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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. "Water Striders" asks whether this insect's ability to walk on water is what?
(a) A miracle.
(b) Fun.
(c) Dangerous.
(d) Useful.

2. What does the moth do throughout the entirety of this poem?
(a) It serenades the porch light.
(b) It complains about the porch light.
(c) It asks other insects questions.
(d) It eats peanut butter.

3. Unlike "Grasshoppers," "Water Striders" is from the perspective of whom?
(a) A human.
(b) A group of water striders.
(c) One of the water striders.
(d) A grasshopper.

4. "Grasshoppers" describes the grasshoppers' _______________ movements and energy.
(a) Bounding.
(b) Slow.
(c) Circular.
(d) Lazy.

5. What are the homes of the lice?
(a) Books by famous authors.
(b) Fruits.
(c) Encyclopedias.
(d) Children's heads.

6. Whom do the water striders try to teach to walk on water?
(a) Young water striders.
(b) People.
(c) Other insect species.
(d) Small mammals.

7. This speaking imitates ___________.
(a) The movements of one grasshopper.
(b) The movements of the old grasshoppers.
(c) The movements of the grasshoppers.
(d) The movements of the young grasshoppers.

8. How does the poet specifically use this literary device?
(a) He has placed verbs beginning with the same letter adjacent to each other.
(b) He has exaggerated the abilities of the firefly.
(c) He has represented fireflies as the green army of the night sky.
(d) He has compared the firefly to Degas.

9. Why might these insects want to teach others to walk on water?
(a) They want others to fall in the water.
(b) They want others to be able to do what they can do.
(c) They like to make fun of others.
(d) They do not like other types of insects.

10. The water strider's ability to walk on water hints at what?
(a) The lack of talent other insects have.
(b) Jesus Christ's ability to walk on water.
(c) Jesus Christ's ability to change water into wine.
(d) The strange abilities of some insects.

11. How does the poet accurately describe the behavior of a moth in this poem?
(a) By describing the way the moth moves.
(b) By comparing the moth's movements to music.
(c) By giving it human emotions and feelings.
(d) By having the two speakers talk at the same time.

12. What does this poem about book lice introduce to the reader?
(a) The names of famous authors.
(b) The different types of book binding techniques.
(c) The names of famous book lice.
(d) The different glues used to bind books.

13. Can humans relate to the mayfly's short time on earth?
(a) Not usually.
(b) No.
(c) Yes.
(d) Rarely.

14. Why do these two book lice compromise?
(a) They are in love.
(b) They have to share a book.
(c) They like to compromise.
(d) They have to share a shelf.

15. Only when does the mayfly seem to feel nostalgia?
(a) At the end of the poem.
(b) In the middle of the poem.
(c) It never feels nostalgia.
(d) At the beginning of the poem.

Short Answer Questions

1. When do the speakers say this, in regards to the answer to number 14?

2. "Mayflies" ________________ tells of the brief life of the mayfly.

3. According to this poem, why is the moth drawn to the light?

4. How else do they spend their time?

5. How do the book lice meet?

(see the answer keys)

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