STAAR Poetry

Stanzas 2 and 4 are each written as one line most likely to highlight —

• how much the speaker admires her father and brothers

• the danger of swimming great distances

• the reasons the speaker is afraid to make the swim

• how important it is to be able to swim well

The poet capitalizes the word “Rock” in the poem most likely to show that the Rock is a —

• place that can be found on a map

• special place to the family

• popular place for people to visit

• place that was discovered a long time ago

By the end of the poem, the speaker changes her mind most likely because she —

• worries that her family is not proud of her

• does not want to miss out on the experience again

• thinks the Rock is actually closer than it appears

• does not want to be teased by her brothers

What is the main message of the poem?

• Traveling with others can be difficult.

• Observing activities can be more rewarding than participating in them.

• Experiencing a different environment can be refreshing.

• Preparing carefully for new experiences is important.

look at the image for the question

• definition 1

• definition 2

• definition 3

• definition 4

Read lines 5 through 9 of the poem. Air smells like roses sometimes, or fresh-cut grass; gasoline or rain or skunk. Why does the poet include descriptive language in these lines?

• To persuade the reader to spend more time outdoors

• To tell the reader that air can smell like many things after it rains

• To explain how the smell of roses is different from the smell of skunk

• To emphasize that air can be both pleasant and unpleasant

Line 38 is different from the other lines of the poem most likely because the poet wants to —

• show that this line should be read quickly

• add humor to the poem by spelling the word incorrectly

• emphasize the idea expressed in the line

• suggest that this is the most important word in the poem

Which line from the poem best shows that air can be powerful?

• The sky is made of air.

• It tears leaves off trees

• It has no color or shape

• or blow a soap bubble.

The speaker in the poem believes that the difference between wind and air is that wind is —

• colder

• thinner

• smelly

• moving

What can the reader conclude about the speaker’s ideas about air throughout the poem?

• The speaker has changed his mind about air.

• The speaker wishes that air could be seen.

• The speaker thinks that air has qualities that make it special.

• The speaker is confused by his thoughts about air.