My Father is a Simple Man

Read the question carefully and select the best answer. Which of the lines provided best illustrates the relationship between the father and the narrator?

• A. “I walk to town with my father”

• B. “I convince / him it is the fruit of scholars”

• C. “He has taken me on this journey”

• D. “remember that here is a man / who was a worker”

According to information in the poem, what does the father most likely believe?

• That life is a continuous cycle of regrowth.

• That fruit is becoming too expensive at market.

• That driving is more convenient than walking.

• That being an expert sets you apart from others.

Which inference can be best made about the speaker’s father?

• He is wise.

• He is educated.

• He is stern.

• He is disagreeable.

Read the question carefully and select the best answer. Which of the lines from the poem most strongly supports the answer to question 3?

• A. “to buy a newspaper. He walks slower / than I do so I must slow up.”

• B. “he says he will gladly face it when / it comes but won’t jump / out in front of a car.”

• C. “and when the bitter-hard reality / comes at me like a punishing / evil stranger”

• D. “when he leaves without / benefit of fanfare or applause”

What theme is most prevalent in the poem based on the father's actions?

• The pursuit of knowledge.

• The inevitability of change.

• The importance of wealth.

• The value of solitude.

Which line from the poem best highlights the father's perspective on life?

• C. “and when the bitter-hard reality / comes at me like a punishing / evil stranger”

• B. “he says he will gladly face it when / it comes but won’t jump / out in front of a car.”

• D. “when he leaves without / benefit of fanfare or applause”

• A. “He walks slower / than I do so I must slow up.”

What can be inferred about the relationship between the speaker and the father based on their interactions?

• It is respectful.

• It is distant.

• It is strained.

• It is competitive.

How does the speaker's perception of their father evolve throughout the poem?

• It becomes more indifferent.

• It becomes more resentful.

• It becomes more understanding.

• It becomes more critical.

What does the speaker learn from their father by the end of the poem?

• The importance of patience.

• The value of hard work.

• The inevitability of change.

• The necessity of solitude.

How does the poem convey the father's influence on the speaker's outlook?

• Through shared experiences.

• Through direct advice.

• Through strict discipline.

• Through financial support.