Ribbon Snake Asleep in the Sun

Which of these best describes how the speaker feels about the snake?

• Frightened that it will cause her harm

• Eager to offer it assistance

• Sympathetic to its situation

• Impatient because it is in her way

Why does the poet include the words “though the books say/it can’t be done” in lines 5 and 6?

• To hint that the speaker enjoys learning about nature

• To show that the speaker knows her encounter with the snake is unusual

• To emphasize that the speaker wishes she were at home reading instead

• To imply that the speaker is an argumentative person

The point of view of the poem helps the reader understand the —

• threat the ribbon snake represents

• ribbon snake’s ability to anticipate the speaker’s actions

• types of places the ribbon snake can be observed in nature

• aspects of the ribbon snake’s behavior that the speaker finds interesting

What does the break between stanzas 2 and 3 help the poet convey?

• A shift in focus from the slow movements of the snake to the speaker’s quick reaction

• A contrast between the stillness of the scene and the sudden movement of the snake

• A difference in the snake’s behavior as it becomes increasingly curious

• A change in the speaker’s appreciation for the snake’s beauty

Read these lines from the poem.

What I would speak of, rather, is the weightless string of his actually soft and nervous body; the nameless stars of its eyes.

The imagery in these lines contributes to a sense of —

• relief

• gloom

• wonder

• discomfort

Read the dictionary entry below.

flow ( \ıflō\ n)

1. the movement of liquid

2. an amount that passes through a specific point

3. uninterrupted progress

4. an energy transfer

Which definition best matches the way the word

flow is used in line 14?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

At the end of the poem, the speaker realizes that the snake is —

• a fragile creature

• seeking a companion

• aware of its surroundings

• unlikely to return to that spot