Question

read the poem excerpt.
a backyard reality is rearranged.
hopscotch lines cower and hide,
the toys in the yard ... lost until spring.
which statement best describes the meter?
the meter is free, reflecting a two - way conversation.
the meter is free, making the poem unpredictable.
the meter is fixed, and every syllable is stressed.
the meter is fixed, drawing attention to the end rhyme.

Explanation:

To determine the meter, analyze the poem's rhythm. Free verse has no fixed meter, while fixed meter (like iambic, trochaic) has a regular pattern. The excerpt lacks a consistent syllable stress or rhythmic pattern, so the meter is free. Now check options:

• "The meter is free, reflecting a two - way conversation" – no indication of conversation - related meter.
• "The meter is free, making the poem unpredictable" – Free verse has no fixed rhythm, so it’s unpredictable in meter, which fits.
• "The meter is fixed, and every syllable is stressed" – The excerpt doesn’t have every syllable stressed (e.g., "A backyard reality is rearranged" – syllables like "a", "is" aren’t stressed).
• "The meter is fixed, drawing attention to the end rhyme" – There’s no consistent end - rhyme pattern (rearranged, hide, spring – no rhyme), and meter isn’t fixed. So the best option is the one about free meter making the poem unpredictable.

Answer:

The meter is free, making the poem unpredictable.