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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In “Theatrical Improvisation,” In the back of the house, one person begins to do what?

2. In "In Your Condition," the speaker drinks bottle after bottle of water but gazed longingly at what?

3. “New Road Station” begins by talking about what?

4. In “Watershed,” what does the speaker first describe?

5. In "4 ½," when this little girl is hungry, what does she have?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does "The United States Welcomes You" end?

2. What does the man in "Theatrical Improvisation" say happens when he sleeps outside a station?

3. In "Theatrical Improvisation," what do two of the people remember?

4. How does the speaker describe a woman in “Charity”?

5. What does the speaker in "Eternity: Landscape Painting" say when he or she views the painting?

6. To what does the speaker in “Dusk” compare life with her teenage daughter?

7. What is said about the house in “Ash”?

8. To what is the like girl compared in “4 1/2”?

9. How does Dupont end up acquiring J's land in "Watershed"?

10. What do the women say to the man, as they crouch down around him in "Theatrical Improvisation"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In “Eternity, Lama Temple,” what is the significance of each of the speaker’s observations? How do these observations affect the speaker? Why? What is the relationship between these observations and the title of the poem?

Essay Topic 2

Several of the poems were created for a specific group or event. How might this have affected the poet and her choices regarding writing these poems? Can this type of inspiration be a hinderance for the poet? Why or why not? How might the poet benefit from certain restrictions when writing a poem?

Essay Topic 3

"The United States Welcomes You" is filled with questions. What are a few of these questions? What are two other poems by Smith that include questions? What is the purpose of these questions? Do you find these questions engaging? Why or why not?

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