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Figurative Language Including Analogies and Allusions

Total questions: 43

Worksheet time: 1hrs 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In the story A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, a penny-pinching and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge values money more than people.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

Our neighbor has a reputation for being a Scrooge, so we don't even stop at his door any more when we're fundraising.

a)

generous

b)

kind

c)

stingy

d)

jealous

2.

In one of Aesop's fables, four animals go hunting under the assumption that they will split their prize equally, but the lion, the most powerful animal, takes more than the other members of the group.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

My older brother takes the lion's share of the space in our bedroom.

a)

an equal amount

b)

a tiny bit

c)

an even split

d)

the largest portion

3.

George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 focuses on a totalitarian society in which the citizens are frequently reminded that their leader, Big Brother, is always watching.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

The headline read: "Smart Phones Becoming Big Brother."

a)

a benevolent government that takes care of its people

b)

a democratic society with laws protecting privacy

c)

a ruler that allows freedom of speech

d)

a threatening power that monitors all aspects of people's lives

4.

The comic book superhero Spider-Man possesses a spidey sense that warns him of impending trouble.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

Luther picked up his pace on the trail as his spidey sense began to tingle.

a)

sense of smell

b)

sense of danger

c)

sense of wonder

d)

sense of pride

5.

What is this meme an allusion to?

a)

The 1950's

b)

Friday

c)

Felicia Day

d)

my cousin Felicia

6.

Which President was Martin Luther King Jr. alluding to in his speech, "I Have a Dream", with the following lines: "Five score years ago a great American in whose symb­olic shadow we stand today signed the Emancipation Proclamation."?

a)

George Bush

b)

Barack Obama

c)

Abraham Lincoln

d)

George Washington

7.
What does the allusion of The Three Stooges mean?
a)
Three people can make better decisions than one
b)
you are acting silly or ridiculous
c)
you can't understand what others are saying
d)
All of the above
8.
Which of the following is not an example of an allusion?
a)
She transformed her backyard to look like the Garden of Eden.
b)
His wife was his Achilles' heel.
c)
He lies so much, I'm surprised his nose doesn't grow like Pinnochio's.
d)
We'll miss him so much because he was the best dog ever.
9.
Bruno Mars- That's what I Like
"Everything 24 karats
Take a look in that mirror
Now tell me who's the fairest
Is it you? (is it you?) Is it me? (is it me?)"
what is the term for the phrase in red text?
a)
Allusion
b)
simile
c)
metaphor
d)
hyperbole
10.

Kendrick Lamar- DNA

"I just win again, then win again like Wimbledon, I serve

Yeah, that's him again, the sound that engine in is like a bird"

what is the term for the text in red-

a)

personification

b)

simile

c)

allusion

d)

hyperbole

11.

A metaphor is a comparison between two things or ideas to show how one of the things is similar to the other. Unlike a simile, a metaphor does not use the words "like" or "as."


Read the following passage.


Mike’s love for tacos burns bright, an undying flame that can never be extinguished, not even by a bad chalupa.


Which of the following best describes the metaphor in this passage?

a)

Mike’s love for tacos is compared to a bad chalupa.

b)

Mike loves tacos.

c)

Mike’s love for tacos is compared to a flame.

d)

Mike’s love is compared to a taco.

12.

An allusion is a direct or indirect reference to something historical, literary, religious or mythical. Allusions can help people see unique connections between two ideas.


Read the following passage:

The stray cat stalked down the street. Her walk was proud--she barely flinched when a car on the corner backfired. She reached the end of the street and made one majestic leap to the top of an open trash can, where, with great dignity, she settled over a meal of broken bones, a back alley Cleopatra.


Which detail from the text contains an allusion?

a)

“She reached the end of the street and made one majestic leap...”

b)

“Her walk was proud...”

c)

“The stray cat stalked down the street.”

d)

“...she settled over a meal of broken bones, a back alley Cleopatra.”

13.

A metaphor is a comparison between two things or ideas to show how one of the things is similar to the other. Unlike a simile, a metaphor does not use the words "like" or "as."


Read the following passage.


