Answer this question based on the poem "In Trying Times". Which is the proper meaning of "checking" in the poem?

Question

A. Marking

B. Ensuring

C. Stopping

D. Hitting in a hockey game

They asked that man for his time

so that he could link it to History.

They asked him for his hands,

because for trying times

nothing is better than a good pair of hands.

They asked him for his eyes

that once had tears

so that he should see the bright side

(the bright side of life, especially)

because to see horror one startled eye is enough.

They asked him for his lips,

parched and split, to affirm,

to belch up, with each affirmation, a dream

(the great dream)

they asked him for his legs

hard and knotted

(his wandering legs)

because in trying times

is there anything better than a pair of legs

for building or digging ditches?

They asked him for the grove that fed him as a child,

with it’s obedient tree.

They asked him for his breast, heart, his shoulders.

They told him

that that was absolutely necessary.

they explained to him later

that all this gift would be useless

unless he turned his tongue over to them,

because in trying times

nothing is so useful in checking hatred or lies.

and finally they begged him,

please, to go take a walk.

Because in trying times

that is, without a doubt, the decisive test.

Answer 1

Hi there!

When you're not certain of a definition of a word on a test or question like this, one strategy I find helpful is to put each answer choice into the spot in question.

I think we can tell right away that "nothing is so useful in 'hitting in a hockey game' hatred or lies" doesn't make much sense. So, we can cross D off as a right answer!

Next, let's try "marking." "nothing is so useful in 'marking' hatred or lies" does at least flow together. But, marking something is a physical action -- like writing a check mark. That would be difficult for hatred or lies. It could be metaphorical in a poem, but then, why would you need to give your tongue to someone to do that? A doesn't make much sense, so let's cross it off for now!

Next up is B -- "ensuring." This seems like a pretty tempting choice. The sentence "nothing is so useful in 'ensuring' hatred or lies" makes sense. It flows together nicely, and a person could ensure lies. Let's come back to this one.

C is equally tempting. The sentence "nothing is so useful in 'stopping' hatred or lies" also flows together, is possible, and makes a lot of sense. So, how do we choose between these two good choices?

Let's back up a couple of sentences. "They explained this gift would be useless/unless he turned his tongue over to them/because in trying times/nothing is so useful in 'checking' hatred or lies." It sounds like 'they" really want his tongue. So, they are trying to persuade him to give it to them. One way to do that is to tell him that he can stop something bad by doing what they want. Since "ensuring" hatred and lies would make them more likely, rather than stop them, we can reasonably answer with C, "stopping," because this makes the most sense for the question!

I hope this helps! If I can explain anything further or help any more, please feel free to let me know!