Question

1. i hear america singing

passage one, i hear america singing by walt whitman emphasizes a collective
harmony and unity in the american identity.
i hear america singing by walt whitman
i hear america singing, the varied carols i hear,
those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
the carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
the mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
the boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing
on the steamboat deck,
the shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he
stands,
the wood - cutters song, the ploughboys on his way in the morning, or noon
intermission or at sundown,
the delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl
sewing or washing,
each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

1. in passage one, how does the author highlight each individuals relationship to the

larger american community?
a. the author contrasts the singing of the blue - collar and white - collar work in
order to show a break in the harmony of america.
b. the author lists many distinct occupations, noting their commitment
and contribution to the collective song of america.
c. the author mentions a series of jobs in order of importance, noting the
final carol as the heart of american music.
d. the author remarks on the level of difficulty of various professions and
how these varying skill levels make the music of america.

Explanation:

The poem lists various occupations (mechanics, carpenter, mason, etc.), each singing their own song. This shows that despite different jobs, they all contribute to the collective harmony. Option B correctly captures this as it mentions listing distinct occupations and their commitment/ contribution to the collective song. Option A is wrong as there's no contrast shown. Option C about order of importance is not in the poem. Option D about skill - level is also not mentioned.

Answer:

B. The author lists many distinct occupations, noting their commitment and contribution to the collective song of America.