Word Relationships and Figurative Language

The storm continued for hours. The thunder was so loud that it was deafening. Lightening flashed in the sky, taking the night from completely black to light. The world was coming to an end.

How does the use of figurative language help the reader understand the paragraph’s meaning?

• by helping the reader compare the storm with an object

• by helping the reader recognize how long the storm lasts

• by helping the reader understand how scary the storm is

• by helping the reader remember a similar storm

Read the excerpt from “Seedfolks.”

The sidewalk was completely empty. It was Sunday, early in April. An icy wind teetered trash cans and turned my cheeks to marble. In Vietnam we had no weather like that. Here in Cleveland people call it spring. I walked half a block, then crossed the street and reached the vacant lot.

• It is spring in Cleveland.

• It is unlike the weather in Vietnam.

• It nearly blows over trash cans.

• It is unpleasant and cold.

From “Seedfolks:”

He showed me exactly how far apart the rows should be and how deep. He couldn’t read the words on the seed packets, but he knew from the pictures what seeds were inside. He poured them into his hand and smiled. He seemed to recognize them, like old friends.

What does the figurative language in the excerpt help the reader understand about the man planting the seeds?

• He looks at the seeds in his hand.

• He is frustrated that he cannot read.

• He is happy to be planting again.

• He remembers each type of seed.

Which is the best description of figurative language?

• It expresses the writer’s opinion.

• It shows what something looks like.

• It expresses an emotion or feeling.

• It shows the actual meaning of something.

Read the following sentence:

Our minds danced as we thought about what we would do with the extra money.

What is the speaker using figurative language to say?

• they are dizzy from the thought of having extra money.

• they are happy about the idea of having extra money.

• they are worried about not having enough money.

• they are not sure how they will spend the extra money.

An excerpt from Let Bindi Have the Limelight.

They shared an impressive venue, but a lot sets Bindi Wear International apart from those big names. Dubbed as "clothes with a conscience," Bindi's line, which includes shirts, shorts, skirts, swimwear, and accessories, has tags made of recycled cardboard, and the shoes have soles made with recycled rubber.

What does the figurative language in the excerpt help the reader understand about the clothing line?

• It is called Bindi Wear International.

• It is environmentally responsible.

• It is made from cardboard and rubber.

• It includes shirts, shorts, and swimwear.

Read the sentence:

The chain fell off my bicycle, so I had to stop and put it back on, which made me late for softball practice.

What word best helps the reader understand the meaning of the word “chain”?

• practice

• stop

• softball

• bicycle

Read the sentence.

When I saw her yawn, I could not tell if it was because she was tired or just bored.

Which statement best describes what a student can learn by analyzing the relationship between the two underlined words?

• Boredom can cause yawning.

• Yawning can cause tiredness.

• Boredom can cause tiredness.

• Tiredness can cause yawning.

Read the sentence.

When Milo had chicken pox, his brother had to move out of their room because the virus is contagious.

Which statement best describes what a student can learn by analyzing the relationship between the two underlined words?

• A virus is a type of chicken pox.

• A virus is highly contagious.

• Chicken pox is highly contagious.

• Chicken pox is a type of virus.

Read the sentence.

After the literature exam, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Which term from the sentence is an example of figurative language?

• literature exam

• huge weight

• had been

• I felt