Imagery - Visual, auditory and tactile

Read the sentence: "The setting sun painted the clouds in streaks of fiery orange and deep purple." Which sense does this sentence primarily appeal to?

• Sight

• Sound

• Touch

• Smell

Answer explanation

The sentence uses descriptive words like 'painted,' 'streaks,' 'fiery orange,' and 'deep purple' to create a vivid mental picture, which appeals to the sense of sight (visual imagery).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Sort the following phrases based on the primary sense they appeal to: Visual, Auditory, or Tactile.

Groups:

(a) Visual

,

(b) Auditory

,

(c) Tactile

• a blanket of shimmering snow

• the cat's rough tongue

• the velvety rose petal

• a distant, booming thunder

• the screeching tires

• the neon green sign

Answer explanation

Each phrase is sorted into the category of the sense it most strongly engages. 'Shimmering' and 'neon green' are seen (Visual), 'screeching' and 'booming' are heard (Auditory), and 'rough' and 'velvety' are felt (Tactile).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Read the sentence: "The constant, rhythmic drip-drip-drip of the leaky faucet was the only sound in the silent house." What does this auditory imagery emphasize?

• The house is old.

• Someone needs to fix the plumbing.

• The extreme quietness of the house.

• The time of day.

Answer explanation

By focusing on a small, repetitive sound like a 'drip,' the author highlights the surrounding silence, making the quietness seem more intense and noticeable. The other options are possible inferences but not the direct effect of the imagery.

Match each sensory word to the sense it primarily describes.

• Describes a sight

• Prickly

• Describes a feeling of touch

• Raspy

• Describes a sound

• Glittering

Answer explanation

Each word is matched to the sense it appeals to. 'Glittering' describes how something looks (sight), 'raspy' describes how something sounds (sound), and 'prickly' describes how something feels (touch).

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

A character is lost in the woods at night. Which sentence uses tactile imagery to create a mood of fear and discomfort?

• He saw the tall, dark trees around him.

• He heard an owl hoot in the distance.

• The damp, clinging fog made his clothes feel heavy and cold.

• The woods were very quiet.

Answer explanation

This option uses tactile words like 'damp,' 'clinging,' 'heavy,' and 'cold' to describe physical sensations, effectively creating a mood of discomfort and fear. The other options use visual or auditory imagery or lack imagery.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Read the sentence: "The old floorboards groaned and creaked under his weight with every step he took." What is the primary type of imagery used here?

• Visual

• Auditory

• Tactile

• Visual and Tactile

Answer explanation

The words 'groaned' and 'creaked' are onomatopoeias that describe sounds. Therefore, the sentence primarily uses auditory imagery to help the reader hear the character's movements.

Sort these phrases by the mood they help create: Peaceful or Anxious.

Groups:

(a) Peaceful

,

(b) Anxious

• sunlight warming his skin

• the jarring slam of a door

• a gentle, humming breeze

• a sudden, piercing shriek

Answer explanation

The phrases are sorted based on the feelings they evoke. 'Gentle humming' and 'warming sunlight' create a calm, peaceful mood. In contrast, 'jarring slam' and 'piercing shriek' create a tense, anxious mood.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

Match the description to the type of imagery it primarily uses.

• Visual Imagery

• The roar of the crowd was deafening.

• Auditory Imagery

• The bright, flashing lights of the arcade game.

• Tactile Imagery

• The sticky cotton candy clung to her fingers.

Answer explanation

Each sentence is matched with the type of imagery it uses. 'Bright, flashing lights' appeals to sight (Visual), 'sticky...clung to her fingers' appeals to touch (Tactile), and 'roar...deafening' appeals to hearing (Auditory).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

In a story about a tense basketball game, the author writes, "The squeak of sneakers on the polished floor echoed in the silent gym." What is the most likely purpose of this imagery?

• To describe the color of the floor.

• To show that the players are wearing new shoes.

• To increase the tension by focusing on small sounds in a quiet moment.

• To suggest the gym needs cleaning.

Answer explanation

The author uses this specific auditory imagery to make the reader focus on the only sound in a high-stakes, silent moment, which builds suspense and tension. The other options are not supported by the imagery used.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Which of the following phrases contains tactile imagery?

• The sky was a brilliant blue.

• The loud music vibrated through the floor.

• The fuzzy blanket was soft and warm.

• The siren wailed in the distance.

Answer explanation

This phrase uses the words 'fuzzy,' 'soft,' and 'warm' to describe the feeling of touch, which is tactile imagery. While 'vibrated' can be felt, 'fuzzy,' 'soft,' and 'warm' are more direct and primary examples of tactile description.