Question

ead the selection, and choose the best answer to each question.
from songs of travel
by robert louis stevenson
xv
in the highlands, in the country places,
where the old plain men have rosy faces,
and the young fair maidens
quiet eyes,
5 where essential silence cheers and blesses,
and for ever in the hill - recesses
her more lovely music
broods and dies.
o to mount again where erst i haunted,
10 where the old red hills are bird - enchanted,
and the low green meadows
bright with sward.
and when even i dies, the million - tinted
part a
what is the most likely meaning of the word sward as it used in line 12?
a. a heap or mound of something
b. something that is illuminated
c. the grassy surface of land
d. a low part of land
part b
which line from the poem best supports the answer to part a?
a “where the old red hills are bird - enchanted,” (line 10)
b. “and the low green meadows” (line 11)
c. “lo, the valley hollow” (line 15)
d “lamp - bestarred” (line 16)

Explanation:

For Part A:

• In the context of "And the low green meadows Bright with sward", "sward" is related to the grassy part of the meadows.
• Option A ("a heap or mound of something") is not relevant to the description of meadows.
• Option B ("something that is illuminated") does not fit the description of what makes the meadows bright (it's the grass - sward).
• Option D ("a low part of land") is too general, while the focus is on the grassy surface.

For Part B:

• If "sward" means the grassy surface of land, then "And the low green meadows" (line 11) which is followed by "Bright with sward" best supports the meaning. The meadows are described as green (grassy) and then associated with sward.
• Option A ("Where the old red hills are bird - enchanted") is about hills, not related to the meaning of sward.
• Option C ("Lo, the valley hollow") is about a valley, not directly related to the grassy surface meaning of sward.
• Option D ("Lamp - bestarred") is about something illuminated (like stars), not related to the grassy surface.

Answer:

Part A: C. the grassy surface of land
Part B: B. “And the low green meadows” (line 11)