Question

the moon by oliver herford 1 the moon is like a big round cheese that shines above the garden trees, and like a cheese grows less each night, as though some one had had a bite. 5 the mouse delights to nibble cheese, the dog bites anything he sees-- but how could they bite off the moon unless they went in a balloon? 9 and human people, when they eat they think it rude to bite their meat, they use a knife or fork or spoon; who is it then that bites the moon? why does the poet at first consider whether the mouse and the dog could be biting off the moon? 1. this poem is about __. a. the mouse and dog that delight in eating moon cheese b. thinking the moon gets smaller because something eats it c. mouse and dog going up in a balloon to bite off the moon d. thinking the moon must taste like delightful cheese 2. the poet is comparing the moon to . a. nibbling b. biting c. cheese d. a balloon 3. the poet says people think it’s rude to bite their meat because __. a. the mouse nibbles cheese b. the dog bites anything c. human people eat meat d. they use a knife or fork or spoon

Explanation:

For question 1: The poem starts by comparing the Moon to a big round cheese and mentions the Moon getting smaller as if someone bit it, relating to the Moon's appearance change. Option B says "thinking the moon gets smaller because something eats it" which matches the poem's idea of the Moon's size change (like cheese being nibbled/bitten). Option A is about the Mouse and Dog delighting in eating the Moon, but the poem first focuses on the Moon's cheese - like appearance and size change. Option C is about Mouse and Dog in a balloon, which is a later part. Option D is about the Moon tasting like cheese, but the poem's main comparison is the Moon being like cheese (shape/size change), not taste. So B is correct.

For question 2: The line "The Moon is like a big round cheese" shows the poet compares the Moon to cheese. So the answer is C.

For question 3: The poem says "And Human People, when they eat / They think it rude to bite their meat, / They use a Knife or Fork or Spoon; / Who is it then that bites the moon?" So people think it's rude to bite meat (so they use utensils), implying they don't bite meat. The reason they think it's rude to bite their meat is that they use a knife or fork or spoon (option D). Option A is about the Mouse nibbling cheese, not related. Option B is about the Dog biting anything, not the reason for people's rudeness. Option C is just a statement, not the reason. So D is correct.

For the open - ended question "Why does the poet at first consider whether the Mouse and the Dog could be biting off the Moon?": The poet first compares the Moon to a big round cheese. Mice are known to nibble cheese and dogs to bite things they see. So the poet, because of the Moon's cheese - like appearance, considers if the Mouse (who delights in nibbling cheese) and the Dog (who bites anything he sees) could be the ones biting the Moon, as their behaviors match the idea of something (like cheese - the Moon) being nibbled/bitten.

Answer:

1. B. thinking the moon gets smaller because something eats it
2. C. cheese
3. D. they use a knife or fork or spoon

For the open - ended question: The poet compares the Moon to a big round cheese. Mice nibble cheese and dogs bite things they see, so the poet considers if the Mouse (who likes nibbling cheese) and the Dog (who bites what he sees) could be biting the Moon, as their behaviors fit the idea of the Moon (like cheese) being nibbled/bitten.