POISONED TALK

Raymond Wilson

Question and Answer

Samples and Techniques
a. Fill in the blanks in this passage about the poem
POISONED TALK. Use the word given
confessio questio pollutio
man
n n n
environme deat
crime nt h

The poem Poisoned Talk by Raymond Wilson is about the lethal effects of
pollution on the (1)____________________. Each verse begins with a (2)
____________ about who is responsible for the (3) __________ of an element
of nature. This is followed by a (4) _______________ by the guilty party. The
culprit explains how he committed the (5) ____________. From his
explanation, we realise the death was caused by (6) ____________. The
real killer is (7) _________, who polluted

the earth.
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM
POISONED TALK.

a. Who confessed to killing cock robin?

The worm confessed

b. What great harm did the worm do to cock robin?

The worm poisoned cock robin

c. Where did cock robin die?

Cock robin died on a branch of a withered tree

d. What poisoned the worm?

Acid soil poisoned the worm
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM
POISONED TALK.

a. Who confessed to killing the heron?

The fish confessed

b. Where does the heron lives?

The heron lives by the lake

c. What does the tainted mean?

It means contaminated / polluted

d. What kind of birds are the tern, duck and drake?

They are birds of the lake / water birds
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM
POISONED TALK.

a. Who confessed to killing the lake?

Industry confessed

b. How does the killer feel about his crime?

The killer feels proud

c. What is weapon used by the killer?

The weapon used by the killer is mercury

d. Why did the culprit commit the crime?

The culprit did it to please greedy men
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM
POISONED TALK.

a. Who confessed to killing the flowers?

The wind confessed

b. What does prowl unconfined mean?

The phrase means to move around freely and stealthily

c. How were the flowers killed?

The flowers were poisoned by acid rain

d. Why do you think the poet uses alliteration in the

last line (line 20)?
Alliteration was used to echo the sound of the wind
blowing
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON THE POEM
POISONED TALK.

a. Who confessed to killing the forest?

Sulphur dioxide confessed
b. What does the word ensured (line 22) tell us about this
crime?
The crime was committed on purpose. / the killing was
planned./ the killer wanted the victim to die.

c. What does word life refer to?

The word life refers to living things, birds, animals,
trees and plants

d. What does the last line (line 25) tell us about the
power of the killer? Give reason for your answer.
The last line tells us that the killer is very powerful
because it can kill all living creatures
Describe your feelings about
pollution after reading this poem.
After reading the poem, I feel very concerned
about the effects of pollution on nature and
the environment. In the poem, it is revealed
that birds, animals, plants and whole forests
are being poisoned by pollution. The culprits
who say they caused the deaths of the birds,
lake, flowers and forest are not really the
killers. Man is the real killer because of
greed. If we do not stop our harmful actions,
the environment will be destroyed. I will do
my part to stop pollution.
PT3 EXAM
PRACTICES
Read the poem Poisoned Talk and answer the following
questions

a. How did the worm kill cock robin?

The worm was poisonous because of acid soil and cock
robin died of poisoning when he ate the worm

b. How does Industry feel about killing the lake?

Industry feel proud (and happy)

c. Name two poisonous substances mentioned in the poem

Mercury and sulphur dioxide

d. Do you think the fish should be blamed for the death of the
birds of the lake? Give a reason for your answer
No, I do not think that the fish should be blamed. The fish
became poisonous because his flesh was contaminated
by pollution and the birds died eating his flesh
Read the poem Poisoned Talk and answer the following
questions

a. Cock robin and the birds of the lake died of the same
cause. What is the cause of their deaths?
They died of poisoning when they fed on animals that
were poisoned / contaminated by pollution.

b. Who took the blame for killing the flowers?

The wind took the blame for killing the flowers

c. What did sulphur dioxide destroy?

Sulphur dioxide destroyed the forest and all living
things in it

d. In your opinion, why did the poet write this poem? Give a
reason for your answer
No, I do not think that the fish should be blamed. The fish
became poisonous because his flesh was contaminated
by pollution and the birds died eating his flesh
In your opinion, why did the poet
write this poem? Give a reason for
your answer
The poet wrote this poem to make us
realise that we must take responsibility
for environmental destruction / that we
must stop polluting the environment.
The poem is about creatures and
poisonous substances confessing to
killing elements of the environment but
they are really not the culprits because
the are not human and they cannot
control their actions.