Quiz on 'A Blessing'

At what time of day do the events in “A Blessing” take place? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• sunrise

• midday

• twilight

• midnight

In “A Blessing,” what have the ponies come “out of the willows” to do? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• greet visitors

• watch cars go by

• graze in the woods

• leap over the fence

In “A Blessing,” which of the following represents the separation between people and animals? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• the highway

• the pasture

• the woods

• the fence

In “A Blessing,” what is most likely the “blessing”? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• the spring grasses that grow in the pasture

• the light breeze that moves over the landscape

• the relationship between the speaker and his friend

• the feeling of closeness between humans and animals

Mia is walking through different places and wants to find a blossom. Where is she most likely to find one? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• in the sky

• in a garden

• inside a gymnasium

• on top of a concrete wall

What is the most likely meaning of nervously in the following sentence? At the new student orientation, Amir nervously introduced himself to his classmates.

• confidently

• timidly

• rudely

• loudly

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates someone experiencing loneliness?

• Emma laughed with her friends during lunch.

• Lucas played games with his cousins all afternoon.

• After her family moved away, Mia spent evenings alone, missing them.

• Ben enjoyed a quiet walk in the park with his dog.

Read these lines from “A Blessing.” And the eyes of those two Indian ponies Darken with kindness. They have come gladly out of the willows…. Which words in these lines make the horses seem human?

• eyes, ponies

• ponies, kindness

• kindness, gladly

• gladly, willows

In “A Blessing,” what effect do the ponies have on the speaker?

• They make him feel sad.

• They bring up old memories.

• They make him feel alive.

• They cause him to be careful.

Which passage from “A Blessing” most clearly supports the idea that the ponies make the speaker feel alive?

• We step over the barbed wire into the pasture / Where they have been grazing all day, alone.

• They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other. / There is no loneliness like theirs.

• I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms, / For she has walked over to me….

• Suddenly I realize / That if I stepped out of my body I would break / Into blossom.