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Reading Poetry Closely is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on putting a line of poetry into plain words, aligned to Common Core standard RL.4.10. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 17 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Reading Poetry Closely

RL.4.10

NameDate

Write the letter of the match next to each one.

1.Match each line of poetry to what it means.
  • The stars were scattered salt across the dark.
  • Thunder grumbled, an old man in the hills.
  • The wind went whistling through the keyhole like a thief.
  • The city never sleeps; its windows blink all night.
  • A.Many small stars were spread over the sky.
  • B.Thunder rumbled low and far away.
  • C.Lights stay on in the city all through the night.
  • D.The wind crept sharply into the house.
2.Match each line of poetry to what it means.
  • The kettle sang its morning song.
  • Autumn spends its gold on every tree.
  • Snow tucked the garden in beneath a quilt of white.
  • Her words were knives that cut me to the bone.
  • A.What she said hurt my feelings badly.
  • B.The kettle whistled as it boiled.
  • C.Snow covered the whole garden.
  • D.The leaves turn yellow everywhere.

LessonPrint · RL.4.10 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Reading Poetry Closely

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The stars were scattered salt across the dark. — A (Many small stars were spread over the sky.) 2. Thunder grumbled, an old man in the hills. — B (Thunder rumbled low and far away.) 3. The wind went whistling through the keyhole like a thief. — D (The wind crept sharply into the house.) 4. The city never sleeps; its windows blink all night. — C (Lights stay on in the city all through the night.)
  2. 2.1. The kettle sang its morning song. — B (The kettle whistled as it boiled.) 2. Autumn spends its gold on every tree. — D (The leaves turn yellow everywhere.) 3. Snow tucked the garden in beneath a quilt of white. — C (Snow covered the whole garden.) 4. Her words were knives that cut me to the bone. — A (What she said hurt my feelings badly.)

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.4.10 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.