Question

Sticks in hand I begin the beat, beat, beat slow and steady on the bass, bass, bass. The snare drum sashays in, pounding out its part like the popping of corn, my afternoon snack of rhythm. The startled cymbal sizzles to life, as I sing to the tempo, pounding from my room that signals Mom, a headache is on the horizon. How does a simile most clearly contribute to the tone of this poem? A. The simile "like the popping of corn" creates an energetic tone because popcorn popping brings up a mental image of quick movement. B. The simile "as I sing to the tempo" creates a humorous tone because the speaker doesn't realize that the music is too loud. C. The simile "like the popping of corn" creates an irritated tone because the sound of popcorn popping can be annoying. D. The simile "as I sing to the tempo" creates a musical tone because it uses a specialized musical term for rhythm.

Answer 1

The simile 'like the popping of corn' in the poem provides an energetic tone due to the lively imagery of popcorn popping which reflects the dynamic beat of the music. The correct answer is A. The simile "like the popping of corn" creates an energetic tone because popcorn popping brings up a mental image of quick movement

Step-by-step explanation:

The simile "like the popping of corn" most clearly contributes to the tone of the poem by creating an energetic tone. This is because the mental image of popcorn popping is one of quick movement and dynamic activity.

Similes, by nature, draw a comparison between two dissimilar things, which can illuminate characteristics of the subject in a vivid way. In this case, by comparing the sound of the snare drum to the popping of popcorn, the poem conveys an intense, lively sound that can be associated with the energy and spontaneity of making music.