Name: ____________________________________________
These Trees!
By Liana Mahoney
If walnuts come from walnut trees,
And almonds come from almond trees,
Then how come acorns come from oaks?
Can anyone explain this, please?
A redwood tree’s not really red,
And red pine trees are green, (not red).
So, why’s the white birch aptly named?
And why’s the white pine green instead?
Now, ash trees don’t grow ashes. Right?
And beech trees aren’t on beaches. Right?
And fir trees don’t have furry trunks;
Although, that WOULD be quite a sight!
These trees! These trees! I wish it would
Be less confusing in the wood!
If trees had better-chosen names,
They might be better understood.
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Name: ____________________________________________
These Trees!
By Liana Mahoney
1. What is the main idea of the poem?
a. Trees have appropriate names.
b. Trees have names that are often difficult to pronounce.
c. The names of trees aren’t always obvious.
d. Most people don’t know the names of trees.
2. Write a heading for each of the two categories on the t-chart.
walnut tree walnuts
oak tree acorns
almond tree almonds
3. According to the poem, which tree is red?
a. redwood tree
b. red oak tree
c. both of these
d. neither of these
4. Line 7 reads:
So, why’s the white birch aptly named?
Define the underlined word. Use a dictionary if you need help.
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ANSWER KEY
These Trees!
By Liana Mahoney
1. What is the main idea of the poem?
a. Trees have appropriate names.
b. Trees have names that are often difficult to pronounce.
c. The names of trees aren’t always obvious.
d. Most people don’t know the names of trees.
2. Write a heading for each of the two categories on the t-chart.
Names of Seeds Answers may vary slightly.
Types of Trees or Nuts
For the first column, accept:
types of trees, names of
walnut tree walnuts trees, species of trees, etc.
oak tree acorns For the second column,
accept: names of seeds,
almond tree almonds types of nuts, things that
grow on trees, etc.
3. According to the poem, which tree is red?
a. redwood tree
b. red oak tree
c. both of these
d. neither of these
4. Line 7 reads:
So, why’s the white birch aptly named?
Define the underlined word. Use a dictionary if you need help.
Aptly comes from the word apt, which means suitable or
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appropriate.
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KH
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