The Road Not Taken Quiz

In the first line of the poem, what does the word diverged mean?

• concluded

• continued

• overlapped

• separated

The speaker suggests that the two roads may essentially be the same. Which two lines support this?

• "Then took the other, as just as fair," (line 6)

• "Though as for that the passing there" (line 9)

• "And both that morning equally lay" (line 11)

• "Oh, I kept the first for another day!" (line 13)

• "Yet knowing how way leads on to way," (line 14)

Some readers think the speaker is satisfied with the decision. Which line from the poem best supports this interpretation?

• "And sorry I could not travel both" (line 2)

• "I doubted if I should ever come back." (line 15)

• "I took the one less traveled by," (line 19)

• "And that has made all the difference." (line 20)

Which line from the poem best shows that the speaker selected the path that initially appeared overgrown from lack of use?

• "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood," (line 1)

• "And looked down one as far as I could" (line 4)

• "Because it was grassy and wanted wear;" (line 8)

• "Though as for that the passing there" (line 9)

Select the two sentences that best summarize central ideas of the poem.

• A single decision can have great influence on one’s life.

• In later life, people may reflect on earlier decisions with deep regret.

• At the beginning of one’s travels, it is difficult to determine which road is best.

• After traveling one road, a different road usually seems more appealing than it did at first.

• It is impossible to know how life might have turned out if different decisions had been made.

The paths through the woods emphasize the choice that the speaker must make. Which two lines from the poem best support this statement?

• "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood," (line 1)

• "And looked down one as far as I could" (line 4)

• "I doubted if I should ever come back." (line 15)

• "Somewhere ages and ages hence:" (line 17)

• "And that has made all the difference." (line 20)

Which line from the poem best supports the idea that the speaker made the decision that initially appeared to be less common?

• "And sorry I could not travel both" (line 2)

• "And looked down one as far as I could" (line 4)

• "Then took the other, as just as fair," (line 6)

• "Because it was grassy and wanted wear;" (line 8)

As the speaker reflects back on the decision, it is unclear whether the speaker is contented or regretful. Which two lines from the poem could be interpreted either way?

• "And having perhaps the better claim," (line 7)

• "In leaves no step had trodden black." (line 12)

• "I shall be telling this with a sigh" (line 16)

• "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—" (line 18)

• "And that has made all the difference." (line 20)

Read lines 14–15 from the poem. Yet knowing how way leads on to way, / I doubted if I should ever come back. What could best be concluded from the lines?

• The speaker is unlikely to choose a road.

• The speaker is unlikely to travel the second road.

• The speaker will probably get lost on the first road.

• The speaker will probably take the same road twice.

Read lines 16–17. I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence: What does the repetition of "ages" accomplish?

• It creates a sound like a sigh.

• It creates a sense of uncertainty.

• It emphasizes the passage of time.

• It emphasizes that the speaker is old.