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Poetry Summative

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. 

My River 

by Rafael Espinoza 

My river has a bridge 

where I like to sit, 

dangling my legs, 

and listen. 

5 Lots of things change quickly, 

but the river takes its time. 

And for some reason that’s comforting. 

10 The summer-green grass 

whispers excitedly 

as if passing on secrets. 

The trees murmur wisely, 

nodding with the wind. 

15 The birds gossip, 

and there are rustles and an occasional splash 

as various animals 

go about living. 

And then there is the river, 

which passes on heedless of all, 

intent always to push forward. 

20 As it flows beneath me it seems to say 

hello and goodbye at once— 

“Must be moving, there is so much to see!” 

It reminds me that life is an adventure. 

25 And whatever bad feelings I brought with me, 

the river carries them away. 

Rivers make good friends. 

They help you remember 

what the world makes you forget  

The description of the setting in lines 8 through 19 highlights a contrast between —

a)

the liveliness of the woods and the steady pace of the river

b)

the simplicity of nature and the complexity of the speaker’s emotions

c)

the playfulness of nature and the seriousness of the speaker’s purpose

d)

the variety of living organisms around the river and the lack of living organisms in the river

2.

 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. 

My River 

by Rafael Espinoza 

My river has a bridge 

where I like to sit, 

dangling my legs, 

and listen. 

5 Lots of things change quickly, 

but the river takes its time. 

And for some reason that’s comforting. 

10 The summer-green grass 

whispers excitedly 

as if passing on secrets. 

The trees murmur wisely, 

nodding with the wind. 

15 The birds gossip, 

and there are rustles and an occasional splash 

as various animals 

go about living. 

And then there is the river, 

which passes on heedless of all, 

intent always to push forward. 

20 As it flows beneath me it seems to say 

hello and goodbye at once— 

“Must be moving, there is so much to see!” 

It reminds me that life is an adventure. 

25 And whatever bad feelings I brought with me, 

the river carries them away. 

Rivers make good friends. 

They help you remember 

what the world makes you forget  

Which sentence best describes the speaker’s relationship with the river?    

a)

The river forces the speaker to make a decision.

b)

The river reminds the speaker of what is important.

c)

The river introduces the speaker to the outdoors.

d)

The river provides the speaker with an unusual experience.

3.

 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. 

My River 

by Rafael Espinoza 

My river has a bridge 

where I like to sit, 

dangling my legs, 

and listen. 

5 Lots of things change quickly, 

but the river takes its time. 

And for some reason that’s comforting. 

10 The summer-green grass 

whispers excitedly 

as if passing on secrets. 

The trees murmur wisely, 

nodding with the wind. 

15 The birds gossip, 

and there are rustles and an occasional splash 

as various animals 

go about living. 

And then there is the river, 

which passes on heedless of all, 

intent always to push forward. 

20 As it flows beneath me it seems to say 

hello and goodbye at once— 

“Must be moving, there is so much to see!” 

It reminds me that life is an adventure. 

25 And whatever bad feelings I brought with me, 

the river carries them away. 

Rivers make good friends. 

They help you remember 

what the world makes you forget  

The poet uses personification in the sixth stanza to show that the river teaches the speaker about ?

a)

making good decisions

b)

protecting an important resource

c)

enjoying the experience of living

d)

appreciating the beauty of nature

4.

 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. 

My River 

by Rafael Espinoza 

My river has a bridge 

where I like to sit, 

dangling my legs, 

and listen. 

5 Lots of things change quickly, 

but the river takes its time. 

And for some reason that’s comforting. 

10 The summer-green grass 

whispers excitedly 

as if passing on secrets. 

The trees murmur wisely, 

nodding with the wind. 

15 The birds gossip, 

and there are rustles and an occasional splash 

as various animals 

go about living. 

And then there is the river, 

which passes on heedless of all, 

intent always to push forward. 

20 As it flows beneath me it seems to say 

hello and goodbye at once— 

“Must be moving, there is so much to see!” 

It reminds me that life is an adventure. 

25 And whatever bad feelings I brought with me, 

the river carries them away. 

Rivers make good friends. 

