Name ___________________________________ Date ______________________

English 7 Period _____

“Thumbprint” by Eve Merriam
Directions: Read the following poem and accompanying nonfiction piece carefully. Then, answer the questions.

OVER 
Directions: After reading “Thumbprint” by Eve Merriam, and the “Fingerprints and Identity” nonfiction page,
complete and submit the multiple-choice quiz in Teams. You can preview the questions below and discuss
any questions you may have with your ELA teacher.

1. To the speaker, her thumbprint represents

A. a feature that makes all people the same.
B. One’s uniqueness.
C. None of the above.

2. Which of the lines below support the answer to question #1?

A. “On the pad of my thumb / are whorls, whirls, wheels / in unique design: / mine alone.”
(lines 1-4)
B. “Impress, implant, / I am myself, / of all my atom parts I am the sum.” (lines 13-15)
C. All of the above.

3. One theme of “Thumbprint” is

A. Each person is unique and influences the world in his or her own distinctive way.
B. Thumbprints are a great way to identify a person.
C. Individuality isn’t as simple as a thumbprint.

4. Read the line provided below and identify the literary device that is being utilized by the poet.

“My universe key, / my singularity.” (lines 11-12)

A. Alliteration - when words that start with the same sound (not just the same letter) are used repeatedly in a
phrase or sentence
B. Onomatopoeia - a word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing
C. Metaphor -  a literary device that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but do
have something in common.

5. The last two lines of the poem suggest that the thumbprint referred to in the title is a symbol for
A. a person’s individuality.
B. an important clue to life’s timeless mysteries.
C. a prediction about the future.
D. an anticipation of change.

6. What does line 6 suggest about the “whorls,” “whirls,” and “wheels” on the pad of the
speaker’s thumb?
A. They are evidence of her intelligence and emotional depth.
B. They represent more than physical identity.
C. They reveal her genetic characteristics.
D. They symbolize a link to the past.
7. The repetition of the words “my” and “my own” emphasizes the speaker’s desire to —
A. show appreciation for something that is personal and unique.
B. express opinions that challenge accepted wisdom.
C. argue that people share some similar characteristics .
D. make a distinction between scientific facts and personal beliefs.

8. Review the two definitions for “whorls” provided below. Which definition makes sentence in
the context of the poem?

Definition #1- (n.) a pattern of spirals or concentric circles.

Definition #2- (n.) a small wheel or pulley in a spinning wheel, spinning machine, or
spindle.

A. Definition #1
B. Definition #2

9. What is the author’s tone toward the subject of the poem?

A. depressed
B. serious
C. prideful

10. Which literary device is the poet utilizing in the line provided below?

“On the pad of my thumb / are whorls, whirls, wheels / in a unique design: / mine alone.”

A. Personification – a literary device that is used to give a thing, an idea, or an animal human qualities.
B. Alliteration - when words that start with the same sound are used repeatedly in a phrase or sentence
C. Metaphor -  a literary device that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but do
have something in common.

11. According to the nonfiction article, when were fingerprints “first observed scientifically”?
A. The early 2000s
B. The late 1980s
C. The early 1800s
D. The late 1600s

12. What is the name of the fingerprint system?

A. The Henry system
B. The Thumbprint system
C. The Accuracy system
13. There are _________ basic patterns of fingerprints.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3

14. True or False: There are other forms of identification based on the body’s originality.
A. True
B. False

15. Re-read the sentence below. What does the word “accuracy” most likely mean based on how it
is used in the sentence?

“The unusual accuracy of fingerprint identification has caused it to become even more
widespread in recent years.”

A. strictness
B. precision
C. severity