Sunday, August 13, 2023

15 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the poem "A Photograph" by Shirley Toulson

1. What is the central theme of the poem "A Photograph"?

   a) Nature's beauty

   b) Childhood friendships

   c) The power of photography

   d) Memory, time, and loss


2. What does the photograph capture in the opening stanza?

   a) A family gathering

   b) A moment of laughter and play by the sea

   c) A scenic landscape

   d) A formal portrait


3. How does the mother react when she looks at the photograph?

   a) She becomes sad and teary-eyed.

   b) She laughs and reminisces about the past.

   c) She becomes angry and frustrated.

   d) She feels indifferent and uninterested.


4. What role does the sea play in the poem?

   a) It symbolizes the fleeting nature of time.

   b) It represents a barrier between the characters.

   c) It is a backdrop for the photograph.

   d) It is a source of conflict in the narrative.


5. What does the line "Both wry with the laboured ease of loss" suggest?

   a) The characters are happily reminiscing about the past.

   b) The characters are unaffected by loss.

   c) The characters are struggling to cope with loss.

   d) The characters are disconnected from their memories.


6. What does the phrase "And of this circumstance there is nothing to say at all" imply?

   a) The circumstances surrounding the photograph are trivial.

   b) The characters have no memories to share.

   c) Words are insufficient to express the impact of loss.

   d) The circumstances are too complex to understand.


7. What literary device is used when the sea is described as having "changed less"?

   a) Simile

   b) Metaphor

   c) Personification

   d) Alliteration


8. The photograph in the poem is primarily a symbol of:

   a) Joyful moments

   b) Childhood innocence

   c) Timeless beauty

   d) Memory and nostalgia


9. What emotion does the mother's laughter at the photograph convey?

   a) Sorrow and regret

   b) Nostalgia and joy

   c) Bitterness and anger

   d) Indifference and detachment


10. The phrase "laboured ease of loss" suggests:

    a) Loss is easy to cope with.

    b) Loss is an insurmountable burden.

    c) Loss becomes more manageable over time.

    d) Loss is an unchanging emotion.


11. What does the phrase "silence silences" signify in the context of the poem?

    a) The absence of sound in the photograph

    b) The impact of the mother's absence

    c) The peacefulness of the sea

    d) The serenity of memories


12. The poem explores the theme of:

    a) Adventure and exploration

    b) Romantic love

    c) Family reunions

    d) The transitory nature of life


13. The speaker's relationship with the mother in the poem is:

    a) Strained and distant

    b) Filled with conflict

    c) Nurturing and supportive

    d) Reflective and contemplative


14. What does the phrase "smile through their hair" imply about the girls in the photograph?

    a) They are shy and reserved.

    b) They have long, unruly hair.

    c) They are carefree and happy.

    d) They are hiding their emotions.


15. The photograph captures a moment that:

    a) Was staged for the camera

    b) Represents a significant event in history

    c) Evokes a range of emotions and memories

    d) Depicts a scene of conflict and turmoil

KEY

1. d) Memory, time, and loss
2. b) A moment of laughter and play by the sea
3. b) She laughs and reminisces about the past.
4. a) It symbolizes the fleeting nature of time.
5. c) The characters are struggling to cope with loss.
6. c) Words are insufficient to express the impact of loss.
7. b) Metaphor
8. d) Memory and nostalgia
9. b) Nostalgia and joy
10. c) Loss becomes more manageable over time.
11. b) The impact of the mother's absence
12. d) The transitory nature of life
13. d) Reflective and contemplative
14. c) They are carefree and happy.
15. c) Evokes a range of emotions and memories

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