Poetry-Oh Mermaid, Oh Mermaid

From lines 8–10, the reader can tell that

the mermaid —

• is shy

• is serious

• likes to have fun

• lives in a large palace

When do mermaids sing?

• When the stars are out

• When there is moonlight

• When boats go sailing by

• When the waves are aglow

Which word is a synonym of ancient in line 20?

• Calm

• Deep

• Old

• Wide

What does the reader learn in the last two

lines of the poem?

• Mermaids have many sea animal friends.

• Mermaids look just like some

  sea animals.

• Some sea animals play tricks on

  each other.

• Some people think sea animals

  are mermaids.

What do the questions throughout the

poem show?

• The mermaid does not like talking

  to people.

• The speaker wonders if mermaids

  are real.

• The mermaid and the speaker

  are friends.

• The speaker does not trust the mermaid.

What is the best summary of this poem?

• A mermaid says that she lives in a shell

  palace. She likes to splash and swim. She

  sings to the moon and the stars. She is

  as ancient as the ocean.

• A mermaid says the sun on the water can

  change what people see. Some people

  see her when they are actually looking at

  dolphins, seals, or whales.

• The speaker finds out the mermaid

  likes to sing and swim. The mermaid

  says some people believe in her, and

  some don’t. She talks about other sea

  animals, too.

• The speaker wants to know the truth about mermaids. The speaker asks the mermaid a lot of questions about mermaids, and the mermaid answers them. She makes it known that mermaids may or may not be real.