By illustrating the advantages of the Midwest, from the free government homes to free land.

By providing background on the Midwest, including it's population makeup before the 1800s.

By describing how families moved to the Midwest, and created the need for practical farming tools.

By summarizing people's experiences in the Midwest that prompted them to return to the East Coast.

He is surprised that companies would want to build in his old neighborhood.

He disapproves of the new buildings and businesses in his old neighborhood.

He thinks it is time the spaces in his old neighborhood were put to different uses.

He does not know how to feel about his old neighborhood’s recent improvements.

They are promised a spot at the medical school.

They might possibly be admitted to the medical school.

They view medical school in a different way than other students.

They have already passed medical exams before applying to the school.

“That seem’st, like a lonely bird, to fly

To some distant home, o’er the clear, blue sky?” (lines 3–4)

“Defying this valley of shadow and blight

To sully or wither their leaves of light!” (lines 11–12)

“That their garments must be of a spotless white

Before they can enter a world of light!" (lines 23-24)

“Their forms are varying, high and fair;

But melted by light—rent in pieces by air!” (lines 31–32)

It helps the reader predict what the sky might look like the following day.

It reinforces for the reader the idea that the clouds are drifting and not still.

It gives the reader an understanding of the time of day at which the poem takes place.

It suggests to the reader that the speaker was lying on the ground while cloud-watching.

to encourage an interest in science in other high school students

to persuade readers to consider ways they can conserve water

to explain how a teenager developed a solution to a significant agricultural problem

to describe the process of germination where a seed develops into a seedling