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- 1. Multiple Choice
What is happening in the poem?
The narrator of the poem describes a single game of basketball.
The narrator of the poem describes the physical difficulties of basketball.
The narrator of the poem describes the fun they had playing.
The narrator of the poem describes the importance pf basketball in their past.
- 2. Multiple Choice
How does the narrator of the poem explain the players' ability to play basketball?
They exercise to get in shape.
They have an excellent coach.
It's a result of something he can't quite explain.
They are magic.
- 3. Multiple Choice
Select the textual evidence that best supports the answer to Question 2:
"poised in midair? Like storybook sea monsters"
"played nonstop all day"
"Glistening with sweat/ We rolled the ball"
"We had moves we didn't know/ We had"
- 4. Multiple Choice
What type of figurative language are these lines in the poem?
"poised in midair/ Like storybook sea monsters"
"glide like a sparrow hawk"
Simile
Metaphor
- 5. Multiple Choice
What type of figurative language are these lines from the poem?
"We were metaphysical when girls/ Cheered"
"Muscles were a bright motor"
Simile
Metaphor
- 6. Multiple Choice
"Sprung rhythm" refers to a way of writing poetry that attempts to imitate the way people normally speak. What does this phrase reveal about the way the players play basketball?
They wrote poetry and played basketball.
They had springs in their sneakers.
They played basketball in an artful but natural way.
They jumped to make baskets all the time.
- 7. Multiple Choice
Which phrase provides context for the correct answer to what "Sprung Rhythm" is?
"We'd corkscrew/ Up & dunk balls that exploded"
"when girls/ Cheered on the sidelines"
"played nonstop all day, so hard"
"We'd roll the ball off/ Our fingertips"
- 8. Multiple Choice
"Mercury" is the Roman god of poetry and messages- he is thought to be the fastest of all the gods, and has wings on his feet. What does the reference to "Mercury's/Insignia on our sneakers" show about the basketball players?
The players are wearing sneakers with wings on them.
The players are fast, strong, and almost mythically good at playing basketball.
The players are playing basketball in Rome.
The players have sneakers that allow them to fly.
- 9. Multiple Choice
Which phrase describes Sonny Boy's reaction to his mother's death?
"Double-flashing to the metal hoop/ Nailed to our oak"
"played nonstop all day, so hard/ Our backboard splintered"
"slapping a blackjack/ Against an open palm"
"glide like a sparrow hawk/ Lay ups. Fast breaks"
- 10. Multiple Choice
What does Sonny Boy's reaction reveal about a theme of the poem?
Basketball created a special place of safety and power for the players, even during hard times.
Basketball was the only activity all the boys like to do together.
Basketball made the boys more attractive to girls because ut kept them in shape.
Basketball gave the boys special powers and abilities, like gods.
- 11. Multiple Choice
How does basketball shape the players' sense of of themselves?
Basketball increases the players' physical strength.
Basketball builds players' confidence and provides them with a community.
Basketball gave the playes magical powers so nothing hurt them.
Basketball allows the players to compete against each other to show who is best.
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