Mother to Son to James Poetry Terms

1. To what does the speaker in “Mother to Son” compare her life experiences?

• to a bare floor

• to a wooden staircase

• to a crystal staircase

• to a dark passageway

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

How has the speaker in “Mother to Son” responded to her life experiences?

• with an intense religious faith

• with a hope for a happier future

• with an appreciation for what she has

• with a determination to keep going

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CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

In “Mother to Son,” what lesson about life is the mother trying to teach her son?

• If you never give up, you will gain whatever you want in life.

• Your life may be difficult, but never give up striving for your goals.

• Do not envy the people who have an easy path in life.

• No matter how hard you try, you will still not reach your goals.

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CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Which statement best describes the speaker in “To James”?

• a family member who has taught James how to race

• friend James’s age who competes with James in races

• a friend who knows less than James does about running races

• a family member who wishes that he could race against James

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Which statement best expresses the advice offered by the speaker in “To James”?

• Set only one goal in life and ignore everything else.

• Set goals in life, but do not forget to have fun.

• Life is a race: You must focus and persist to win.

• Life is a race: With luck, you will always win.

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

If an athlete flung herself into a race, which of the following would she most likely have done?

• tripped when leaving the starting line

• launched her body forward

• advanced slowly in fear

• started at a steady pace

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CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What is most likely to happen to an object that is catapulted into the air?

• The object will drop quickly to the ground.

• The object will move forward with great force.

• The object will break into small pieces.

• The object will float like a balloon.

Suppose that a spectator at a race lurched as he watched the runners move toward the finish line. Which sentence would most clearly describe the spectator’s action?

• He swayed happily from side to side.

• He frowned to show his disappointment.

• He moved forward suddenly and quickly.

• He gave a loud, encouraging cheer.

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CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Read lines 8-13 from “Mother to Son. What do these details reveal most clearly about the mother? Choose TWO answers.

• She has moved forward even when the future has been unclear.

• She has often wanted to give up her goals.

• She has appreciated help given by other people.

• She has been realistic about the challenges in her life.

• She has always been confident about reaching her goals.

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

In “Mother to Son,” poet Langston Hughes has the mother use an old-fashioned African American dialect, or way of speaking. What is the most likely effect of that choice?

• It makes the mother realistic and believable to readers.

• It makes the mother’s words easier to understand.

• It reveals the bond between the mother and her son.

• It lets readers know that the mother’s life would be different today.

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5