A Poem for my Librarian, Mrs. Long

What can the reader most reasonably infer about the speaker’s childhood from the first stanza?

• a) The speaker was not allowed to watch television.

• b) Socializing was an important part of everyday life.

• c) Playing with friends was discouraged in favor of family time.

• d) The speaker spent all of her free time with neighbors.

Based on lines 1–16, what is one of the poem’s themes?

• a) There was security for the speaker in music and community.

• b) Books took the speaker away from the realities of life.

• c) Books and music helped the speaker overcome isolation.

• d) The speaker learned to deal with conflict through music.

The poet’s use of sensory language in lines 17–21 conveys a mood of —

• a) humor and optimism

• b) familiarity and comfort

• c) sadness and loss

• d) excitement and suspense

Read lines 29–30 from the poem.

She would go to the big library uptown and I now know
Hat in hand to ask to borrow so that I might borrow
Hat in hand to ask to borrow so that I might borrow

What is the effect of the repetition of the word "borrow" in the poem?

• a) It implies that the librarian is unhappy with her job.

• b) It indicates that the speaker doesn’t own any books.

• c) It emphasizes the effort the librarian made for the speaker.

• d) It suggests that the speaker should go to the big library on her own.

The speaker describes visiting the library and Mrs. Long in lines 22–39. Which two ideas can the reader most reasonably infer from these lines?

• a) The library on Vine Street was always very busy and crowded with people.

• b) The speaker fully understood what Mrs. Long did for her only after she became an adult.

• c) The library on Vine Street was visited by both white and black residents on a regular basis.

• d) The speaker had a very difficult childhood and found her only joy in books from Mrs. Long.

• e) The speaker deeply treasured reading the books Mrs. Long loaned to her.

Which I visited and inhaled that wonderful odor Of new books Even today I read hardcover as a preference paperback only As a last resort

Which sentence best describes the effect of the two short lines in this stanza?

• a) They emphasize the speaker’s love of new books and dislike of paperbacks.

• b) They suggest that hardcovers can be found only at bookstores.

• c) They indicate that the speaker prefers to read paperback books.

• d) They highlight why the speaker never wants to read old books or paperbacks.

Which sentence best describes the effect of the reference made in lines 43–50?

• a) The reader can envision new worlds with lions and witches.

• b) The reader understands that the lions help the speaker feel brave.

• c) The reader understands that other writers inspire the speaker to read.

• d) The reader can envision the speaker exploring new worlds with hope.

Which of the following statements are true?

• The poem is autobiographical.

• The poem contains proper capitalization.

• The poem has a regular rhyme scheme.

• The poem uses sensory language.

How does the poem’s structure contribute to its meaning?

• a) A regular rhyme scheme gives the free verse poem a distinct rhythm.

• b) Each stanza tells the reader about a different part of the speaker’s life.

• c) Free verse makes the poem seem like a story that the speaker is telling.

• d) An irregular rhyme scheme emphasizes each line of the free verse poem.

Why is the name of the librarian capitalized according to the speaker?

• a) Because she is a famous person

• b) Because she holds special importance to the speaker

• c) Because all librarians' names are capitalized

• d) Because the speaker does not know her name