11+ English Comprehension: Nicholas Nye (Poem)

Introduction

In this comprehension exercise, we will explore the poem “Nicholas Nye” by asking questions that range from easy to hard levels. The questions will help you understand the poem better and prepare you for the 11+ exam.

Nicholas Nye

Thistle and darnel and dock grew there,

And a bush, in the corner, of may,

On the orchard wall I used to sprawl

In the blazing heat of the day;

Half asleep and half awake,

While the birds went twittering by,

And nobody there my lone to share

But Nicholas Nye.

Nicholas Nye was lean and grey,

Lame of a leg and old,

More than a score of donkey’s years

He had seen since he was foaled;

He munched the thistles, purple and spiked,

Would sometimes stoop and sigh,

And turn to his head, as if he said,

“Poor Nicholas Nye!”

Alone with his shadow he’d drowse in the meadow,

Lazily swinging his tail,

At break of day he used to bray –

Not much too hearty and hale;

But a wonderful gumption was under his skin,

And a clean calm light in his eye,

And once in a while, he’d smile –

Would Nicholas Nye.

Seem to be smiling at me, he would,

From the bush, in the corner, of may –

Bony and ownerless, widowed and worn,

Knobble-kneed, lonely and grey;

And over the grass would seem to pass

Neath the deep dark blue of the sky,

Something much better than words between me

And Nicholas Nye.

But dusk would come in the apple boughs,

The green of the glow-worm shine,

The birds in nest would crouch to rest,

And home I’d trudge to mine;

And there, in the moonlight, dark with dew,

Asking not wherefore or why,

Would brood like a ghost, and still as a post,

Old Nicholas Nye.

Easy Level Questions

1. Where does the poem take place?A) In a cityB) In a meadowC) In a schoolD) In a house
2. Who is Nicholas Nye?A) A dogB) A horseC) A catD) A person
3. What does “nobody there my lone to share” mean?A) The narrator is with friendsB) The narrator is aloneC) The narrator has many animalsD) The narrator is happy
4. What does “gumption” mean?A) StubbornnessB) Energy or initiativeC) SadnessD) Weakness
5. What colour is Nicholas Nye?A) BrownB) GreyC) BlackD) White
6. What does Nicholas eat?A) GrassB) ThistlesC) ApplesD) Carrots
7. What sound does Nicholas make?A) BarkB) MeowC) BrayD) Roar
8. What is the mood of the poem?A) HappyB) SadC) AngryD) Excited
9. What does the narrator do in the meadow?A) RunsB) Plays gamesC) SprawlsD) Sings
10. What time of day does the poem mention?A) MorningB) NoonC) EveningD) Night

Medium Level Questions

11. What does “lean and grey” describe?A) The meadowB) Nicholas NyeC) The bushD) The sky
12. What does the phrase “bony and ownerless” suggest about Nicholas?A) He is strongB) He has no ownerC) He is very happyD) He is very sick
13. How does the narrator feel about Nicholas?A) IndifferentB) AngryC) SympatheticD) Jealous
14. What does the word “bray” mean?A) To barkB) To cryC) The sound a donkey makesD) To sing
15. What do the “deep dark blue of the sky” and “green of the glow-worm” suggest?A) The sky is clearB) It is daytimeC) It is getting darkD) It is raining
16. What does the narrator do as dusk approaches?A) Plays with NicholasB) Goes homeC) Climbs a treeD) Sings a song
17. What does “brood like a ghost” suggest about Nicholas?A) He is very activeB) He is calm and quietC) He is afraidD) He is playful
18. What does the word “crouch” mean in the context of birds?A) To jumpB) To sleepC) To rest low to the groundD) To fly
19. What do “apple boughs” refer to in the poem?A) The groundB) Apple treesC) FlowersD) Clouds
20. What literary device is used in “knobble-kneed”?A) SimileB) MetaphorC) Compound adjectiveD) Personification

Hard Level Questions

21. What does the narrator mean by “something much better than words”?A) A feeling of connectionB) A songC) A dreamD) A story
22. How does the poet create a sense of loneliness?A) By describing a crowdB) By using words like “alone” and “nobody”C) By making the narrator very happyD) By mentioning many animals
23. What is the significance of the word “drowse” in the poem?A) It shows energyB) It indicates sleepiness or relaxationC) It means to danceD) It suggests fear
24. How does the imagery in the poem contribute to its mood?A) It makes it look bright and cheerfulB) It creates a peaceful and reflective atmosphereC) It makes it feel chaoticD) It makes it mysterious
25. What does the phrase “in the blazing heat of the day” suggest?A) It is coldB) It is nightC) It is very hotD) It is raining
26. What do you think the “wonderful gumption” refers to in Nicholas?A) His strengthB) His intelligenceC) His spirit and resilienceD) His age
27. Why do you think Nicholas is described as “lonely and grey”?A) To show he is old and without friendsB) To suggest he is very happyC) To indicate he is strongD) To show he is healthy
28. What is the effect of the rhyme scheme in the poem?A) It creates a chaotic feelingB) It adds a musical quality to the poemC) It makes it difficult to understandD) It has no effect
29. How does the setting contribute to the themes in the poem?A) It distracts from the main ideaB) It reflects feelings of isolation and companionshipC) It is irrelevantD) It suggests a busy city life
30. What does the final line, “Old Nicholas Nye,” imply about his character?A) He is new and energeticB) He is wise and experiencedC) He is sad and lonelyD) He is playful

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. B) In a meadow
2. B) A horse
3. B) The narrator is alone
4. B) Energy or initiative
5. B) Grey
6. B) Thistles
7. C) Bray
8. A) Happy
9. C) Sprawls
10. A) Morning

Medium Level Answers

11. B) Nicholas Nye
12. B) He has no owner
13. C) Sympathetic
14. C) The sound a donkey makes
15. C) It is getting dark
16. B) Goes home
17. B) He is calm and quiet
18. C) To rest low to the ground
19. B) Apple trees
20. C) Compound adjective

Hard Level Answers

21. A) A feeling of connection
22. B) By using words like “alone” and “nobody”
23. B) It indicates sleepiness or relaxation
24. B) It creates a peaceful and reflective atmosphere
25. C) It is very hot
26. C) His spirit and resilience
27. A) To show he is old and without friends
28. B) It adds a musical quality to the poem
29. B) It reflects feelings of isolation and companionship
30. B) He is wise and experienced

Feel free to use this poem and questions to enhance your understanding and prepare for the 11+ exam!