Mike’s love for tacos burns bright, an undying flame that can never be extinguished, not even by a bad chalupa.

Which of the following best describes the metaphor in this passage?

a)

Mike’s love for tacos is compared to a bad chalupa.

b)

Mike loves tacos.

c)

Mike’s love for tacos is compared to a flame.

d)

Mike’s love is compared to a taco.

14.

A simile is a comparison of two things using the words like or as.


Read the following passage.


Paul often got lost while he was driving. He was easily confused by street signs and besides, driving was so boring. He liked to distract himself by imagining what the other drivers were thinking. “My mind is like a puppy dog,” he laughed, “always chasing after something new.” Maybe the family in the car next to him was on the run; maybe the truck driver up ahead was transporting something fantastic, like diamonds; maybe the woman driving alone in the car behind him was a future movie star. Or maybe, like him, they were all trying to imagine anything except the road in front of them. He would speculate about all of this until he realized he had missed his exit or driven too far in the wrong direction and then he would curse his own imagination.


Which detail from the text contains a simile?

a)

“..he would curse his own imagination.”

b)

“My mind is like a puppy dog...”

c)

“Maybe the family in the car next to him was on the run...”

d)

“Paul often got lost while he was driving.”

15.

Juxtaposition is when two unlike things are positioned next to each other.


Which of the following is an example of juxtaposition?

a)

“It was a bright cold day in April”

b)

“It was a dark and stormy night.”

c)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

d)

“There were no marigolds in the fall of 1941.”

16.

When an author gives objects, concepts or animals human characteristics, emotions or abilities, that's personification.


Which of the following is an example of personification?

a)

The night sighed, and it seemed as if the evening sky was yawning.

b)

The rabbit leaped over the fallen branch and vanished into the woods.

c)

Oliver decided to indulge his friend’s fantasies and smiled warmly.

d)

I ran as swiftly as a deer across the lawn, eager to greet my brother.

17.

Onomatopoeia is the name for words that sound like what they describe.


Which of the following is an example of onomatopoeia?

a)

“Voila,” the chef announced, revealing a glorious dessert, set aflame.

b)

“Yikes!” Riley exclaimed, gritting her teeth. “I do not want to talk about that!”

c)

Justin poured a glass of soda, listening to the bubbles fizz in the glass.

d)

Haroun could hear, from the crowd, shouts of “Hooray!” and chants of his name.

18.

Hyperbole is a purposeful exaggeration or overstatement.


Which of the following is an example of hyperbole?

a)

With the tournament win, Julia was declared a champion golfer.

b)

Peter received the lowest scores of any of the runners.

c)

That kitten was so cute I died when I saw it.

d)

I feel happiest when I’ve won a game of Scrabble

19.

Assonance is the smoothest, coolest, loosest literary term on the block. It is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together, and it is sometimes known as "internal rhyme" or "slant rhyme."


Which of the following song lyrics contain assonance?

a)

"Memories keep playing back, all the nights we used to love/ Just wondering how we used to was, used to was"

b)

"My restlessness is my nemesis/ It’s hard to really chill and sit still"

c)

"Into the roads/ It’s open/ Bare to your left my heart sits there"

d)

"I got my city doing front flips"

20.

Alliteration is the repetition of sounds, especially the first consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words. Remember, consonants are any letter that’s not a vowel.


Which of the following song lyrics contain an example of alliteration?

a)

"When I’m on the mic I stand tall with gall"

b)

"Drama, so close to not completing the missing piece of the puzzle"

c)

"Stuck in Nintendo, you’re the controller/ Street Fighter and such"

d)

"My mind makes marvelous moves, masses/ Marvel and move, many mock what I've mastered"

21.

When you use verbal irony, you say one thing, but you actually mean the opposite. It can take the form of sarcasm, overstatement or understatement. Irony is also when the opposite of what you expect actually happens.


Which of the following is an example of verbal irony?

a)

Her step is as light as a feather.

b)

“You are beautiful like a summer day,” she told the winner of the baby beauty pageant.

c)

Talking to him is about as interesting as reading a dictionary.

d)

Her voice is as sweet as honey.

22.

