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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 23 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.
  • Time crawled like a snail through the math lesson.
  • Her words were knives that cut me to the bone.
  • My heart was a drum that would not stop.
  • The kettle sang its morning song.
  • A.The lesson seemed to go very slowly.
  • B.What she said hurt my feelings badly.
  • C.I was very nervous or excited.
  • D.The kettle whistled as it boiled.
2.Match each line of poetry to what it means.
  • The wind went whistling through the keyhole like a thief.
  • The sea threw its gray arms against the wall.
  • The city never sleeps; its windows blink all night.
  • Thunder grumbled, an old man in the hills.
  • A.Lights stay on in the city all through the night.
  • B.Big waves crashed into the sea wall.
  • C.The wind crept sharply into the house.
  • D.Thunder rumbled low and far away.

LessonPrint · RL.4.10 · Set 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Reading Poetry Closely

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Time crawled like a snail through the math lesson. — A (The lesson seemed to go very slowly.) 2. Her words were knives that cut me to the bone. — B (What she said hurt my feelings badly.) 3. My heart was a drum that would not stop. — C (I was very nervous or excited.) 4. The kettle sang its morning song. — D (The kettle whistled as it boiled.)
  2. 2.1. The wind went whistling through the keyhole like a thief. — C (The wind crept sharply into the house.) 2. The sea threw its gray arms against the wall. — B (Big waves crashed into the sea wall.) 3. The city never sleeps; its windows blink all night. — A (Lights stay on in the city all through the night.) 4. Thunder grumbled, an old man in the hills. — D (Thunder rumbled low and far away.)

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