EOY Revision: On Turning Ten by Billy Collins

What feeling does the speaker associate with turning ten?

• Indifference and boredom

• Fear and anxiety

• Devastation and denial

• Excitement and anticipation

What physical ailments does the speaker compare to the feeling of turning ten?

• Headache, stomachache

• Toothache, backache

• Cold, fever

• Nausea, dizziness

How does the speaker describe the simplicity of being one?

• Being one is complicated and chaotic.

• Being one requires constant effort and struggle.

• Being one is isolating and lonely.

• Being one is simple and harmonious, free from complexities.

What imaginative role did the speaker take on at age four?

• A pirate captain

• A superhero or imaginative character.

• A talking animal

• An astronaut exploring space

What activity does the speaker engage in while at the window?

• Cooking dinner.

• Observing the surroundings.

• Listening to music.

• Reading a book.

What overall theme does the poem convey about growing up?

• Growing up is a straightforward and easy process.

• Growing up involves navigating complexities and losing childhood innocence.

• Growing up is solely about gaining more responsibilities.

• Growing up means always being carefree and happy.

What is the speaker’s attitude toward turning ten?

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Answer explanation

The speaker feels sad and melancholic about turning ten, as if it's the end of childhood innocence.

What is the meaning of the phrase "measles of the spirit"?

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Answer explanation

It is a metaphor representing a feeling of being uncomfortable or the loss of innocence as the speaker grows older.

How does the speaker feel about looking back at their childhood?

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Answer explanation

The speaker feels reflective and nostalgic, recalling the simplicity and imagination of being younger.

How does the imagery of “Arabian wizard” at four years old contribute to the reader's overall understanding of the poem?

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Answer explanation

It highlights the speaker's creative and imaginative childhood, contrasting with their current feelings of loss and disillusionment.