Question

Read the following poem and answer the question that follows.

Passage: from "Smoking Spiritualized" by Ralph Erskine

The pipe so lily-like and weak,
Does thus thy mortal state bespeak.
Thou art ev'n such,
Gone with a touch.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the smoke ascends1 on high,
Then thou behold'st the vanity2
Of worldly stuff,
Gone with a puff.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the pipe grows foul within,
Think on thy soul defil'd3 with sin;
For then the fire,
It does require.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And seest the ashes cast away;
Then to thyself thou mayest say
That to the dust
Return thou must.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

1climbs
2pride
3ruined

1An analysis of the poem reveals which of these as its theme?

a only a life devoted to God will lead to salvation

b life is short, so relax and enjoy its many pleasures

c life is full of struggle, especially for those who smoke

c A life without God is like a pipe without tobacco

2According to the poem, the benefit of smoking is that it provides the smoker with time to think about a life devoted to God.

True

False