The Coming of Spring

Which lines from the poem provide the strongest support for the theme of renewal?

• There’s something seems to say / That winter’s had its day.

• And the elder branches show / Their buds against the snow.

• So, silently but swift, / Above the wintry drift.

• We see the bloom of birth / Make young again the earth.

Answer explanation

The line 'We see the bloom of birth / Make young again the earth.' directly supports the theme of renewal by highlighting the rejuvenation and rebirth of nature.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

How does the first stanza contribute to the meaning of the poem?

• It introduces the idea that a difference can be felt all around.

• It emphasizes the fact that spring is coming later this year.

• It introduces the idea that the weather is constantly changing.

• It emphasizes the fact that this past winter has been harsh.

Answer explanation

It introduces the idea that a difference can be felt all around.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

What can be inferred from lines 5–6?

• The speaker thinks the spring sky is filled with more white clouds than a winter sky.

• The speaker feels so tired of the winter cold that she hopes spring comes very quickly.

• The speaker thinks the shade of blue in the spring sky is different than that of a winter sky.

• The speaker feels so in tune with the weather that she can feel the change of seasons.

Answer explanation

The speaker feels so tired of the winter cold that she hopes spring comes very quickly.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

Which lines reveal the speaker’s contrasting perspectives regarding winter and spring?

• There’s something too that’s new / In the color of the blue / That’s in the morning sky, / Before the sun is high.

• And though on plain and hill, / 'Tis winter, winter still, / There’s something seems to say / That winter’s had its day.

• And all this changing tint, / This whispering stir and hint / Of bud and bloom and wing, / Is the coming of the spring.

• And tomorrow or today / The brooks will break away / From their icy, frozen sleep / And run and laugh and leap.

Answer explanation

The correct choice reveals the speaker's contrasting perspectives by describing the transition from winter to spring, emphasizing the thawing of icy brooks and the arrival of spring's vitality.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

What does drift mean in line 30?

• a sudden movement

• a wild gust of wind

• a large pile of snow

• a sloping mountain

Answer explanation

The term 'drift' in line 30 refers to a large pile of snow, not a sudden movement, wild gust of wind, or a sloping mountain.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4