Apply Reading Standards to Literature Practice Test
•10 QuestionsSofia and Chen both write about the theme of resilience in the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes.
Sofia: “The theme is that life is hard but you keep going. The mom tells her son not to quit. This is important because everyone has problems.”
Chen: “The theme is resilience—continuing despite hardship. Hughes develops it through the extended staircase metaphor: the mother says, ‘Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair,’ and then lists ‘tacks,’ ‘splinters,’ and ‘boards torn up’ to show specific obstacles. When she repeats ‘I’se still climbin’,’ the repetition emphasizes persistence over time. The final command, ‘Don’t you set down on the steps,’ connects the metaphor to a clear message: stopping is the real danger.”
Which student response shows stronger application of grade 7 reading standards with textual evidence?
Sofia and Chen both write about the theme of resilience in the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes.
Sofia: “The theme is that life is hard but you keep going. The mom tells her son not to quit. This is important because everyone has problems.”
Chen: “The theme is resilience—continuing despite hardship. Hughes develops it through the extended staircase metaphor: the mother says, ‘Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair,’ and then lists ‘tacks,’ ‘splinters,’ and ‘boards torn up’ to show specific obstacles. When she repeats ‘I’se still climbin’,’ the repetition emphasizes persistence over time. The final command, ‘Don’t you set down on the steps,’ connects the metaphor to a clear message: stopping is the real danger.”
Which student response shows stronger application of grade 7 reading standards with textual evidence?