They help you remember 

what the world makes you forget  

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. My River by Rafael Espinoza. The poet placed lines 25 and 26 in their own stanza to?

a)

show that the river affects the speaker’s relationships with others

b)

emphasize the speaker’s disappointment after spending time at the river

c)

indicate that the speaker goes to the river in search of adventure

d)

highlight the outcome of the speaker’s experience while at the river

5.

 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. 

My River 

by Rafael Espinoza 

My river has a bridge 

where I like to sit, 

dangling my legs, 

and listen. 

5 Lots of things change quickly, 

but the river takes its time. 

And for some reason that’s comforting. 

10 The summer-green grass 

whispers excitedly 

as if passing on secrets. 

The trees murmur wisely, 

nodding with the wind. 

15 The birds gossip, 

and there are rustles and an occasional splash 

as various animals 

go about living. 

And then there is the river, 

which passes on heedless of all, 

intent always to push forward. 

20 As it flows beneath me it seems to say 

hello and goodbye at once— 

“Must be moving, there is so much to see!” 

It reminds me that life is an adventure. 

25 And whatever bad feelings I brought with me, 

the river carries them away. 

Rivers make good friends. 

They help you remember 

what the world makes you forget  

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. My River by Rafael Espinoza Which line from the poem best expresses why the speaker visits the river?

a)

where I like to sit,

b)

whispers excitedly

c)

They help you remember

d)

The trees murmur wisely,

6.

 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. 

My River 

by Rafael Espinoza 

My river has a bridge 

where I like to sit, 

dangling my legs, 

and listen. 

5 Lots of things change quickly, 

but the river takes its time. 

And for some reason that’s comforting. 

10 The summer-green grass 

whispers excitedly 

as if passing on secrets. 

The trees murmur wisely, 

nodding with the wind. 

15 The birds gossip, 

and there are rustles and an occasional splash 

as various animals 

go about living. 

And then there is the river, 

which passes on heedless of all, 

intent always to push forward. 

20 As it flows beneath me it seems to say 

hello and goodbye at once— 

“Must be moving, there is so much to see!” 

It reminds me that life is an adventure. 

25 And whatever bad feelings I brought with me, 

the river carries them away. 

Rivers make good friends. 

They help you remember 

what the world makes you forget  

Which theme is explored in the poem?

a)

Learning about the patterns of nature can be exciting.

b)

Nature can provide perspective on life.

c)

People should set aside time in their daily schedule to relax.

d)

People who are honest with themselves are better able to appreciate life.

7.

Read the poem and then answer the following questions.

Queen

My head is in the waves

As lonely as an empty cave.

Gravity pulls me down

Remember though, you deserve a 

crown.

Which line of the poem provides a melancholy, or sad, tone?

a)

Remember though, you deserve a crown.

b)

As lonely as an empty cave.

8.

My River 

by Rafael Espinoza 

My river has a bridge 

where I like to sit, 

dangling my legs, 

and listen. 

5 Lots of things change quickly, 

but the river takes its time. 

And for some reason that’s comforting. 

10 The summer-green grass 

whispers excitedly 

as if passing on secrets. 

The trees murmur wisely, 

nodding with the wind. 

15 The birds gossip, 

and there are rustles and an occasional splash 

as various animals 

go about living. 

And then there is the river, 

which passes on heedless of all, 

intent always to push forward. 

20 As it flows beneath me it seems to say 

hello and goodbye at once— 

“Must be moving, there is so much to see!” 

It reminds me that life is an adventure. 

25 And whatever bad feelings I brought with me, 

the river carries them away. 

Rivers make good friends. 

They help you remember 

what the world makes you forget  

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in the answer on your answer document. How does the mood of the poem "My River" change from the first to the second stanza? Provide text evidence from the second stanza that shows how the mood changed.

4 lines
9.

Read the poem and then answer the following questions.

Queen

My head is in the waves

As lonely as an empty cave.

Gravity pulls me down

Remember though, you deserve a 

crown.

Explain how the mood of the poem changes from the first to second stanza. Provide text evidence that shows how the mood changed in the second stanza.

(a)  

10.

Write a poem that has the following requirements:

1. 4-8 lines long. (if you want to write more, you can)

2. Conveys an admiring tone.

3. You may write about whatever you want. You can admire a person, place, or thing.

4. Your poem does NOT have to rhyme if you don't want it to.

4 lines