Analytic Orange

Which lines from the poem best explain what the speaker's problem is? (AKS 1 Citing and Inferring)

• Lines 5-8

• Lines 12-14

• Lines 25-27

• Lines 30-34

Which is the best summary of the poem? (AKS 2 Theme)

• A man remembers his first date with a girl when he was 12.

• A boy remembers an embarrassing moment with a girl.

• A man was ashamed of being poor as a child.

• A boy takes a girl to a drugstore for a date.

Why does the boy place the orange on the counter with the nickel? (AKS 3 Character)

• The drugstore clerk likes oranges.

• The girl doesn’t want the orange.

• He hopes to use the orange as partial payment.

• He wants to have only one orange.

“I turned to the candies/ tiered like bleachers/And asked what she wanted”

What does the word tiered mean as it is used in line 26 above? (AKS 4 Context Clues)

laid flat on a table

• Stacked for display

• Placed in boxes

• Wrapped individually

• Laid flat on a table

I peeled my orange

That was so bright against

The gray of December

That, from some distance,

Someone might have thought

I was making a fire in my hands

Why does the author include the lines above? (AKS 5 Text Structure and Meaning)

• To show that the boy was sad that he only had an orange to eat.

• To show that the boy regretting not bringing more money for chocolate.

• To contrast the happiness and warmth the boy feels with the cold December day.

• To show that the boy was sad that it was cold.

Why does the author use first person point of view? (AKS 6 Point of View)

• To show how the man feels now that he’s an adult

• To show a detailed and personal memory

• To show all characters’ inner thoughts

• To show how the girl felt

Readers can infer that this poem is set in another era in time because (AKS 1 Inference)

• the woman accepts an orange for a payment

• a boy bought candy for a girl

• the price of the chocolate was ten cents

• the boy was kind

The speakers attitude toward the girl could be described as (AKS 6 Tone)

• affectionate but superior

• passionate yet slightly jealous

• shy and frightened simultaneously

• romantic and eager to please

Which phrase from the poem contains imagery that appeals to the reader’s sense of hearing? (AKS 4 Imagery)

• a few cars hissing past.

• Cold, and weighted down

• Porch light burned yellow

• I took my girls hand in mine for two blocks.

The imagery of the oranges in lines 50-55 is (AKS 4 Imagery)

• strange because he still hasn't given it away

• symbolic because it represents the brightness of his mood

• ironic because readers wouldn't expect a boy to enjoy fruit

• rude because the girl didn't share the candy with the boy