The Mystery of the Midnight Gardener - Simile in literary texts (Grade 8)

When Ximena says giving up would be 'like closing a book on the last page,' what does she mean?

• She thinks the mystery is as boring as a book.

• She believes they are very close to solving the mystery.

• She wants to go home and read a book instead.

• She thinks the story of the garden is finished.

Answer explanation

This simile suggests that they have done all the work and are right at the end, so stopping now would mean missing the conclusion.

In the third paragraph, what does Rowan compare the mystery to when he says it is 'stuck to us'?

• like closing a book on the last page

• like little green soldiers

• like gum on a hot sidewalk

• gentle as a whisper

Answer explanation

The passage states, 'This mystery is stuck to us like gum on a hot sidewalk,' which shows Rowan's frustration.

How does the passage describe Mr. Gideon's hands as he worked in the garden?

• gentle as a whisper

• heavy as lead weights

• stuck like gum

• ready for inspection

Answer explanation

The text directly states, 'He moved through the plants, his hands gentle as a whisper as he watered the delicate sprouts.'

The author uses the simile that the truth was 'simple and clear like a glass of water' to show that the solution to the mystery was...

• refreshing and cool.

• tasteless and boring.

• deep and hard to see through.

• not complicated or hidden.

Answer explanation

Comparing the truth to a clear glass of water emphasizes its simplicity and how easy it was to understand once they saw Mr. Gideon.

According to the passage, what did the new sprouts in the garden look like?

• a glass of water

• a silent, silver coin

• little green soldiers

• heavy as lead weights

Answer explanation

The passage says, 'The new sprouts stand in neat rows, like little green soldiers ready for inspection.'

Sort the following similes from the passage based on the primary idea they convey.

Groups:

(a) Expressing a Feeling or Idea

,

(b) Describing a Physical Object or Sensation

• heavy as lead weights

• like little green soldiers

• stuck to us like gum on a hot sidewalk

• like closing a book on the last page

• simple and clear like a glass of water

• gentle as a whisper

Answer explanation

The similes are categorized based on whether they describe an internal feeling/abstract concept or a tangible, physical quality. 'Gum on a sidewalk' describes frustration, 'closing a book' describes the idea of quitting too soon, and 'glass of water' describes the clarity of the truth. 'Little soldiers,' 'lead weights,' and 'whisper' all describe physical appearances or sensations.

Match the simile from the passage to what it describes.

• The way Mr. Gideon cared for the plants

• gentle as a whisper

• Rowan's feeling of frustration with the mystery

• like closing a book on the last page

• The appearance of the neat rows of sprouts

• like gum on a hot sidewalk

• Ximena's reason for not giving up the search

• like little green soldiers

Answer explanation

Each simile is directly linked to a specific feeling, object, or idea in the text. Rowan feels the mystery is 'like gum' (frustration). The sprouts are 'like little green soldiers' (appearance). Mr. Gideon's hands are 'gentle as a whisper' (action). Not quitting is 'like closing a book on the last page' (idea).

The theme of the story is the power of perseverance. Ximena uses the simile 'Giving up now would be like closing a book on the last page' to encourage Rowan. Think of a real-life situation at school, like struggling with a difficult math problem or practicing for a team tryout. How could you use a simile, like Ximena did, to encourage a friend not to give up? Explain your simile and why it would be effective.

Answer explanation