The description of the “twisting grip of years/spent packing, of years spent moving,/further each time, from known comforts” in lines 18 through 20 most strongly suggests that the speaker’s mother –
Chose a path in life that took her away from her loved ones
Experienced tension in her relationships with family members
Prioritized a sense of adventure over one of security
Felt unfulfilled by the environment in which she had grown up
What does the poet’s repetition of “hadn't known” in lines 6 and 9 convey to the reader?
It emphasizes the distance that the speaker feels between her own life and her great-grandmother
It reveals the speaker’s annoyance that her mother was reluctant to share details about their relatives.
It suggests the speaker’s willingness to explore the complications of family relationships.
It demonstrates that the speaker was indifferent to the experiences of people outside her own community.
Which is the best summary of the poem?
The speaker dumps a jar of old tomatoes into the sink. She describes the color of the tomatoes and how they look as they collect in the sink’s drain. The speaker explains what she was thinking when she decided to dump the jar’s contents.
The speaker reflects on a decision to throw away tomatoes that her great-grandmother had preserved in a jar. She ponders her great-grandmother’s life and gains insight into why her great-grandmother preserved her tomatoes and why her mother kept that particular jar.
The speaker reconsiders her choice to throw away her great-grandmother’s jarred tomatoes. She recalls that her great-grandmother took pride in having a garden. The speaker realizes that her mother must have appreciated receiving a gift from this garden.
The speaker reveals that although she never knew her great-grandmother, this woman was an important figure to her. The speaker then reflects on why her great-grandmother gave her mother a jar of preserved tomatoes.
The poet’s description of the fruits and vegetables as “bright wealth” in line 22 most emphasizes the idea that –
A speaker’s great-grandmother was unusually talented at gardening
The speaker’s great-grandmother earned income from gardening
The speaker’s mother was attracted to the beauty and orderliness of the garden
The speaker’s mother understood both the material and sentimental value of the garden.
Which quotations from the poem suggest that the speaker’s decision to empty the jar was a practical one?
Select TWO correct answers.
I learned regret at Mother’s sink, (line 1)
Hating wasted space (line 4)
Opening the jar (line 16)
I knew nothing of the rotting/effect (lines 17-18)
only the danger of a date/so old (lines 24-25)
The poet’s use of “understood” (lines 23 and 27) and “Understanding” (line 25) creates –
An uncertain tone, as the words suggest that the speaker is attempting to convince herself she is right
A determined tone, as the words reveal that she speaker is eager to learn more about her family
A flustered ton, as the words show that the speaker is troubled by her current situation
A contemplative tone, as the words demonstrate that the speaker is gaining insight about her actions
Which ideas about society are represented in the poem?
Select the correct answer in each row.
Represented in Poem
Not represented in Poem
Progress and change are invigorating to some people but cause concern in others.
An examination of history can bring new appreciation for current conditions.
Practices and traditions from older times can still have relevance in the present day.
People rarely make an effort to learn more about the daily lives of their ancestors.
What is the most likely reason the poet uses contrast to present the ideas in lines 25 through 28?
To show that the speaker is aware that her memories may be distorted by her emotions
To highlight that the speaker has struggled to feel a sense of belonging within her family
To emphasize that the speaker failed to initially consider the consequences of a choice
To hint that the speaker has presented an inaccurate portrayal of her great-grandmother