Unit 7:(Comp)"Lessons & Family Strings"

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

The second stanza (lines 11–22) suggests that the 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

Mrs. Graham’s dialogue with Ruben shows that she is —

• playful

• encouraging

• honest

• creative

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

The alliteration in line 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.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

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.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.3.4

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.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

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.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

(This Question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then answer Part B.)PART A :What can the reader conclude about the speaker’s feelings about the guitar?

• The guitar is no longer useful.

• The guitar is a valued treasure to the family.

• The speaker does not have time to play the guitar.

• The son is too young to play the guitar.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

PART B: Which lines from the poem best support the answer to Part A?

• its face slightly faded, its neck scratched and worn. (lines 3 and 4)

• a gift from her father, with love. (lines 20 and 21)

• sits mostly idle and quiet. (lines 25 and 26)

• the daughter’s young son. Just seven years old (lines 36 and 37)

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

Based on the endings of the poems, 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 for others.

• 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