RL 7.5

How does the idea of carols help develop the theme of "I Hear America Singing?" 

• The beauty of America grows as each worker contributes his or her own carol.
• As each American worker sings a new carol, he or she becomes more effective at his or her job.  
• As each carol is introduced, more opportunities open up for Americans. 
• The American worker grows more powerful as he shares his or her own carol.

The American worker grows more powerful as he shares his or her own carol.

• The gradual increase in line length accentuates the important role that women play in creating America’s strength. 
• The inconsistent line length emphasizes the novelty of each worker’s contribution to America. 
• The repeated references to songs develop the idea that each worker performs a similar function in American society.
• The list of a wide variety of workers highlights the unique contribution each worker makes to America.

How does the description of the songs as “strong” in Line 3 of Text 1 impact the meaning of the poem?

• It emphasizes the greatness of America, created through individual workers. 
• It highlights the joy that American laborers feel as they complete their daily tasks. 
• . It reveals the belief that America is only powerful as long as each worker contributes. 
• It demonstrates a hope for a brighter future, felt by American laborers when they finish their work

Which theme is conveyed in Text 2, Hughes’s poem? 

•  America must celebrate all of its members, not just a select group. 
• All people in America share similar experiences and lead similar lives.
• Americans must make the effort to spend more time with their loved ones. 
• To Americans, health and happiness should be of greatest importance.

 Which excerpt from Text 2 best demonstrates this theme? 

• I am the darker brother. 
• But I laugh,/And eat well, 
• Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table
• I, too, am America. 

In Hughe's poem, how does the shift in setting from the kitchen to the table in Stanza 2 to Stanza 3 mainly impact the poem? 

• It reveals the speaker’s decision to develop deeper friendships. 
• It reflects the speaker’s determination and desire for progress. 
• . It proves that the ideals and values of the nation have already changed.
• It warns that humans must strive to make fewer demands of one another.

 In Stanza 2 and in Stanza 4 of Hughes’s poem, the speaker uses the word “they.” Who is the “they” that the speaker refers to? 

• his family and friends
• his enemies and rivals 
• people who are different from him
• people who are from other countries

Why is it important that the speaker does not define exactly who “they” are? 

• It protects the speaker’s relationships by not offending one specific group. 
• It keeps readers interested in the poem by maintaining their curiosity.
• It holds the focus of the poem on its subject, which is the speaker himself.
• It invites people everywhere to be part of the speaker’s concept of America.

Which excerpt from Text 1, “I Hear America Singing,” best conveys its overall theme?

• “The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,”
• “The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,”
• “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to no one else,”
• “The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly”