The message of a poem

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Festival Lamp (original poem)

   Stanza 1: [1] Esme plans a bright lamp for the evening show. [2] Its paper shade has tiny painted stars. [3] A sudden breeze tears one pale corner loose. [4] The lamp cannot be hung beside the jars. Stanza 2: [5] A classmate offers cloth to mend the paper. [6] Esme first wants the planned design alone. [7] Then Esme folds the cloth across the opening [8] And watches softer light fall on the stone. Stanza 3: [9] The lamp will never match the first neat sketch. [10] The show begins; the new shade glows quite well. [11] Esme shares the steps for mending a torn shade [12] And learns that changes have a tale to tell.
   Annotations: stanza 1 = opening; stanza 2 = response; stanza 3 = result.

2. 1.

   Esme marks two stanzas. Which two stanza entries include the setback and Esme’s choice?

   • [3] A sudden breeze tears one pale corner loose. + [1] Esme plans a bright lamp for the evening show.
   • [3] A sudden breeze tears one pale corner loose. + [7] Then Esme folds the cloth across the opening
   • [3] A sudden breeze tears one pale corner loose. + [8] And watches softer light fall on the stone.
   • [1] Esme plans a bright lamp for the evening show. + [2] Its paper shade has tiny painted stars.
3. 2.

   Esme marks the lines in the poem. Which careful message also fits the unexpected turn?

   • Esme folds cloth across the opening and the softer light falls on the stone.
   • A revised plan can differ from the first design and still help others.
   • The poem is about a paper shade.
   • A first plan should always be abandoned.
4. 3.

   Esme marks two stanzas. Which two stanza entries show the changed result?

   • [6] Esme first wants the planned design alone. + [10] The show begins; the new shade glows quite well.
   • [6] Esme first wants the planned design alone. + [11] Esme shares the steps for mending a torn shade
   • [1] Esme plans a bright lamp for the evening show. + [2] Its paper shade has tiny painted stars.
   • [6] Esme first wants the planned design alone. + [1] Esme plans a bright lamp for the evening show.
5. 4.

   Esme marks the lines in the poem. Which message survives a check against every stanza?

   • The poem is about a classmate’s cloth.
   • The new shade glows during the show.
   • Working through a setback can leave both a useful result and knowledge to share.
   • Sharing a repair works without practice.

6. Two Seeds (original poem)

   Stanza 1: [1] Ren holds two seeds beside the schoolyard garden. [2] One patch gets shade; the other catches sun. [3] Ren has a favorite spot beside the walkway [4] And hopes that both small seeds will grow as one. Stanza 2: [5] A classmate asks to try the sunny corner. [6] Ren gives one seed, though keeping both feels safe. [7] Rain feeds the patch beside the sheltered walkway; [8] The sunny soil grows dry before a break. Stanza 3: [9] Ren brings a watering can across the garden. [10] Two people tend the shoots in different ways. [11] Neither patch behaves just as Ren expected; [12] Both growers learn by sharing work and days.
   Annotations: stanza 1 = opening; stanza 2 = response; stanza 3 = result.

7. 5.

   Ren marks the lines in the poem. Which message includes the setback and the response?

   • Sharing a chance can lead to joint learning, even when results are uncertain.
   • The sunny soil grows dry before a break, while rain feeds the sheltered patch.
   • Sharing always makes results fair.
   • The poem is about seeds in two patches.
8. 6.

   Ren marks two stanzas. Which two stanza entries show Ren sharing despite uncertainty?

   • [4] And hopes that both small seeds will grow as one. + [1] Ren holds two seeds beside the schoolyard garden.
   • [4] And hopes that both small seeds will grow as one. + [6] Ren gives one seed, though keeping both feels safe.
   • [4] And hopes that both small seeds will grow as one. + [9] Ren brings a watering can across the garden.
   • [1] Ren holds two seeds beside the schoolyard garden. + [2] One patch gets shade; the other catches sun.
9. 7.

   Ren marks the lines in the poem. Which careful message also fits the unexpected turn?

   • The poem is about a watering can.
   • Helping after a choice matters as much as making the generous choice.
   • Work after sharing never changes the outcome.
   • Two people tend the shoots in different ways, one using a watering can.
10. 8.

    Ren marks two stanzas. Which two stanza entries show that sharing still needs work?

    • [8] The sunny soil grows dry before a break. + [10] Two people tend the shoots in different ways.
    • [8] The sunny soil grows dry before a break. + [9] Ren brings a watering can across the garden.
    • [1] Ren holds two seeds beside the schoolyard garden. + [2] One patch gets shade; the other catches sun.
    • [8] The sunny soil grows dry before a break. + [1] Ren holds two seeds beside the schoolyard garden.
11. 9.

    Ren marks the lines in the poem. Which message survives a check against every stanza?

    • The poem is about garden patches.
    • One patch has shade and one has sun.
    • People who share always get the same results.
    • Different results can still help people learn when they keep working together.
12. 10.

    Ren marks two stanzas. Which two stanza entries show the result was not simple?

    • [4] And hopes that both small seeds will grow as one. + [11] Neither patch behaves just as Ren expected;
    • [4] And hopes that both small seeds will grow as one. + [1] Ren holds two seeds beside the schoolyard garden.
    • [1] Ren holds two seeds beside the schoolyard garden. + [2] One patch gets shade; the other catches sun.
    • [4] And hopes that both small seeds will grow as one. + [12] Both growers learn by sharing work and days.