Read the passage from “i know why the caged bird sings.” i have tried often to search behind the sophistication of years for the enchantment i so easily found in those gifts. the essence escapes but its aura remains. to be allowed, no, invited, into the private lives of strangers, and to share their joys and fears, was a chance to exchange the southern bitter wormwood for a cup of mead with beowulf or a hot cup of tea and milk with oliver twist. when i said aloud, "it is a far, far better thing that i do, than i have ever done . .” tears of love filled my eyes at my selflessness. what is the most likely reason author maya angelou included this passage? to entertain the reader with references to books to explain her viewpoint on the wonders of reading to provide actions that show her personality traits to persuade the reader of the benefits of the classics

Is the following statement true or false? the topic sentence of a paragraph should indicate what the paragraph is going to be about. false true

Which sentence in this excerpt from leo tolstoy’s the death of ivan ilyich shows the human tendency to contemplate one’s past life? "but if that is so," he said to himself, "and i am leaving this life with the consciousness that i have lost all that was given me and it is impossible to rectify it—what then? " he lay on his back and began to pass his life in review in quite a new way. in the morning when he saw first his footman, then his wife, then his daughter, and then the doctor, their every word and movement confirmed to him the awful truth that had been revealed to him during the night. in them he saw himself—all that for which he had lived—and saw clearly that it was not real at all, but a terrible and huge deception which had hidden both life and death. this consciousness intensified his physical suffering tenfold. he groaned and tossed about, and pulled at his clothing which choked and stifled him. and he hated them on that account. he was given a large dose of opium and became unconscious, but at noon his sufferings began again. he drove everybody away and tossed from side to side. his wife came to him and said: "jean, my dear, do this for me. it can't do any harm and often . healthy people often do it." he opened his eyes wide. "what? take communion? why? it's unnecessary! " she began to cry. "yes, do, my dear. i'll send for our priest. he is such a nice man." "all right. very well," he muttered. when the priest came and heard his confession, ivan ilyich was softened and seemed to feel a relief from his doubts and consequently from his sufferings, and for a moment there came a ray of hope. he again began to think of the vermiform appendix and the possibility of correcting it. he received the sacrament with tears in his eyes.

When reading a poem closely to interpret its meaning and nuances, what can give you clues about the theme of the poem? a the rhyme scheme b. the stanza structure c. the title of the poem d. the name of the poet