Question

an obstacle

i was climbing up a mountain path
with many things to do,
important business of my own,
and other people’s too,
when i ran against a prejudice
that quite cut off the view.

my work was such as could not wait.
my path was clear before,
my strength and time were limited,
i carried a load,
and there that hulking prejudice
sat all across the road.

so i spoke to him politely,
he was huge and high,
and begged that he would move a bit
and let me travel by—
he smiled, but as for moving—
he didn’t even try.

and then i reasoned quietly
with that colossal mule,
my time was short—no other path—
the mountain winds were cool—
the mountain words were a tool—
i struck him in the mule.

this question has two parts, answer part a and then answer part b.

part a
in line 41, what does the “sudden inspiration” reveal to the speaker about the prejudice?

1. a prejudice is easy to bypass.
2. a prejudice can actually be hurting.
3. a prejudice will eventually go away.
4. a prejudice need not be a hindrance.

part b
how does the “sudden inspiration” impact the events in the poem?

1. the speaker...
2. the speaker...
3. the speaker...
4. the speaker...

Explanation:

Part A

Question 1

To solve this, we analyze the poem's context. The "sudden inspiration" makes the speaker run against a prejudice. Looking at options: A says prejudice is easy to bypass (contradicts running against it), B says prejudice can be burning (not related to bypass), C says prejudice will eventually go away (not from inspiration), D says prejudice needs to be handled (running against implies confronting/handling). So D fits.

Analyze the poem's end: "The mountain world was a tool... I served that mountain." The "sudden inspiration" leads the speaker to face the prejudice (the "hugging prejudice" as a mountain - like obstacle) and serve the mountain (face the obstacle). Option A: speaker faces prejudice by meeting chance? No. B: speaker comes to view prejudice as alternative? No. C: speaker moves forward despite pressure? The poem shows facing the prejudice (the mountain - like obstacle) and serving it, meaning moving forward despite the pressure of the prejudice. D: speaker realizes the episode was a bad dream? No, it's a realization of serving the mountain (facing the obstacle). So C fits.

Answer:

D. A prejudice needs to be a hurdle once

Part B

Question 1