In Greek mythology, Achilles's mother dips him in a river that protects his body wherever it touches. His heel does not get wet, so it is the one part of his body left unprotected. During the Trojan War, an arrow hits Achilles in the heel and kills him.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Red velvet cupcakes were Stacy's Achilles's heel when she was trying to eat more healthily. 

• A source of strength
  
• A sole weakness
  
• A feeling of false strength
• All of the above

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In Greek mythology, a mythical bird called the phoenix lives for hundreds of years before bursting into flames at its death. However, it soon rises from its own ashes and is reborn.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Fans debated whether their team would rise from the ashes.

• To come back after  destruction or defeat
   
• To surprise an opponent 
• To think optimistically
• None of the above

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In the fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," a shepherd boy repeatedly tricks people in his village by falsely claiming that a wolf is coming to eat his flock. When a wolf actually comes and the boy cries for help, nobody believes him or comes to his aid.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Lucy warned her youngest son not to cry wolf while wrestling with his older brother. 

• to raise a false alarm 
• to make howling sounds 
• to physically become a wolf
• none of the above

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In the Bible, Daniel accurately translates mysterious writing that appears on a wall, and in doing so, he predicts the death of a king.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Investors should have seen the writing on the wall. 

• an inaccurate prediction 
• a sign with important technical information 
• a clear indication of how something will turn out 
• none of these answers are correct 

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In a biblical parable, a Samaritan selflessly stops to help an enemy who has been beaten and stranded on the side of a road.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

A Good Samaritan jumped in when my grocery bag broke and the contents spilled all over the sidewalk.

• a person who enjoys interacting with others

• a person who plays tricks on others

• a person who takes advantage of others

• a person who goes out of the way to help another

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In one of Aesop's fables, four animals go hunting under the assumption that they will split their prize equally, but the lion, the most powerful animal, takes more than the other members of the group.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

My older brother takes the lion's share of the space in our bedroom.

• an equal amount

• a tiny bit

• an even split

• the largest portion

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In the story A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, a penny-pinching and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge values money more than people.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

Our neighbor has a reputation for being a Scrooge, so we don't even stop at his door any more when we're fundraising.

• generous

• kind

• stingy

• jealous

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Swimming for four hours this afternoon and not giving up took a ______________ effort. 

• atlas
• Herculean
• Pandora's box
• martial

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which word matches with Achille's Heel?

• strength

• huge

• love

• weakness

• success

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which word matches with Herculean Effort?

• strength

• huge

• love

• weakness

• success

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4