Grade Practice Test | Lumos Learning
Question No. 1 / 1

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Somebody's Mother
by Mary Down Brine


(1)  The woman was old and ragged and gray
  And bent with the chill of the winter's day.
  The street was wet with a recent snow
  And the woman's feet were aged and slow.

(5)  She stood at the crossing and waited long
  Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
  Of human beings who passed her by
  Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.

  Down the street, with laughter and shout,
(10) Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"
  Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
  Hailing the snow piled white and deep.

  Past the woman so old and gray
  Hastened the children on their way.
(15) Nor offered a helping hand to her-
  So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
  Lest the carriage wheels or horses' feet
  Should crowd her down in the slippery street.

  At last came the merry troop,
(20) The happiest laddie of all the group;
  He paused beside her and whispered low,
  "I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."

  Her aged hand on his strong arm
  She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
(25) He guided the trembling feet along,
  Proud that his own were firm and strong.
  Then back again to his friends he went,
  His young heart happy and well content.

  "She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,
(30) For all she's aged and poor and slow,"
  "And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
  To help my mother you understand,
  "If ever she's poor and old and gray,
  When her own dear boy is far away."

(35) And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head
  In her home that night, and the prayer she said
  Was "God be kind to the noble boy,
  Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!"

In the poem “Somebody’s Mother,” none of the characters have names. Write a short essay explaining why the boy helped the old lady, even though he didn’t know her, and explain how the actions of the boy and the old lady support the poet’s choice not to name the characters.

Language (L.4.1)