Question

fog
the fog comes
on little cat feet.
it sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
by carl sandburg

life
life is but a toy that swings on a bright gold chain
ticking for a little while
to amuse a fascinated infant,
until the keeper, a very old man,
becomes tired of the game
and lets the watch run down.
by naomi long madgett

choose the statement that best compares the meaning of these poems.

1. people are like infants amused by toys.

1. life is short, so live while you can.

1. time is only a shiny distraction.

1. things of this world are fleeting.

Explanation:

• Analyze "Fog": The fog comes and then moves on, showing transience.
• Analyze "Life": Life is like a toy that amuses briefly until the old man tires, implying life (and things in the world) is fleeting.
• Evaluate options:
• Option 1: Only relates to "Life"’s infant metaphor, not "Fog". Eliminate.
• Option 2: "Live while you can" isn’t a theme in either poem. Eliminate.
• Option 3: "Shiny distraction" doesn’t match "Fog"’s transience or "Life"’s theme. Eliminate.
• Option 4: Both poems show that things (fog, life) are temporary/fleeting. This fits.

Answer:

1. Things of this world are fleeting.