"Tamara's Opus" by Joshua Bennett

1.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

This word is a noun that refers to the the basic recurring unit in a piece of music.

"Never danced to the ________ of raindrops."

chorus

rhythm

symphony

vibration

2.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

This word is a noun that refers to a long and complex sonata for an orchestra.

"just listen as I play you a ________ on the strings of my heart"

chorus

rhythm

symphony

vibration

3.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

This word is a verb that means to censure, rebuke, or reprimand severely.

"speakers booming so loud that I imagined angels _______ us for disturbing their worship"

anticipate

blasphemy

chastise

seep

4.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

This word is a verb that means to pass gradually or leak or as if through small openings.

"allow my sunlight sentences to s______ into her insides"

anticipate

blasphemy

chastise

seep

5.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

This word is an adjective describing having a feeling of mixed reverence and wonder and dread.

"readily recall my _______ eleven-year old eyes as I watched Deaf men and women of all ages dance in unison to the vibrations"

awestruck

barricade

sever

unison

6.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

This word is a verb that refers to the action of cutting off something from a whole.

"never be pieced back together or do anything more than ________ the ties between my sister and I."

awestruck

barricade

sever

unison

7.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What is the best way to combine the two sentences below?

Joshua Bennett performed his poem "Tamara's Opus" at the White House.

Joshua Bennett is a spoken word artist.

His poem, "Tamara's Opus," was performed by Joshua Bennett, since he is a spoken word artist.

A spoken word artist, Joshua Bennett, performed "Tamara's Opus at the White House.

"Tamara's Opus", by Joshua Bennett, was performed by a spoken word artist at the White House.

Joshua Bennett, a spoken word artist, performed his poem "Tamara's Opus" at the White House.

8.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What is the best way to combine the two sentences below?

"Tamara's Opus" is about Bennett's sister.

Bennett's sister is deaf.

Deaf Bennett's sister is who "Tamara's Opus" is about.

"Tamara's Opus" is about Bennett's sister, who is deaf.

Bennett has a sister who is deaf that he wrote "Tamara's Opus" about.

"Tamara's Opus" is about Bennett's deaf sister.

9.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What is the best way to combine the two sentences below?

Tamara cannot hear music.

Tamara can dance to the beat of music.

Tamara cannot hear music, but she can dance to the beat of it.

Tamara cannot hear music, so she can dance to the beat of it.

Tamara cannot hear music, but can dance to the beat of music.

She cannot hear music, but Tamara can dance to the beat of it.

10.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What is the best way to combine the two sentences below?

"Tamara's Opus" is an apology in the form of a poem.

"Tamara's Opus" reflects Bennett's love for his sister.

"Tamara's Opus" is an apology in the form of a poem, which reflects Bennett's love for his sister.

"Tamara's Opus" is an apology in the form of a poem, so it reflects the love Bennett has for his sister.

"Tamara's Opus" is an apology in the form of a poem that reflects Bennett's love for his sister.

Bennett loves his sister, which is why "Tamara's Opus" is an apology in the form of a poem.

11.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Based of the pivotal words and phrases in these lines from "Tamara's Opus," what does the speaker think about his sister?

20 I waited

21 was patient numberless years

22 anticipating the second

23 her ears would open like lotuses

24 and allow my sunlight sentences to seep

25 into her insides

He is frustrated with her.

He thinks she will change.

He sees his sister's ears as gardens

He thinks she needs to listen

12.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Based of the pivotal words and phrases in these lines from "Tamara's Opus," what has the speaker come to realize about his relationship with his sister?

49 It is only now I see

50 that I was never willing

51 to put in the extra effort to love her properly

52 So as the only person in my family

53 who is not fluent in sign language

54 I have decided to take this time

55 to apologize

56 Tamara, I am sorry

57 for my silence.

He thinks he was nice to her.

He thinks he neglected to love her.

He thinks he ignored her.

He thinks he was mean to her.

13.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

In lines 09-16, the speaker describes a shift. What is the shift that occurs in the speaker's point of view?

09 My father has said:

10 "Joshua. Nothing is wrong with Tamara.

11 God just makes

12 some people different."

13 And at that moment

14 those nine letters felt like hammers

15 swung gracefully by unholy hands

16 to shatter my stained-glass innocence

The speaker is mad at his father.

The speaker blames God for his sister.

The speaker is no longer a child.

The speaker now knows his sister is different.

14.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

In lines 30-40, the speaker describes a shift. What shift occurs in the speaker's point of view of his sister?

30 I still remember her 20th birthday

31 readily recall my awestruck eleven-year old eyes

32 as I watched Deaf men and women of all ages

33 dance in unison to the vibrations

34 of speakers booming so loud

35 that I imagined angels chastising us

36 for disturbing their worship

37 with such beautiful blasphemy

38 until you have seen

39 a Deaf girl dance

40 you know nothing of passion.

The speaker learned she liked music.

The speaker learned he had to try harder to express his love for his sister.

The speaker learned that sister knows how to dance.

The speaker was annoyed with the loud music.

15.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

"Tamara's Opus" is a spoken word performance poem. Joshua Bennett signs some of the words in italics that he he also speaks aloud in front of a live audience. What is the purpose of the words that he signs in italics from lines 43-57?

43 never for even a moment

44 thought to pick up a book and look up

45 the signs for sister

46 for family

47 for goodbye, I will see you again some day

48 remember the face of your little brother.

49 It is only now I see

50 that I was never willing

51 to put in the extra effort to love her properly

52 So as the only person in my family

53 who is not fluent in sign language

54 I have decided to take this time

55 to apologize

56 Tamara, I am sorry

57 for my silence.

To demonstrate he learned how to sign.

To speak to his sister Tamara, who is deaf.

To teach the audience sign language.

To be fancy during his performance.

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