NATURE

1.

Why do you think the poet write this poem?

To appreciate the beauty of nature, to reflect the cycle of life and to inculcate the value of
appreciating one's country.
2. Which phrase evokes our sense of smell?
The scent of honey
3. What does the phrase reaped canefields lie bare and fallow indicate?
The plantation cannot be done after the harvesting season and they have to leave the landfor a
while as they want the land to be fertile again after harvesting the sugarcane.
4. What are the good days mentioned in the poem?
The good days are the short periods where the bright golden sun shines brilliantly on the healthy
green canefields
5. What the bad days mentioned in the poem?
The bad days are the periods of heavy rain which beats noisily like bullets on the rooftops and
when the strong Jamaican winds threated touproot the trees.
6. What is the poet trying to tell us about the weather in his country?
Jamaica is a country that has no regular four seasons but experiences short periods of golden
sunshine which alternates with days of heavy rain followed by strong winds.
7. What does the phrase lush green canefields tell us about the land?
The land is fertile
8. Which line in the poem indicates that Jamaica suffers from strong winds?
Line 8
9. Where can we hear the sound of water during the heavy rain?
On the eroded trenches
10. When do the leaves fall off the guango trees?
After the harvesting of the canes
11. What do you understand by the phrase paved the earth?
Covered everywhere.
12. Which line indicates that there are bright sunny days and the sun shines on fertile fields of cane?
The gold sun shines on the lush, green canefields.
13. How do you know that the rains come down in torrential showers?
The rain beats like bullets on the roofs
14. Why do you think the poet mentions the regular English seasons of summer, winter, autumn and
spring?
He was studying and working there for some time.
15. When it rains, where to the rain water usually flow into?
It usually flows into the gullies
16. What is the impression you get when the winds blow in Jamaica?
The winds blow so strongly that the trees are swayed from side to side that they have to struggle
to prevent themselves from being blown away
17. During the season of flowers, what can you hear and smell?
Smell the scent of honey and hear the sound of bees
18. What are the yellow stars?
They are a type of flowers grown there
19. In your opinion, has the poem given you a comprehensive picture of the changes that take place
in Jamaica?

No, because it lacks details and a lot depends on the imagination perception of the reader
20. Name the four seasons that some countries have.
Spring, summer, autumn and winter
21. Why do you think the colour of the sun is considered as gold?
The colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset is yellow and looks like gold.
22. Why do trees have to struggle?
The winds are strong and so they have to struggle to save themselves froim being uprooted
23. What are the words that have been used to describe the movement of the rain?
Beats like bullets
24. Are these words suitable?
Because when the rain falls on the roofs it sounds like bullets being released from a gun
25. Which of the four seasons are equivalent to Jamaicas wet and hot seasons.
Winter and summer
26. Write two words that are related to the appearance of the canefields.
Lush and green
27. Why do you think the persona feels that Jamaica does not need to have the four seasons. In your
own words, give a reason .
He feels Jamaica does not need the four seasons because it has its own two differing seasons and
they are good enough for Jamaica
28. During which season do leaves fall off trees.
Autumn
29. Why are the fields left to fallow after the harvesting season?
They are left to fallow for the soil to recover its fertility
30. What happens to the tall grass at the slightest breeze and why?
They sway and shiver because they are not stable
31. What words have been used to describe the buttercups?
Yellow stars and beauty
32. Do you think they are suitable.
Yes, because the buttercups are yellow and look like shining stars and they are beautiful to look
at
33. What can we call the season that is implied in the lines above?
Spring or the flowering and fruiting season
34. What are the two words that relate to the appearance of the canefields after they are harvested
Bare and fallow
35. What does the persona feel about nature at this time of the year in Jamaica? Give a reason to
support?
He feels that nature at this time of the year is beautiful and rich in colour and fragrance because
he says that the trees are fruiting and there is the smell of honey and the earth is paved with
beautiful stars
36. How does the persona show that he loves nature as is experienced in Jamaica?
He says that Jamaica may not have the four seasons but it has its own wet and dry seasons
37. What are the two words that are related to fruits?
Mango, cane
38. What do you think is the main crop in Jamaica? Give a reason.
I think it is sugar cane because the persona mentions the canefields as being lush and green so
they must be planted in big plantations and after harvesting the fields are left to fallow meaning

thwy will be replanted with cane.

39. To whom does the we in the opening line of the poem refer?
The poet and his countrymen
40. Do you agree with the poet that there are no seasons in Jamaica? Give a reason for your answer
Yes, Jamaica has no seasons associated with cool temperature countries such as spring, summer,
autumn and winter and what it has are days associated with changes in the weather at specific
times of the year.
41. What are the seasons mentioned in the poem?
Spring, summer, autumn and winter
42. What kind of crop grows in canefields?
Sugarcane
43. What are the raindrops compared to
Water on the roof
44. What does swish of water in the gullies refer to?
The sound of water in the gullies
45. What word can replace bare and fallow?
Empty
46. What does the word blossom refer to?
Flowers
47. Why are the bees in the bushes?
To look for nectar
48. Why do the tall grass sway?
Gentle breeze
49. What are the yellow stars?
Buttercups
50. How does the poet describe the sun?
As golden and magnificent
51. Which line uses the imagery of sound and smell?
When the bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey
52. What are buttercups? Describe them.
Buttercups are small, beautiful yellow flowers. They grow wild in the fields of Jamaica and they
look like yellow stars