Question

check your understanding
answer these questions before moving on to the analyze the text
section on the following page.
1 the speaker travels to alaska in order to —
a observe the ocean ice breaking apart
b visit an old friend and her family
c hunt for walrus and seal
d explain her beliefs to a young man
2 the line “her smell is sweet like blossoms coming up through the
snow” emphasizes —
f the woman’s physical beauty
g the powerful odor of the tundra flowers
h the woman’s connection to the natural world
j the extreme coldness of the environment
3 which of the following is an important idea in the poem?
a air travel can be uncomfortable.
b technology can help people relax.
c cultural change can cause serious problems.
d places can remind people of who they are.

Explanation:

Question 1

To solve this, we analyze each option. Option A: If the text context (not fully given here, but typical for such questions) has the speaker going to Alaska to see ice breakup, but likely not. Option B: Visiting a friend and family is a common reason for travel, and if the text implies that, this is plausible. Option C: Hunting walrus and seal is more specific and less likely as a main travel reason without context. Option D: Explaining beliefs to a young man is less likely as a travel purpose. So the most probable is B.

The line compares her smell to blossoms in snow. Blossoms in snow show a connection to nature (blossoms are natural, snow is natural environment). Option F: Physical beauty is not emphasized by smell like blossoms. Option G: The odor of tundra flowers is not the focus, it's about her. Option J: Coldness of environment is not emphasized by the smell comparison. So H is correct.

Option A: Air travel discomfort is not a poem's important idea (poems are more about themes like identity, nature, culture). Option B: Technology helping relax is not a common poem theme here. Option C: Cultural change causing problems – the poem likely doesn't focus on that. Option D: Places reminding people of who they are is a common literary theme (places as identity anchors). So D is correct.

Answer:

B. visit an old friend and her family

Question 2