The Storyteller by Jennifer Hu The tree in my backyard Has two hundred rings, Two hundred years of history, Hidden behind her bark. 5 She was here as a seedling, A mere child to the rest, Young and naïve among her dark, old elders. But now she is a guardian, Tall and welcoming, 10 Gathering and shielding the children in her arms. She has scarred wood, With intricate designs carved into her face. And she changes her clothes each season: A dress of pink blossoms in the spring, 15 A gown of green leaves in the summer. Skirts of fiery sanguine hues in autumn, And a snowy, white robe in winter. Her hands intertwine together, Gnarled fingers twisted into shapes. 20 Her face looks out to the world, A grandmother to us all. She has stood there for so long, Been here since before I was born, Saw the flow of the seasons, 25 Heard the drumming of the rain, Smelled the dew on summer dawns, And felt the moist soil at her feet. The tree in my backyard Has two hundred years of history. 30 What stories she must tell. 1. Which lines from the poem suggest that the tree deserves respect?

The Storyteller by Jennifer Hu The tree in my backyard Has two hundred rings, Two hundred years of history, Hidden behind her bark. 5 She was here as a seedling, A mere child to the rest, Young and naïve among her dark, old elders. But now she is a guardian, Tall and welcoming, 10 Gathering and shielding the children in her arms. She has scarred wood, With intricate designs carved into her face. And she changes her clothes each season: A dress of pink blossoms in the spring, 15 A gown of green leaves in the summer. Skirts of fiery sanguine hues in autumn, And a snowy, white robe in winter. Her hands intertwine together, Gnarled fingers twisted into shapes. 20 Her face looks out to the world, A grandmother to us all. She has stood there for so long, Been here since before I was born, Saw the flow of the seasons, 25 Heard the drumming of the rain, Smelled the dew on summer dawns, And felt the moist soil at her feet. The tree in my backyard Has two hundred years of history. 30 What stories she must tell. 2. Which word best describes the speaker’s attitude toward the tree?

The Storyteller by Jennifer Hu The tree in my backyard Has two hundred rings, Two hundred years of history, Hidden behind her bark. 5 She was here as a seedling, A mere child to the rest, Young and naïve among her dark, old elders. But now she is a guardian, Tall and welcoming, 10 Gathering and shielding the children in her arms. She has scarred wood, With intricate designs carved into her face. And she changes her clothes each season: A dress of pink blossoms in the spring, 15 A gown of green leaves in the summer. Skirts of fiery sanguine hues in autumn, And a snowy, white robe in winter. Her hands intertwine together, Gnarled fingers twisted into shapes. 20 Her face looks out to the world, A grandmother to us all. She has stood there for so long, Been here since before I was born, Saw the flow of the seasons, 25 Heard the drumming of the rain, Smelled the dew on summer dawns, And felt the moist soil at her feet. The tree in my backyard Has two hundred years of history. 30 What stories she must tell. 3. In line 16, the word hues means