Figurative Language Pretest

In the sentence "The wind whispered through the trees," what type of figurative language is being used?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Onomatopoeia

Answer explanation

The phrase "The wind whispered through the trees" attributes human qualities to the wind, suggesting it can whisper. This is an example of personification, as it gives life-like characteristics to a non-human element.

Which phrase is an example of a simile?

• The stars danced in the night sky.

• Her voice was as smooth as silk.

• Time is money.

• The flowers nodded in the breeze.

Answer explanation

A simile compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. 'Her voice was as smooth as silk' uses 'as' to compare her voice to silk, making it the correct example of a simile.

"The thunder went BOOM!" is an example of which literary device?

• Alliteration

• Repetition

• Hyperbole

• Onomatopoeia

Answer explanation

The phrase "The thunder went BOOM!" uses the word "BOOM" to imitate the sound of thunder, making it an example of onomatopoeia. This literary device refers to words that phonetically resemble the sound they describe.

Which sentence contains a metaphor?

• Life is like a roller coaster.

• The classroom was a zoo today.

• As quick as a fox.

• The wind howled loudly.

Answer explanation

The sentence 'The classroom was a zoo today' uses a metaphor by comparing the chaotic classroom to a zoo, implying it was noisy and disorderly without using 'like' or 'as', which would indicate a simile.

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" is an example of:

• Onomatopoeia

• Idiom

• Alliteration

• Hyperbole

Answer explanation

The phrase "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" is an example of alliteration because it features the repetition of the initial 'p' sound in multiple words, creating a rhythmic effect.

"It's raining cats and dogs" is an example of:

• Idiom

• Personification

• Simile

• Metaphor

Answer explanation

"It's raining cats and dogs" is an idiom, meaning it's raining heavily. Idioms are phrases whose meanings aren't deducible from the individual words, unlike similes or metaphors that make direct comparisons.

Which sentence uses hyperbole?

• The snow sparkled like diamonds.

• I've told you a million times.

• The leaves danced in the wind.

• The computer died yesterday.

Answer explanation

The sentence "I've told you a million times" uses hyperbole, as it exaggerates the number of times something has been said to emphasize frustration, rather than stating a literal fact.

In "The sun smiled down on the flowers," which figurative language is used?

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Onomotopoeia

• Personification

Answer explanation

The phrase "The sun smiled down on the flowers" uses personification, as it attributes human qualities (smiling) to a non-human entity (the sun), enhancing the imagery of the scene.

Which phrase uses repetition for effect?

• The old man was as wise as an owl.

• Drip, drip, drip went the faucet.

• The baby was a bundle of joy.

• The car raced down the street.

Answer explanation

The phrase "Drip, drip, drip went the faucet" uses repetition of the word "drip" to create a rhythmic effect, emphasizing the sound and drawing attention to the action, making it the correct choice.

"Break a leg" is an example of:

• Hyperbole

• Personification

• Idiom

• Simile

Answer explanation

"Break a leg" is an idiom, meaning to wish someone good luck, especially in a performance. It is not meant to be taken literally, which distinguishes it from hyperbole, personification, and simile.