Literal & Non-Literal Meanings

Macy and her little brother, Jace, were over the moon about going to the pool. It was a warm day and the trees were slowly dancing in the gentle breeze. When they arrived, Macy immediately dove into the water. She began swimming like a fish, but Jace couldn’t swim yet. He had just started swimming lessons last week. He hoped he could swim like Macy by the end of the summer. Macy begged Jace to jump into the pool. “Hold your horses,” Jace yelled as he grabbed his float.

1. Question 1. What does the phrase, over the moon mean? Color the number ones the correct color.

• flying over the moon (white)

• very excited (dark blue)

• ready to go (pink)

Macy and her little brother, Jace, were over the moon about going to the pool. It was a warm day and the trees were slowly dancing in the gentle breeze. When they arrived, Macy immediately dove into the water. She began swimming like a fish, but Jace couldn’t swim yet. He had just started swimming lessons last week. He hoped he could swim like Macy by the end of the summer. Macy begged Jace to jump into the pool. “Hold your horses,” Jace yelled as he grabbed his float.

2. Question 2. What do you think the author is trying to say when he or she uses the phrase, swimming like a fish?

• The author is trying to say that Macy is a really good swimmer. (red)

• The author is trying to say that Jace is learning how to swim. (blue)

• The author is trying to say that Macy could dive really well. (white)

Macy and her little brother, Jace, were over the moon about going to the pool. It was a warm day and the trees were slowly dancing in the gentle breeze. When they arrived, Macy immediately dove into the water. She began swimming like a fish, but Jace couldn’t swim yet. He had just started swimming lessons last week. He hoped he could swim like Macy by the end of the summer. Macy begged Jace to jump into the pool. “Hold your horses,” Jace yelled as he grabbed his float.

3. Question 3. Which of the following is the literal meaning of, hold your horses?

• Hold on tight. (light purple)

• Grab a rope. (red)

• Wait a minute. (white)

Macy and her little brother, Jace, were over the moon about going to the pool. It was a warm day and the trees were slowly dancing in the gentle breeze. When they arrived, Macy immediately dove into the water. She began swimming like a fish, but Jace couldn’t swim yet. He had just started swimming lessons last week. He hoped he could swim like Macy by the end of the summer. Macy begged Jace to jump into the pool. “Hold your horses,” Jace yelled as he grabbed his float.

Question 4. What is the most likely reason that the author used the phrase, slowly dancing in the gentle breeze?

• The author used this phrase to help paint a picture in the reader’s mind. (light green)

• The author used this phrase to explain how to dance in a breeze. (purple)

• The author used this phrase to explain how to dance slowly. (light blue)

Mr. Reynolds was strong as an ox as he unloaded the heavy boxes from the back of the delivery truck. His team was in charge of restocking the entire store overnight. They were planning a big open house sale for tomorrow, and lots of people would be in the store. Mr. Reynolds didn’t dread the crowd though. He was cool as a cucumber as he prepared for the sale. Throughout the night, he stayed busy as a bee while unpacking boxes. Mr. Reynolds was happy as a lark while he worked. By daybreak, the store was restocked and ready for customers.

Question 5. Which clues in the story helps you figure out the meaning of, strong as an ox?

• delivery truck (brown)

• preparing for the sale (white)

• heavy boxes (dark blue)

Mr. Reynolds was strong as an ox as he unloaded the heavy boxes from the back of the delivery truck. His team was in charge of restocking the entire store overnight. They were planning a big open house sale for tomorrow, and lots of people would be in the store. Mr. Reynolds didn’t dread the crowd though. He was cool as a cucumber as he prepared for the sale. Throughout the night, he stayed busy as a bee while unpacking boxes. Mr. Reynolds was happy as a lark while he worked. By daybreak, the store was restocked and ready for customers.

Question 6. What does it mean to be busy as a bee?

• being very busy and active (purple)

• buzzing like a bee (green)

• flying around like a bee (yellow)

Mr. Reynolds was strong as an ox as he unloaded the heavy boxes from the back of the delivery truck. His team was in charge of restocking the entire store overnight. They were planning a big open house sale for tomorrow, and lots of people would be in the store. Mr. Reynolds didn’t dread the crowd though. He was cool as a cucumber as he prepared for the sale. Throughout the night, he stayed busy as a bee while unpacking boxes. Mr. Reynolds was happy as a lark while he worked. By daybreak, the store was restocked and ready for customers.

Question 7. What do you think the author is trying to say when he or she uses the phrase, cool as a cucumber?

• The author is trying to say that Mr. Reynolds was calm, but his team was not. (white)

• The author is trying to say that Mr. Reynolds was very calm and not affected by pressure. (red)

• The author is trying to say that Mr. Reynolds likes to eat cucumbers. (blue)

Mr. Reynolds was strong as an ox as he unloaded the heavy boxes from the back of the delivery truck. His team was in charge of restocking the entire store overnight. They were planning a big open house sale for tomorrow, and lots of people would be in the store. Mr. Reynolds didn’t dread the crowd though. He was cool as a cucumber as he prepared for the sale. Throughout the night, he stayed busy as a bee while unpacking boxes. Mr. Reynolds was happy as a lark while he worked. By daybreak, the store was restocked and ready for customers.

Question 8. Which of the following is the literal meaning of, happy as a lark?

• very relaxed and lucky (green)

• very worried and troubled (blue)

• very happy and carefree (pink)

My little cousin Nate broke our grandmother’s favorite vase. I knew he would be toast when his mother found out. She was not happy that Nate was goofing off in the house. She shouted, “Nate, you have ants in your pants!” His mother was right. He can never sit still. Nate is always running around knocking things over and doing flips on the floor. He drives me crazy! “It looks like I’m in a pickle now,” Nate groaned. His mother explained how he would work out the money to buy our grandmother a new vase. He better get busy, I thought. A new vase will cost an arm and a leg.

Question 9. Which words in the text tell you how Nate feels?

• He can never sit still. (green)

• Nate groaned. (dark blue)

• He better get busy. (yellow)

My little cousin Nate broke our grandmother’s favorite vase. I knew he would be toast when his mother found out. She was not happy that Nate was goofing off in the house. She shouted, “Nate, you have ants in your pants!” His mother was right. He can never sit still. Nate is always running around knocking things over and doing flips on the floor. He drives me crazy! “It looks like I’m in a pickle now,” Nate groaned. His mother explained how he would work out the money to buy our grandmother a new vase. He better get busy, I thought. A new vase will cost an arm and a leg.

Question 10. Does the phrase, in a pickle, have a literal or non-literal meaning? What does it mean?

• Non-literal; in a difficult situation (red)

• Literal, in big trouble (white)

• Non-literal; needing to explain (blue)