AnswersBT 26-27 English Language Arts 11 BUnit Test

Poetry of Langston Hughes Answers

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1
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In what way are the lines of "The Weary Blues" similar to the lyrics of a blues song?

A
The poem uses repetition to create meaning.
B
The poem uses a standard rhyme scheme.
C
The poem does not use figurative language.
D
The poem does not offer insight into emotions.
2
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What effect does Hughes achieve by repeating the phrase "does it" in "Harlem"?

A
Short words and hard consonants create a sense of angry uncertainty.
B
Short words and questions demonstrate Hughes's confidence.
C
The repetition creates a sense of peace and serenity for the reader.
D
The repetition highlights Hughes’s feelings of self-respect.
3

The speaker’s role in "Harlem" is to

A
criticize oppression.
B
encourage nonviolent protests.
C
inspire new discoveries.
D
condemn artistic images.
4

Read the excerpt from "The Weary Blues." Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self.I’s gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf.What is the effect of repeating the phrase “ain't got nobody” in the poem?

A
It emphasizes the theme of sorrow and melancholy in the poem.
B
It illustrates the singer's reluctance to perform the blues.
C
It shows the singer's desire to connect to other musicians.
D
It personifies the singer's thoughts and emotions.
5

Read the poem “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay. If we must die—let it not be like hogsHunted and penned in an inglorious spot,While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,Making their mock at our accursed lot.If we must die—oh, let us nobly die So that our precious blood may not be shedIn vain; then even the monsters we defyShall be constrained to honor us though dead!Oh, Kinsmen! We must meet the common foe;Though far outnumbered, let us still be brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!What though before us lies the open grave?Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack,Pressed to the wall, dying, but—fighting back!What sentence best conveys the speaker’s message?

A
Nature is more powerful than humans.
B
Victory is unlikely when one is outnumbered.
C
There is honor in dying courageously.
D
Nonviolence is the only way to prevent bloodshed.
6

Which lines from "The Weary Blues" suggest that the speaker is impressed by the musician?

A
Down on Lenox Avenue the other nightBy the dull pale pallor of an old gas light
B
With his ebony hands on each ivory keyHe made that poor piano moan with melody.
C
In a deep voice with a melancholy tone
D
Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.
7

Read the excerpt from "The Weary Blues."He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues!Swaying to and fro on his rickety stoolHe played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues!Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues! In a deep song voice with a melancholy toneI heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan— "Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self.I’s gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf."What is the effect of repeating the phrase “piano moan” in the poem?

A
It sets a sad, mournful tone.
B
It adds a cheerful, melodic chord.
C
It adds an open, musical sound.
D
It sets an angry, discordant tone.
8

Read the descriptions of rhyme schemes below.Free verse: poetry that does not use a consistent rhyme schemeIambic pentameter: a poetic rhyme scheme in which each rhyming line has ten syllablesBlank verse: poetry that uses unrhymed iambic pentameterRhyming couplets: a series of two consecutive lines that rhyme in a poemBased on the descriptions, what rhyme scheme does the poem "Harlem" use?

A
free verse
B
iambic pentameter
C
blank verse
D
couplets
9

Read the excerpt from "Harlem."Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet?Read the excerpt from "The Weary Blues."Droning a drowsy syncopated tuneRocking back and forth to a mellow croonIn both poems, Hughes uses the imagery to

A
establish tone.
B
offer background information.
C
convey a criticism.
D
conjure pleasant memories.
10

Read the poem “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay. If we must die—let it not be like hogsHunted and penned in an inglorious spot,While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,Making their mock at our accursed lot.If we must die—oh, let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shedIn vain; then even the monsters we defyShall be constrained to honor us though dead!Oh, Kinsmen! We must meet the common foe;Though far outnumbered, let us still be brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!What though before us lies the open grave?Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack,Pressed to the wall, dying, but—fighting back!Which best describes the speaker in this poem?

A
a manager who designs and carries out war plans
B
an officer who teaches soldiers how to win wars
C
an activist who persuades politicians to end a war
D
a motivator who encourages readers to fight oppression
11

The speaker in "Harlem" contemplates

A
the outcome of people’s hatred.
B
the fate of aspirations that are unrealized.
C
the result of heavy labor in extreme conditions.
D
the consequences of childhood neglect.
12

What effect does Hughes achieve by repeating the phrase "does it" in "Harlem"?

A
Short words and hard consonants create a sense of angry uncertainty.
B
Short words and questions demonstrate Hughes's confidence.
C
The repetition creates a sense of peace and serenity for the reader.
D
The repetition highlights Hughes’s feelings of self-respect.
13

In what way does the line “sags like a heavy load” in "Harlem" relate to the overall feeling of "The Weary Blues"?

A
The song lyrics in “The Weary Blues” reflect a “heavy load” for the singer.
B
The audience in “The Weary Blues” is deeply affected, or “loaded,” by the song.
C
The speaker of “The Weary Blues” is not impressed by the singer, who “sags.”
D
The singer in "The Weary Blues" "sags" under the pressure of performing.
14

What is one difference in the way sensory details are used in "Harlem" and "The Weary Blues"?

A
“Harlem” uses all five senses, while “The Weary Blues” relies mainly on the sense of sound.
B
“Harlem” uses the sense of sound, while “The Weary Blues” relies on all five senses.
C
“Harlem” relies on the sense of touch, while “The Weary Blues” relies on the sense of sound.
D
“Harlem” relies on all of the senses, while “The Weary Blues” relies mainly on the sense of touch.
15

In what way are the lines of "The Weary Blues" similar to the lyrics of a blues song?

A
The poem uses repetition to create meaning.
B
The poem uses a standard rhyme scheme.
C
The poem does not use figurative language.
D
The poem does not offer insight into emotions.
16

Read this line from "Harlem." Or does it explode?Read this line from "The Weary Blues."Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.What sense do both of these lines rely on?

A
the sense of touch
B
the sense of hearing
C
the sense of sight
D
the sense of smell
17

Read the excerpt from "The Weary Blues."He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues!Swaying to and fro on his rickety stoolHe played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues!Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues! In a deep song voice with a melancholy toneI heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan— "Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self.I’s gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf."What is the effect of repeating the phrase “piano moan” in the poem?

A
It sets a sad, mournful tone.
B
It adds a cheerful, melodic chord.
C
It adds an open, musical sound.
D
It sets an angry, discordant tone.
18

The speaker’s role in "Harlem" is to

A
criticize oppression.
B
encourage nonviolent protests.
C
inspire new discoveries.
D
condemn artistic images.
19

Read the excerpt from "Harlem."Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet?Read the excerpt from "The Weary Blues."Droning a drowsy syncopated tuneRocking back and forth to a mellow croonIn both poems, Hughes uses the imagery to

A
establish tone.
B
offer background information.
C
convey a criticism.
D
conjure pleasant memories.
20

What is one difference in the themes of "Harlem" and "The Weary Blues"?

A
“Harlem” shows curiosity, while “The Weary Blues” conveys facts.
B
“Harlem” shows joy, while “The Weary Blues” conveys disappointment.
C
“Harlem” conveys sorrow, while “The Weary Blues” shows happiness.
D
“Harlem” conveys resentment, while “The Weary Blues” shows expression.

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