The sun does arise,
And make happy the skies.
The merry bells ring
To welcome the Spring.
The sky-lark and thrush,
The birds of the bush,
Sing louder around,
To the bells cheerful sound.
While our sports shall be seen
On the Echoing Green.
Till the little ones weary
No more can be merry:
The sun does descend,
And our sports have an end.
Questions:
1 Which is the best paraphrase of the lines from the poem?
A. We are happy when the sun is shining. We feel merry when the bells ring, and we sing along. The sun goes down and we have to stop playing sports.
B. The sun brightens the sky and bells are ringing. Birds sing along with the bell. We play outside until we are tired and go home at the end of the day.
C. When the sun shines, the skies are happy. The birds drown out the sound of the bell. We watch sports all day.
D. The sun comes up. The birds sing all day. We wish we could be outside playing sports all day.
I'll be glad to check your answer.
To determine the best paraphrase of the lines from the poem, we can analyze the main ideas presented in each option:
Option A suggests that the poet and their companions feel happy when the sun rises and the skies are bright. They feel merry when they hear the ringing of bells and even sing along with them. However, when the sun sets, their sports activities come to an end and they can no longer be merry.
Option B presents a similar idea, where the sun brightens the sky and the sound of bells can be heard. Birds, such as the sky-lark and thrush, join in by singing along with the cheerful sound of the bells. The people in the poem engage in outdoor sports until they become tired, signaling the end of their activities for the day.
Option C describes how the sun brings happiness to the skies. It suggests that the birds in the bushes sing louder than the sound of the bells, while the people spend their day watching sports instead of participating in them.
Option D simplifies the main ideas of the poem, stating that the sun rises, birds sing all day, and the people desire to engage in sports activities throughout the day.
Considering these paraphrases, the best option that captures the essence of the original lines would be Option A. It conveys the joy felt when the sun rises, the involvement of bells and singing, as well as the eventual conclusion of their sports activities when the sun sets.