Sleeping Hound Poetry Quiz
Grade 4 • Poetry Comprehension
Name:
Date:
Score: ___ / 5
Poetry Check: "Dog" by Valerie Worth
Read the poem closely. Then fill in the bubble beside the best answer for questions 1–5.
The Poem
from Small Poems
1 Under a table
On the cool mat
He lies curled,
Heavy, asleep,
5 His belly touching
The floor, his legs
Folded, his chin
Resting between
His paws, his muzzle
10 Twitching in dreams,
His breath coming
And going softly,
A warm heavy
Sigh,
15 While outside
The morning sun
Grows hot, and
The street hums
With cars, and
20 Flies buzz, and
The sprinkler shakes
Its cold rain
Across the grass.
Poet's Craft Focus
Worth contrasts two settings: the calm, cool shelter inside and the hot, buzzing activity outside.
1
What is the dog doing throughout the poem?
A Barking at vehicles driving down the street
B Sleeping soundly and twitching in dreams
C Chasing buzzing flies around the dining table
D Running through cold water from the sprinkler
2
In line 9, what does the word muzzle mean?
A An animal's nose and jaws
B A dog's long folded legs
C A soft woven sleeping mat
D A heavy leather collar
3
What does the poet mean by "The sprinkler shakes / Its cold rain"?
A A sudden summer thunderstorm is drenching the lawn
B A yard sprinkler tosses cool water droplets across the grass
C The dog has tipped over a water dish on the patio
D A broken water pipe is spraying cold mud onto cars
4
How does the world outside contrast with the dog's resting spot?
A Outside is silent and cold, while inside is warm and noisy
B Outside is hot and bustling, while inside is cool and peaceful
C Outside is dark and stormy, while inside is bright and playful
D Outside is safe and restful, while inside is dangerous
5
Which phrase best shows how deeply relaxed the dog feels?
A "The street hums" (line 18)
B "A warm heavy / Sigh" (lines 13–14)
C "The morning sun / Grows hot" (lines 16–17)
D "Across the grass" (line 23)
Strategy tip: Go back to the text to locate evidence before marking your answer!
Poem text © Valerie Worth, Small Poems
