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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Oliver think people should pay more attention to in life?
(a) Loving.
(b) Living.
(c) Passing.
(d) Aging.

2. Why did Oliver choose the simple titles for her poems?
(a) To leave the interpretation open.
(b) To guide the reader.
(c) To take the guesswork away from the reader.
(d) To make her thoughts obscure.

3. What is Oliver trying to describe with the lilt in the words in Everything?
(a) Creation.
(b) Gravity.
(c) Human Nature.
(d) Choices.

4. In The Measure, what does the author say we must do to fully experience life?
(a) Discard safety.
(b) Give it a trial.
(c) Think of new directions.
(d) Help one another.

5. How was the poet traveling when she saw an animal in The Measure?
(a) She was swimming.
(b) She was walking along.
(c) She was riding a bike.
(d) She was driving a car.

Short Answer Questions

1. What were the eyes of the animal compared to in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that comes First?

2. What does Oliver try to write most of her poems about?

3. What did Oliver do at the end of Work Sometimes?

4. What does Oliver try to avoid awkwardness in as she is writing?

5. Why did Oliver choose the tone she did at the beginning of Work Sometimes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the main question Oliver asks in Work Sometimes?

2. In Everything, where are some of the places Oliver states she wants to go when she writes?

3. In Everything, what does Oliver say she wants her poems to be able to do?

4. What does Oliver think the turtle was heading for in The Measure?

5. What did Oliver do at the beginning of The Measure?

6. In Work Sometimes, what are some of the things that Oliver lists as NOT leading to happiness?

7. In Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones, what is personified in the last lines?

8. In Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones, what does Oliver ask about a seed grain?

9. How did Oliver feel at the beginning of Work Sometimes and why?

10. In Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones, what does Oliver say about the pond?

(see the answer keys)

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