28.

Question

28.

Read the passage.

To Waken an Old Lady
by William Carlos Williams

Old age is
a flight of small
cheeping birds
skimming
bare trees
above a snow glaze.
Gaining and failing
they are buffeted
by a dark wind —
But what?
On harsh weedstalks
the flock has rested,
the snow
is covered with broken
seedhusks
and the wind tempered
by a shrill
piping of plenty.

What clues do these supporting details provide about the poem’s main idea?

Snowy and windy weather is awful.

Elderly people have the ability to overcome the difficulties of old age.

Young birds need protection from bad weather.

Life is lonely and difficult for elderly people.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: Elderly people have the ability to overcome the difficulties of old age.

Answer 2

Based on the supporting details provided in the passage, the clues suggest that the main idea of the poem is: Life is lonely and difficult for elderly people. The imagery of "bare trees," "snow glaze," "dark wind," and "harsh weedstalks" conveys a sense of desolation and hardship. The flock of small birds represents elderly individuals, being buffeted by the challenges of old age. However, there is also a sense of resilience and strength, as the flock finds temporary refuge and sustenance in the broken seedhusks and the shrill piping of plenty.