A Poem for my Librarian, Mrs. Long

What can the reader most reasonably infer about the speaker’s childhood from the first stanza?

• a) The speaker was not allowed to watch television.

• b) Socializing was an important part of everyday life.

• c) Playing with friends was discouraged in favor of family time.

• d) The speaker spent all of her free time with neighbors.

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

Based on lines 1–16, what is one of the poem’s themes?

• a) There was security for the speaker in music and community.

• b) Books took the speaker away from the realities of life.

• c) Books and music helped the speaker overcome isolation.

• d) The speaker learned to deal with conflict through music.

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CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

The poet’s use of sensory language in lines 17–21 conveys a mood of —

• a) humor and optimism

• b) familiarity and comfort

• c) sadness and loss

• d) excitement and suspense

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.5

Read lines 29–30 from the poem.

She would go to the big library uptown and I now know
Hat in hand to ask to borrow so that I might borrow
Hat in hand to ask to borrow so that I might borrow

What is the effect of the repetition of the word "borrow" in the poem?

• a) It implies that the librarian is unhappy with her job.

• b) It indicates that the speaker doesn’t own any books.

• c) It emphasizes the effort the librarian made for the speaker.

• d) It suggests that the speaker should go to the big library on her own.

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CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

The speaker describes visiting the library and Mrs. Long in lines 22–39. Which two ideas can the reader most reasonably infer from these lines?

• a) The library on Vine Street was always very busy and crowded with people.

• b) The speaker fully understood what Mrs. Long did for her only after she became an adult.

• c) The library on Vine Street was visited by both white and black residents on a regular basis.

• d) The speaker had a very difficult childhood and found her only joy in books from Mrs. Long.

• e) The speaker deeply treasured reading the books Mrs. Long loaned to her.

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CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

Which I visited and inhaled that wonderful odor Of new books Even today I read hardcover as a preference paperback only As a last resort

Which sentence best describes the effect of the two short lines in this stanza?

• a) They emphasize the speaker’s love of new books and dislike of paperbacks.

• b) They suggest that hardcovers can be found only at bookstores.

• c) They indicate that the speaker prefers to read paperback books.

• d) They highlight why the speaker never wants to read old books or paperbacks.

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

Which sentence best describes the effect of the reference made in lines 43–50?

• a) The reader can envision new worlds with lions and witches.

• b) The reader understands that the lions help the speaker feel brave.

• c) The reader understands that other writers inspire the speaker to read.

• d) The reader can envision the speaker exploring new worlds with hope.

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CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

Which of the following statements are true?

• The poem is autobiographical.

• The poem contains proper capitalization.

• The poem has a regular rhyme scheme.

• The poem uses sensory language.

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

How does the poem’s structure contribute to its meaning?

• a) A regular rhyme scheme gives the free verse poem a distinct rhythm.

• b) Each stanza tells the reader about a different part of the speaker’s life.

• c) Free verse makes the poem seem like a story that the speaker is telling.

• d) An irregular rhyme scheme emphasizes each line of the free verse poem.

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CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.5

Why is the name of the librarian capitalized according to the speaker?

• a) Because she is a famous person

• b) Because she holds special importance to the speaker

• c) Because all librarians' names are capitalized

• d) Because the speaker does not know her name

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CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6