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WorksheetsWeek 37: Prayer to the Pacific
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
What is the meaning of the word "myth" as used in the poem?
A scientific fact
A traditional story explaining natural or social phenomena
A mathematical equation
A type of plant
Which word from the poem refers to the beginning or source of something?
Coral
Origin
Turquoise
Sandrock
What is "coral" as mentioned in the poem?
A type of fish
A precious stone formed from marine organisms
A kind of tree
A mountain
Who is the author of "Prayer to the Pacific"?
Leslie Marmon Silko
Langston Hughes
Emily Dickinson
Robert Frost
Which natural element is personified in the poem?
The sun
The ocean
The sand
The wind
According to the poem, what did the speaker carry back from the ocean?
Four round stones
A handful of sand
A shell
A piece of driftwood
What is the main setting described at the beginning of the poem?
A mountain range
The ocean shore
A forest
A city
Which of the following lines from the poem is an example of imagery?
"Big as the myth of origin."
"Clouds that blow across the sand are wet."
"Grandfather Turtle rolled in the sand four times"
"I traveled to the ocean"
What does the speaker mean by "I return to you turquoise the red coral you sent us"?
The speaker is giving back gifts received from the ocean.
The speaker is collecting stones for a necklace.
The speaker is searching for treasure.
The speaker is building a house.
Which event from the poem is an example of a myth?
The speaker squatting in the sand
Indians riding across the ocean on giant sea turtles
Clouds drifting from the west
The sun floating west to China
How does the poem use personification?
By describing the ocean as having human qualities, such as being a "sister spirit"
By making the sand talk
By giving the sun a face
By letting the stones walk
What is the significance of the "four round stones" in the poem?
They represent the four seasons.
They symbolize the connection between the speaker and the ocean.
They are used for building a house.
They are gifts for the sea turtles.
Why does the speaker mention "thirty thousand years ago" in the poem?
To indicate the age of the ocean
To reference the ancient migration of people
To describe the age of the stones
To show how long the sun has existed
What is the effect of the imagery "Green leaves in the wind / Wet earth on my feet / swallowing raindrops / clear from China"?
It creates a sense of dryness and heat.
It evokes freshness and a connection to distant places.
It describes a storm.
It shows the speaker is lost.
How does the poem connect the natural world to cultural history?
By describing only modern events
By blending mythological stories with observations of nature
By focusing on city life
By ignoring the past
What is the purpose of the speaker's journey to the ocean in the context of the poem?
To collect shells for a collection
To reconnect with ancestral origins and the natural world
To go swimming
To escape from the desert
Analyze how the poem uses the motif of water to convey its themes.
Water is used only as a background setting.
Water represents life, connection, and the cyclical nature of existence.
Water is described as dangerous and to be avoided.
Water is a symbol of destruction.
What does the reference to "rain clouds drift from the west / gift from the ocean" suggest about the relationship between land and sea?
The land and sea are separate and unrelated.
The land depends on the sea for rain and sustenance.
The sea is jealous of the land.
The land is always dry.
Evaluate the use of myth in the poem. How does it shape the reader's understanding of the speaker's identity?
The myth is irrelevant to the speaker's identity.
The myth connects the speaker to a larger cultural and ancestral narrative.
The myth is only for entertainment.
The myth confuses the speaker.
How does the poem's structure contribute to its overall meaning and tone?
The short, fragmented lines create a sense of movement and reflection, mirroring the themes of journey and connection.
The poem is written in strict rhyme, making it playful.
The poem uses long paragraphs to tell a story.
The structure is unrelated to the poem's meaning.
