Out of the Dust Review

What is the meaning of the simile, "his legs like willow limbs,/his arms like reeds," as it is used in the excerpt of the poem?

• His arms and legs were short.

• He was covered in leaves and sticks from the dust storm.

• He had a peg leg and arms made out of wood.

• His arms and legs were very thin.

What is the meaning of the word quaking as it is used in the following stanza from "Give Up On Wheat"?"Ma starts to quaking but she won't let Daddy see./ Instead, she goes out to the chickens/ and/ her anger,/ simmering over like a pot in an empty kitchen,/ boils itself down doing chores" (Hesse 41).

• making duck sounds

• shaking

• crying

• laughing

"'...Without the sod the water vanished,/the soil turned to dust./Until the wind took it,/lifting it up and carrying it away./Such sorrow doesn't come suddenly,/there are a thousand steps to take/before you get there.'/But now,/sorrow climbs up our front steps,/big as Texas, and we didn't even see it coming,/even though it'd been making its way straight for us/all along" (Hesse 84).

Which statement BEST describes how the tone of this passage impacts the mood?

• The gloomy tone of the speaker creates a feeling of empathy in the reader.

• The amused tone of the speaker creates a feeling of gratefulness in the reader.

• The peaceful tone of the speaker creates a feeling of sadness in the reader.

• The angry tone of the speaker creates a feeling of surprise in the reader.

"'...Without the sod the water vanished,/the soil turned to dust./Until the wind took it,/lifting it up and carrying it away./Such sorrow doesn't come suddenly,/there are a thousand steps to take/before you get there.'/But now,/sorrow climbs up our front steps,/big as Texas, and we didn't even see it coming,/even though it'd been making its way straight for us/all along" (Hesse 84).

Which words from the excerpt contribute to the speaker's gloomy tone?

• "...Until the wind took it..."

• "...there are a thousand steps to take..."

• "...big as Texas..."

• "...the soil turned to dust..."

In the poem Rules of Dining, the phrase exposing neat circles,/round comments/on what life would be like without dust... is an example of what form of figurative language?

• personification

• simile

• metaphor

• mood

When Billie Jo plays piano with Arley and his friends "on the road," she feels

• guilty.

• homesick.

• a sense of freedom.

• uncomfortable.

Which line is a metaphor?

• Raising the pail as she poured the kerosene

• Screaming as she ran to the porch door

• Suddenly Ma was a column of fire

• Ma got burned bd

What is the primary theme explored in 'Out of the Dust'?

• A) Friendship

• B) Survival

• C) Romance

• D) Adventure

Which literary device is predominantly used in 'Out of the Dust' to convey the protagonist's emotions?

• A) Metaphor

• B) Simile

• C) Personification

• D) Imagery

In 'Out of the Dust', what does the dust symbolize?

• A) Wealth

• B) Despair

• C) Freedom

• D) Joy