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WorksheetsAllusion Review
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 15mins
Pyrrhus was an ancient Greek king who won a battle but suffered very heavy losses.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The swordsman achieved a Pyrrhic victory.
a victory against challenging odds
a success that comes at a huge loss
In the early nineteenth century, factories were replacing the jobs of craftsmen. Some of these craftsmen banded together to destroy the new machinery; those who did so were called Luddites.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Cindy thinks Mr. Nolan is a Luddite because he doesn't own a cell phone.
a person without much money
a person opposed to new technology
In the Bible, Jesus counsels his followers to resist retaliation. He says that if they are struck on the right cheek, they shouldn't lash out; instead, they should turn the other cheek toward their attacker.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Much to our shock, Ronnie chose to turn the other cheek when Meg insulted him in a meeting.
to respond harshly
to respond without aggression
Soldiers from the city of Sparta in ancient Greece were known for their self-restraint, self-discipline, and indifference to luxury.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Reagan was known among her coworkers for her spartan ways.
silly and unusual
simple and restrained
Robert Louis Stevenson's popular Victorian novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydetells the story of a man with two distinct personalities. Known to the world as a kind and highly respected doctor, at night he transforms into a monstrous person.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"John's personality is very Jekyll and Hyde," Patty told her brother.
kind then cruel
impolite then selfish
In Greek mythology, the gods send Pandora a box and instruct her never to open it. Curiosity overcomes Pandora and she opens it, unleashing evil into the world.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Reopening the investigation would be like opening Pandora's box.
a source of many problems
a wealth of information
In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is known for the eloquent declaration of love with which he woos Juliet.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Before Nancy had even met her future husband in person, she knew about his reputation as a Romeo.
a man who is shy and hard to approach
a man who is very romantic
In a Biblical parable, the prodigal son irresponsibly spends the inheritance given to him by his father. When he returns home, he expects to be shamed, but his father forgives him.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Tanner dropped out of college to travel the world, but a year later, the prodigal son returned home and re-enrolled in classes.
a person who values adventure over priorities
a person who behaves recklessly but later realizes their mistakes and returns
In Greek mythology, ambrosia is the name for the food of the gods.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Louanne's Ice Cream Parlor has the best dessert short of ambrosia!
a heavenly delicacy
something unusual or exciting
During the Renaissance, Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince, an essay that claims that achieving and maintaining political power requires dishonesty and ruthlessness.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
His Machiavellian strategies landed him a promotion.
deceptive and cutthroat
kind and understanding
Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland tells the story of a young girl who follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a series of adventures in a surreal world.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Henry's research on nineteenth-century philosophers led him down the rabbit hole.
a strange or difficult exploration
in search of fame and praise
Draco, a government official in seventh-century Athens, Greece, wrote a code of laws that called for severe punishments for even minor offenses.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Shawn spoke at the city council meeting, claiming the new recycling regulations were draconian.
harsh
old-fashioned
In the Bible, Daniel accurately translates mysterious writing that appears on a wall, and in doing so, he predicts the death of a king.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Investors should have seen the writing on the wall.
an inaccurate prediction
a clear indication of how something with turn out.
In the Bible, Moses parts the Red Sea with his staff, forming a clear, dry path for his people to walk along as they escape from Egypt.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The dense crowd began to part like the Red Sea.
to open up a path
to come and go like the tides
In Greek mythology, the Greek army tricks the Trojan army into taking a large wooden horse into their carefully guarded city. The horse turns out to be filled with Greek warriors who, once inside the city of Troy, open the gates to the Greek army waiting outside.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Kylie anticipated that the free makeover her friend was promising would turn out to be a Trojan horse.
a deceptive or harmful offering
a blessing in disguise
The Titanic was a luxury steamship touted as indestructible, but in 1912, on its maiden voyage, it hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and sank.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The politician's staff decided it was time to get off the Titanic, so they left the campaign and started looking for other jobs.
a large project facing failure
a project that does not provide enough money
The character Pollyanna, from Eleanor Porter's children's book, is a young girl who finds good in everything and everyone.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Bridget is such a Pollyanna!" Chad announced with a sigh.
an unintelligent person
an overly optimistic person
In a J. M. Barrie novel, the character Peter Pan retreats to Neverland and refuses to grow up.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Christina told her friends that Gordon was a typical Peter Pan type.
a person who won't take on adult responsibility
a person who enjoys spending his free time with his family
The character Cinderella, from the fairy tale of the same name, transforms from a disrespected and neglected young woman to the wife of a prince.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The judge frequently described her life as a Cinderella story.
an unending adventure
a dramatic gain in wealth or status
In classical mythology, Hercules is the son of a god and possesses incredible, superhuman strength.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
It took a Herculean effort on the part of two bystanders to move the stalled car out of traffic.
generous
powerful
