Question 5 • *KCPS English Language Arts 11 (2027)
Read the quotation from "Song of Myself." I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. Which statement best explains why Whitman chose the phrase “every atom” for the last line?
Answer
A
to remind readers to embrace a microscopic view of the natural world
B
to emphasize the seriousness of his words
C
to suggest attention to detail, heightening trustworthiness
D
to remind readers to remember the basic makeup of natural objects
Explanation
Whitman uses “every atom” to point to the fundamental particles that make up both himself and his readers. The line suggests that people share the same basic substance, reinforcing the poem’s connection between the speaker and everyone else. “A microscopic view” is too literal: the focus is on shared makeup, not on studying tiny objects.
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