Question 1

Part A: Which excerpt from Text 1, “I Hear America Singing,” best conveys its overall theme?

Accepted Answer

“Each singing what belongs to him or her and to no one else,”

Answer

“The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly”

Answer

“The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,”

Answer

“The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,”

Question 2

Part B: How does the idea of carols help develop the theme of Text 1?

Accepted Answer

The beauty of America grows as each worker contributes his or her own carol.

Answer

As each American worker sings a new carol, he or she becomes more effective at his or her job.

Answer

The American worker grows more powerful as he shares his or her own carol.

Answer

As each carol is introduced, more opportunities open up for Americans.

Question 3

How does the structure of the poem contribute to its overall meaning?

Accepted Answer

The list of a wide variety of workers highlights the unique contribution each worker makes to America.

Answer

The gradual increase in line length accentuates the important role that women play in creating America’s strength.

Answer

The inconsistent line length emphasizes the novelty of each worker’s contribution to America.

Answer

The repeated references to songs develop the idea that each worker performs a similar function in American society.

Question 4

How does the description of the songs as “strong” in Line 3 of Text 1 impact the meaning of the poem?

Accepted Answer

It emphasizes the greatness of America, created through individual workers.

Answer

It demonstrates a hope for a brighter future, felt by American laborers when they finish their work.

Answer

It reveals the belief that America is only powerful as long as each worker contributes.

Answer

It highlights the joy that American laborers feel as they complete their daily tasks.

Question 5

In Text 1, reread lines 1–2 and 15–18. Which of these words contribute to a joyous tone?

Accepted Answer

"blithe"

Answer

"varied"

Answer

"strong"

Answer

"mouths"

Question 6

Part A: Which theme is conveyed in Text 2, Hughes’s poem?

Accepted Answer

America must celebrate all of its members, not just a select group.

Answer

All people in America share similar experiences and lead similar lives.

Answer

To Americans, health and happiness should be of greatest importance.

Answer

Americans must make the effort to spend more time with their loved ones.

Question 7

Part B: Which excerpt from Text 2 best demonstrates this theme?

Accepted Answer

I, too, am America.

Answer

Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table

Answer

But I laugh,/And eat well,

Answer

I am the darker brother.

Question 8

In Text 2, how does the shift in setting from the kitchen to the table in Stanza 2 to Stanza 3 mainly impact the poem?

Accepted Answer

It reflects the speaker’s determination and desire for progress.

Answer

It reveals the speaker’s decision to develop deeper friendships.

Answer

It warns that humans must strive to make fewer demands of one another.

Answer

It proves that the ideals and values of the nation have already changed.

Question 9

Part A: In Stanza 2 and in Stanza 4 of Hughes’s poem, the speaker uses the word “they.” Who is the “they” that the speaker refers to?

Accepted Answer

people who are different from him

Answer

his enemies and rivals

Answer

people who are from other countries

Answer

his family and friends

Question 10

Part B: Why is it important that the speaker does not define exactly who “they” are?

Accepted Answer

It holds the focus of the poem on its subject, which is the speaker himself.

Answer

It protects the speaker’s relationships by not offending one specific group.

Answer

It invites people everywhere to be part of the speaker’s concept of America.

Answer

It keeps readers interested in the poem by maintaining their curiosity.

Question 11

In the poem “I, Too, Sing America,” what is the effect of using simple language and short lines?

Accepted Answer

Heightens the impact of each individual word or phrase

Answer

Emphasizes the central idea of the poem

Answer

Foreshadows differences between the speaker’s present reality and his intended future

Answer

Reflects the speaker’s feelings of individuality and independence

Question 12

In the poem “I, Too, Sing America,” what is the effect of using transitional words (But, Tomorrow, Besides)?

Accepted Answer

Foreshadows differences between the speaker’s present reality and his intended future

Answer

Heightens the impact of each individual word or phrase

Answer

Emphasizes the central idea of the poem

Answer

Reflects the speaker’s feelings of individuality and independence

Question 13

In the poem “I, Too, Sing America,” what is the effect of using similar language in the first and last lines (I, too, sing America/I, too, am America)?

Accepted Answer

Emphasizes the central idea of the poem

Answer

Foreshadows differences between the speaker’s present reality and his intended future

Answer

Reflects the speaker’s feelings of individuality and independence

Answer

Heightens the impact of each individual word or phrase

Question 14

In the poem “I, Too, Sing America,” what is the effect of using varying numbers of lines in each stanza?

Accepted Answer

Reflects the speaker’s feelings of individuality and independence

Answer

Heightens the impact of each individual word or phrase

Answer

Foreshadows differences between the speaker’s present reality and his intended future

Answer

Emphasizes the central idea of the poem

Question 15

Which statement explain how the point of view of the speaker of Text 1 compares or contrasts with that of Text 2?

Accepted Answer

Whitman’s speaker speaks from a point of view of one who feels valued as an American, while Hughes’ speaker does not.

Answer

Whitman’s speaker believes only positive things about life in America, while Hughes’s speaker has an entirely negative view about life in America.

Answer

Whitman’s speaker mainly discusses the challenges of being an American, while Hughes’s speaker mainly discusses the benefits of being an American

Answer

Whitman’s speaker and Hughes’s speaker describe the lives of both American men and women.

Question 16

How do the authors use the structure of the poems to contribute to the meaning of Text 1 and Text 2?

Accepted Answer

In both poems, the poets avoid traditional rhyme scheme to highlight theimportant role that freedom has in American life.

Answer

Hughes uses short lines to tell a simple story, while Whitman uses longer lines to celebrate the complex role of the American worker.

Answer

Whitman gradually increases the length of his lines to emphasize the growing importance of the American worker, while Hughes varies the line length to call attention to the experience in the kitchen.

Answer

Both poets use repeated words and phrases to describe American independence.

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