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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. In Everything, what are we told to look to for examination?
(a) Ourselves.
(b) Our surroundings.
(c) Our goals.
(d) Our God.

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

3. What did the animal in The Measure do when the poet tried to save it?
(a) Bit her.
(b) Hissed at her.
(c) Ran away.
(d) Looked into her eye.

4. What kind of citizen did the poet call the animal in The Measure?
(a) Elderly.
(b) Shy.
(c) Unknown.
(d) Voracious.

5. What did Oliver do at the end of Work Sometimes?
(a) Closed her blinds.
(b) Took a nap.
(c) Went back to work.
(d) Ran for her life.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the first plant talked about in Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones?

2. What is Oliver trying to establish an intimacy with in Work Sometimes?

3. What had stacked up on the table in Work Sometimes?

4. How do the characters in Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones feel about the events in the poem?

5. Which of these words is used by the editor to describe Oliver's style?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the beginning of The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that Comes First, what does Oliver state the hawk finds joy in?

2. In The Measure, how does Oliver say the turtle came to choose its course of travel for the day Oliver saw it?

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

4. In The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that Comes First, what is the bird doing at the beginning of the poem?

5. What did the hawk do at the end of The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that Comes First?

6. In The Measure, what does Oliver say happens to the lives that are watched over?

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

8. What did Oliver compare the feet of the hawk to in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that Comes First?

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

10. In The Measure, what does Mary Oliver say her watched over life resulted in and why?

(see the answer keys)

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