The idea conveyed in the excerpt is that the speaker used to have work, but now there isn’t any. The lines reflect a sense of loss and nostalgia for a time when the speaker was actively engaged in building the railroad, contrasting it with the present state of completion and lack of work.
Read the excerpt from song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”
Once I built a railroad, made it run,
Made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad,
Now it's done—
Which idea is conveyed in the excerpt?
The speaker does not want to build rails anymore.
All the necessary railroad tracks have been completed.
The American railroads are the fastest in the world.
The speaker used to have work, but now there isn’t any.
7 answers
Which lines from the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” conveys the image of veterans who are unable to find work?
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear
I was always there—right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead—
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?
Once I built a railroad, made it run,
Made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad,
Now it's done—
Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodle-de-dum,
Half a million boots went sloggin’ through Hell,
I was the kid with the drum.
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al—
It was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal—
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear
I was always there—right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead—
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?
Once I built a railroad, made it run,
Made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad,
Now it's done—
Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodle-de-dum,
Half a million boots went sloggin’ through Hell,
I was the kid with the drum.
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al—
It was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal—
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
The lines that convey the image of veterans who are unable to find work are:
"Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodle-de-dum,
Half a million boots went sloggin’ through Hell,
I was the kid with the drum."
These lines reflect the experiences of veterans who served in the military (indicated by "khaki suits" and "boots"), suggesting their valor and sacrifices, while also implying that despite their service, they find themselves in a difficult situation without employment. The subsequent lines emphasize their need for assistance, further highlighting their plight.
Based on the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, how does Harburg’s experience during the Great Depression differ from the experiences of most Americans?
Losing all of his possessions gave him the freedom to travel and see all regions of the country.
He decided to leave the country and find a garret apartment in Paris where he could write.
While many other businesses collapsed, Harburg’s business continued to prosper.
By being able to develop his creative talents, he profited from the Depression while many others suffered.
Losing all of his possessions gave him the freedom to travel and see all regions of the country.
He decided to leave the country and find a garret apartment in Paris where he could write.
While many other businesses collapsed, Harburg’s business continued to prosper.
By being able to develop his creative talents, he profited from the Depression while many others suffered.
Based on the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, the experience that differs from the experiences of most Americans is:
Losing all of his possessions gave him the freedom to travel and see all regions of the country.
Harburg’s perspective reflects a sense of liberation in the midst of loss, contrasting with the struggles and hardships faced by many during the Great Depression. Rather than being solely characterized by suffering, his experience included opportunities for exploration and creativity.
Which sentence best summarizes the central idea of the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”
The United States was built, developed, and protected by women and men of various cultures and backgrounds.
The men begging for money on the street helped build and protect our country, and they deserve a better lot than they have been given.
Farms, railroads, and the military have greatly diminished in quality since the onset of the Great Depression.
A man named Al is responsible for the building, development, and protection of the United States of America.
The United States was built, developed, and protected by women and men of various cultures and backgrounds.
The men begging for money on the street helped build and protect our country, and they deserve a better lot than they have been given.
Farms, railroads, and the military have greatly diminished in quality since the onset of the Great Depression.
A man named Al is responsible for the building, development, and protection of the United States of America.
The sentence that best summarizes the central idea of the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” is:
The men begging for money on the street helped build and protect our country, and they deserve a better lot than they have been given.
This captures the essence of the song, which highlights the contributions of those who have worked hard to build the nation and the ironic contrast of their current state of poverty and desperation.
1 answer