Figurative Language Quiz

What is a simile?

• A figure of speech that involves an exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

• A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as."

• A figure of speech that gives human characteristics to non-human things.

• A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison without using "like" or "as."

Answer explanation

A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things using "like" or "as," making it distinct from other figures of speech such as metaphors or personification.

What is a metaphor?

• A figure of speech that involves an exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

• A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as."

• A figure of speech that gives human characteristics to non-human things.

• A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison without using "like" or "as."

Answer explanation

A metaphor makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as', distinguishing it from similes and other figures of speech.

Which of the following is an example of hyperbole?

• The leaves danced in the wind.

• I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

• Her smile is like the sun.

• The classroom was a zoo.

Answer explanation

The phrase "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" is an example of hyperbole, as it exaggerates hunger to an extreme level for emphasis, unlike the other options which use figurative language without exaggeration.

Identify the simile in the following sentence: "Her eyes sparkled like diamonds."

• Her eyes sparkled.

• Her eyes were diamonds.

• Her eyes sparkled like diamonds.

• Her eyes were as bright as diamonds.

Answer explanation

The simile in the sentence is "Her eyes sparkled like diamonds," as it directly compares her eyes to diamonds using "like," illustrating their brightness and allure.

Identify the metaphor in the following sentence: "Time is a thief."

• Time is a thief.

• Time passes quickly.

• Time flies like an arrow.

• Time is like a river.

Answer explanation

The metaphor "Time is a thief" suggests that time stealthily takes away moments from our lives, similar to how a thief would steal. This contrasts with the other options, which are similes or descriptions of time.

Which sentence contains an understatement?

• The hurricane caused a bit of wind.

• The sun was a blazing fire in the sky.

• The mountain was as tall as the sky.

• The car was a rocket on the highway.

Answer explanation

The sentence 'The hurricane caused a bit of wind.' is an understatement because it downplays the severity of a hurricane, which typically brings strong winds and destruction.

Differentiate between the following: "The world is a stage" and "The world is like a stage."

• Both are similes.

• Both are metaphors.

• The first is a metaphor, the second is a simile.

• The first is a simile, the second is a metaphor.

Answer explanation

The phrase "The world is a stage" asserts that the world is literally a stage, making it a metaphor. In contrast, "The world is like a stage" uses 'like' to compare the world to a stage, classifying it as a simile.

Which of the following is an example of personification?

• The wind whispered through the trees.

• The sun was a golden orb in the sky.

• The stars were diamonds in the sky.

• The ocean was a vast expanse of blue.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'The wind whispered through the trees' gives the wind a human action (whispering), which is an example of personification. The other options describe natural elements without attributing human traits.

Identify the hyperbole in the following sentence: "I've told you a million times."

• I've told you.

• A million times.

• I've told you a million times.

• You a million times.

Answer explanation

The hyperbole in the sentence "I've told you a million times" exaggerates the frequency of telling, emphasizing frustration. The correct choice is "I've told you a million times," as it contains the hyperbolic expression.

Which of the following sentences contains a simile?

• The stars were diamonds in the sky.

• Her voice was music to his ears.

• He was as brave as a lion.

• The world is a stage.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'He was as brave as a lion,' contains a simile, comparing bravery to a lion using 'as.' The other sentences use different figures of speech, such as metaphors or imagery.