STAAR Figurative Language

Front

What does the simile suggest about Jim?
He always had a jawbreaker in his mouth, and when he wasn’t clacking it against his teeth he kept up a constant mutter about everything he did, as if he were a play-by-play announcer describing a game. “And now Jim is soldering the wire to the whatsits. . . .”

Back

He approaches his work with intense focus

Front

The comparison in Fowler's statement helps the reader understand that — “We are losing biodiversity every day,” Fowler explains. “It is kind of a drip, drip, drip—it’s also inevitable.”

Back

seed varieties are lost slowly, but the loss accumulates over time

Front

Because that’s when I heard the growl. Deep, low, and gurgling, like a water heater about to blow. I knew that growl.
The figurative language in these sentences emphasizes that Kirby thinks Coach Armstrong is — spiteful, intimidating, arrogant, mysterious

Back

intimidating

Front

To the ordinary person, Cobble’s Knot was about as friendly as a nest of yellowjackets. The author uses the comparison to help the reader understand — Options: how impossible the task of untying the knot appears, that trying to untie the knot is physically painful, how dirty the knot seems to be, that the knot is a dangerous object

Back

how impossible the task of untying the knot appears

Front

He would need the touch of a surgeon, the alertness of an owl, the cunning of three foxes, and the foresight of a grand master in chess.
The author uses figurative language in this sentence most likely to — exaggerate the skills Maniac needs in order to accomplish the task, demonstrate the qualities possessed by others who have attempted the task, explain the help Maniac needs from others in order to accomplish the task, identify the variety of people who have attempted the task

Back

exaggerate the skills Maniac needs in order to accomplish the task

Front

My mood’s as welcome as incoming dog breath, or a terminal case of split ends. I sparkle like a dust rag,
The imagery in these lines helps the reader understand —

Back

the speaker's unpleasantness

Front

The author’s use of similes creates a feeling of —
Fairies? Maybe Dad was right about Nanna’s imagination. But then I saw what Nanna meant: glistening, like strings of pearls. Like lace, the fairies’ washing hung from fences, flowers, grass. It was exactly what a fairy would wear.
Options: courage, amazement, expectation, pride

Back

amazement

Front

Pink light was making a bubble on the edge of the hill. It spread out, slowly, like jam. Bumblebees clinging to flower petals were still cold and asleep and unaware.
The figurative language helps the reader imagine the — smell of a field of wildflowers, first signs that winter is approaching, sweet taste of fresh honey in spring, sun beginning to rise on the horizon

Back

sun beginning to rise on the horizon

Front

The author uses the simile "as slippery as a handful of wet noodles" to show that Patrick —

Back

finds it very difficult to make braids in the girls’ hair

Front

The untouched snow bordering the pond glittered in the sun as if a million diamonds were sprinkled across its surface.
What does the author’s use of imagery in this sentence emphasize?

• Emily believes that the icy pond will be hard if she falls.
• Emily realizes the value of learning how to ice-skate.
• Emily thinks the snow is beautiful.
• Emily thinks the snow is too bright.

Back

Emily thinks the snow is beautiful.