My Father and the Fig Tree

Which line from the poem best shows how Nye reacts to the fig she tastes at age six?

• “He’d point at the cherry trees and say, ‘See those? I wish they were figs.’'

• “We lived in many houses, none had figtrees.”

• “At age six I ate a dried fig and shrugged.”

• “It’s a figtree song!” he said…”

This evidence is in stanza ___.

• 1

• 3

• 4

• 2

Which statement best shows a text-to-world connection that deepens understanding of the father's dream?

• I have eaten figs from a grocery store before.

• Many people hold on to traditions from their culture, just like the father does.

• I think the father should have planted a fig tree earlier.

• I have a garden at home.

What can the reader infer about the father's character based on his actions throughout the poem?

• He values hard work more than imagination.

• He is determined to keep his cultural traditions alive.

• He dislikes gardening and prefers buying fruit.

• He wants to forget his past and start fresh.

Which line from the poem uses figurative language to show the father's creativity?

• He sat by my bed weaving folktales like vivid little scarves.

• Plant one! my mother said.

• We had lima beans, zucchini, parsley, beets.

• He tied his camel to a fig tree and went to sleep.

How does the repetition of 'largest, fattest, sweetest fig' contribute to the poem's meaning?

• It emphasizes the father's love and ideal vision of figs.

• It shows the father's disappointment with his garden.

• It explains why the narrator disliked figs as a child.

• It suggests that figs were common in every home.

Which statement best shows a text-to-self connection that helps the reader understand the father's dream?

• I once planted a tree and waited years for it to grow.

• I think the father should have bought figs from the store.

• I have eaten figs before, and they taste sweet.

• I like to read folktales before bed.

How does the final stanza affect the overall meaning of the poem?

• It shows that the father gave up on his dream.

• It reveals that the father's dream was finally fulfilled, symbolizing hope and persistence.

• It explains why the family moved to Dallas.

• It suggests that the narrator disliked figs even as an adult.

Which theme is best supported by the poem?

• Dreams can be achieved through patience and perseverance.

• Family traditions are less important than personal goals.

• Hard work always leads to success.

• Moving to a new place means leaving old dreams behind.

Why does the author include the image of 'weaving folktales like vivid little scarves'?

• To show that the father's stories were colorful and imaginative.

• To explain why the father disliked gardening.

• To suggest that the narrator wanted to learn to weave.

• To describe the father's favorite scarf.