The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;It rains, and the wind is never weary;The vine still cling to the mouldering wall, But every gust the dead leaves fall, And the day is dark and dreary. My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;It rains, and the wind is never weary;My thoughts still cling to the moudlering past, But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast, And those days are dark and dreary. Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;Behind the clouds is the sun still shining:Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fallSome days must be dark and dreary.

1. Which two lines from the poem mostlikely suggest that the speaker is an older person?
A. The vine still cling to the mouldering wall
B. But every gust the dead leaves fall
C. My thoughts still cling to the moudlering past
D. But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast

2. Which phrase from the poem is an example of the poet’s use of imagery?
A. dead leaves fall
B. life is cold
C. hopes of youth
D. cease repining

3. PART A Which word best describes the theme of the poem?
A. despair
B. hope
C. rain
D youth

4. PART B Which line from the poem is the most helpful in understanding the theme?
A. It rains, and the wind is never weary.
B. But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
C. Behind the clouds is the sun still shining
D. Thy fate is the common fate of all.

5. Read the line from the poem and answer the question. Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;Which word is the best synonym for cease as it is used in the line?
A. conclude
B. expire
C. finish
D. stop

6. Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of a series of words. Which line from the poem contains an alliteration?
A. But every gust the dead leaves fall,
B. But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
C. Into each life some rain must fall,
D. Some days must be dark and dreary.

7.PART A What is the speaker describing in stanza one?
A. life
B. plants
C. rain
D. weather

8. PART B Which word or phrase from the poem support your answer in PART A?
A. rains
B. vine
C. mouldering wall
D. dead leaves