Hyperbole

Match each sentence containing a hyperbole to its literal meaning.

• He is extremely tall.

• He's so tall he can touch the clouds.

• My backpack is very heavy.

• I've told you a million times to clean your room.

• I have reminded you many times.

• This is the best day of my entire life!

• I am feeling incredibly happy and excited.

• My backpack weighs a ton.

Answer explanation

This question requires matching the exaggerated statement (hyperbole) to its actual, literal meaning. 'Weighs a ton' means very heavy, 'a million times' means many times, 'touch the clouds' means extremely tall, and 'best day of my entire life' expresses extreme happiness.

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CCSS.L.11-12.5A

What is the main purpose of using hyperbole in a sentence like, 'I've told you a million times to clean your room'?

• To give an exact count of how many times the person has asked.

• To add emphasis and show strong feeling.

• To make the sentence longer and more descriptive.

• To confuse the listener with an impossible number.

Answer explanation

Hyperbole is used for effect, not to be taken literally. Saying 'a million times' emphasizes the speaker's frustration and the frequency of the request, making the feeling stronger.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A

Sort the following sentences into the correct categories: Hyperbole or Literal Statement.

Groups:

(a) Hyperbole

,

(b) Literal Statement

• The new video game is the best thing ever created.

• My brother is taller than me.

• This is the worst day of my life.

• I waited in line for an hour.

Answer explanation

Hyperboles are extreme, non-literal exaggerations ('best thing ever,' 'worst day of my life'). Literal statements describe something that could actually be true ('waited for an hour,' 'taller than me').

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A

When your friend says, 'I'm so tired I could sleep for a year,' what do they actually mean?

• They are planning to hibernate for the winter.

• They are extremely exhausted.

• They are only a little bit sleepy.

• They are not tired at all.

Answer explanation

The hyperbole 'sleep for a year' is an exaggeration used to express the deep level of tiredness the person is feeling. It's not meant to be taken literally.

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CCSS.L.11-12.5A

Match each hyperbolic phrase to its intended, non-literal meaning.

• Someone is very old.

• I'm dying of laughter.

• Something is very heavy.

• This bag weighs a ton.

• Something is extremely funny.

• He's older than the hills.

Answer explanation

Each hyperbolic phrase is an exaggeration. 'Dying of laughter' means something is hilarious, 'weighs a ton' means it's heavy, and 'older than the hills' means someone is very old.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A

Complete the sentence to create an exaggeratory hyperbole: 'The principal's speech was so boring...'

• that I fell asleep for a century.

• that I almost fell asleep.

• that I started to doodle in my notebook.

• that I thought about what to have for lunch.

Answer explanation

Sleeping for a century is an impossible exaggeration, which makes it a hyperbole. The other options describe realistic reactions and are not hyperbolic.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A

Sort these sentences based on the author's primary purpose: To Exaggerate for Effect, To Make a Comparison, or To State a Fact.

Groups:

(a) To Exaggerate for Effect

,

(b) To Make a Comparison

,

(c) To State a Fact

• I have a million things to do tonight.

• That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I was riding a dinosaur.

• The test is on Friday.

• The sun was a blazing furnace.

Answer explanation

The purpose of hyperbole is to exaggerate for effect. Metaphors make comparisons, and literal statements state facts. This requires sorting based on the intent behind the words.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

Match each situation to the most appropriate hyperbolic response.

• I'm so full, I'm going to explode!

• You just finished a huge plate of spaghetti.

• I have a mountain of homework!

• You have three tests and a project due tomorrow.

• I'm dying of laughter!

• Your friend tells a really funny joke.

Answer explanation

Each situation is paired with a hyperbolic phrase that exaggerates the feeling associated with it: being very full, finding something hilarious, or having a lot of work to do.

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CCSS.L.11-12.5A

In a story, a character says, 'The silence was deafening.' What effect does this hyperbole create?

• It shows that the character is having trouble hearing.

• It emphasizes how uncomfortable and intense the silence is.

• It suggests that there was a very loud noise.

• It proves that the character does not like quiet places.

Answer explanation

This is a classic hyperbole (and an oxymoron) used to express that the silence is so profound and noticeable that it feels overwhelming, like a loud noise. It creates a feeling of tension.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A

Classify each phrase as either 'Hyperbole' or 'Not Hyperbole'.

Groups:

(a) Hyperbole

,

(b) Not Hyperbole

• The whole world was watching.

• I'm feeling sad today.

• I've been waiting forever.

• He runs pretty fast.

Answer explanation

'Waiting forever' and 'the whole world watching' are impossible exaggerations. 'Runs pretty fast' and 'feeling sad' are literal descriptions of a state or ability.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A