Question

Creating an Effective Scene

I played on till dusk
Missing flies and pop-ups and grounders
And calling out in desperation things like
"Yours" and "take it," but doing all right,
Tugging at my cap in just the right way,
Crouching low, my feet set.
"Hum baby" sweetly on my lips.

—"How I Learned English,"
Gregory Djanikian

How does the author’s word choice create an effective scene that draws the reader in?

The author uses many formal words to show off his intelligence.
The characters use language that readers likely will recognize and connect to.
The reader can feel the desperation in the tone of the narrator.
The author uses different types of figurative language to impress the reader.
A B C or D

Answer 1

B

The poem uses familiar, colloquial language and baseball terms ("flies," "pop-ups," "grounders," "Yours," "take it") that readers recognize and connect with, making the scene vivid and easy to imagine.