood.

• Stars and limits create a dark and fearful mood.

Which phrase in the second stanza helps the reader understand the meaning of the word beckons as it is used in line 14?

• out there (line 11)

• our limits (line 12)

• led outward (line 12)

• glimpse / company (lines 12–13)

How can the reader tell this is a free verse poem?

• It uses end rhymes.

• Every line is the same length.

• It uses figurative and sensory language.

• The language and rhythm sound like normal speech.

Which phrase best states the poet’s purpose in the last stanza?

• To persuade the reader to listen quietly instead of looking at the stars

• To show the reader an answer to the question from the first stanza

• To lead the reader to contemplate the wonders of the natural world

• To surprise the reader by changing the setting of the poem

What is the effect of the dash in the line from the poem: "...Look—it is out there, a hint of whether we are everything."?

• It calls attention to the idea that space may have the answer to the questions asked.

• It proposes alternate ideas about finding solutions through exploration.

• It draws attention to the effect of exploration on the environment.

• It suggests that there is nothing beyond this world.

Which statement best describes the speaker's tone in the poem?

• It is one of wonder about the mysteries of space and the beauty of life on Earth.

• It is one of inquiry into the nature of stars as well as the sounds of water.

• It is informational, explaining the relationship between Earth and outer space.

• It is fanciful, telling imaginative stories about stars and the movement of water.

What theme is suggested by these lines from the poem: "Look out at the stars. Yes—cold space. Yes, we are so distant that the mind goes hollow to think it."?

• Things that look like fire can still be cold.

• Space is too big a topic for people to think about.

• Human beings want to feel connected to the universe.

• People are as isolated from each other as they are from stars.

Which phrase best expresses the theme of the selection?

• A) The beauty of nature

• B) The emptiness of space

• C) The uniqueness of planet Earth

• D) The place of humanity in the universe