When you make a pun, you're exploiting or playing with the multiple meanings of words.


Which of the following is an example of a pun?

a)

I could hear the frogs croaking and ribbeting in the swamp.

b)

I read a book about gravity: it was pretty heavy.

c)

Pop! I heard the tire burst and then the slow hiss as air released.

d)

Love is like a warm blanket on a cold day.

23.

Which of these is a metaphor?

a)

it's hard as a rock

b)

it's soft as a feather

c)

it's a zoo in here

d)

it's clear as mud

24.

Which is the definition of personification?

a)

comparison using "like" or "as"

b)

attribution of personal qualities to something nonhuman

c)

exaggeration

d)

several words with the same beginning letter

25.

Select ALL examples of onomatopoeia

a)

buzz

b)

microwave

c)

swish

d)

scream

26.

Which words indicate a simile?

a)

like & as

b)

yes & no

c)

as & maybe

d)

up & down

27.

What term means " the act or an instance of repeating or being repeated"?

a)

alliteration

b)

metaphor

c)

repetition

d)

oxymoron

28.

A reference to another piece of literature, movie, or pop culture is called _________________

a)

alliteration

b)

allusion

c)

accidental

d)

plagiarism

29.

A metaphor does this:

a)

bounces up and down

b)

repeats

c)

directly compares two things

d)

has similar sounds

30.

Which is an example of personification?

a)

it was as light as a feather

b)

the wheat danced in the wind

c)

the washing machine went kaput

d)

ouch!

31.

Fahrenheit 451 contains a lot of quotes from other books, also known as ___________

a)

direct quotes

b)

shared ideas

c)

common knowledge

d)

allusions

32.

"I laughed like a hyena" is an example of what?

a)

metaphor

b)

repetition

c)

simile

d)

embarrassment

33.
In 1815, French emperor Napoleon suffered a devastating defeat in the Battle of Waterloo, which would prove to be his final battle before he abdicated the throne.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Last night's playoff in the semifinals proved to be the team's 
Waterloo
a)
A final defeat 
b)
A surprise win 
c)
A final win
d)
All of the above
34.
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?
"Tess is such a Pollyanna!" Liam announced with a sigh. 
a)
An extremely annoyed person
b)
A childish, selfish person 
c)
An overly optimistic person 
d)
None of the above
35.
In a well-known folktale, Chicken Little is accidentally hit by something and jumps to the conclusion that the sky is falling and that she must spread the news of imminent disaster.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The weather forecast called for clear skies, making my grandfather look like 
Chicken Little
a)
A person who greets trouble with a cheery disposition 
b)
A person who spreads alarming news of imminent disaster 
c)
A person who does not believe he or she can get in trouble
d)
All of the above
36.
In Greek mythology, Achilles's mother dips him in a river that protects his body wherever it touches. His heel does not get wet, so it is the one part of his body left unprotected. During the Trojan War, an arrow hits Achilles in the heel and kills him.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

Red velvet cupcakes were Stacy's Achilles's heel when she was trying to eat more healthily. 
a)
A source of strength
b)
A sole weakness
c)
A feeling of false strength
d)
All of the above
37.
In Greek mythology, a mythical bird called the phoenix lives for hundreds of years before bursting into flames at its death. However, it soon rises from its own ashes and is reborn.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Fans debated whether their team would rise from the ashes.
a)
To come back after  destruction or defeat
 
b)
To surprise an opponent 
c)
To think optimistically
d)
None of the above
38.
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)
A heavenly delicacy 
b)
Something unusual or exciting 
c)
Something hideous or grotesque
d)
All of the above
39.
George Orwell's novel 1984 focuses on a totalitarian society in which the citizens are frequently reminded that their leader, Big Brother, is always watching.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The headline read: "Smart Phones Becoming
Big Brother." 
a)
A nuisance that distracts people from important tasks
b)
An important system that helps people stay safe
c)
A threatening power that monitors all aspects of people's lives 
d)
All of the above
40.
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, Warren chose to 
turn the other cheek when Ruth insulted him in a meeting. 
a)
to respond harshly 
b)
to respond without aggression 
c)
to not respond at all
d)
all of the above
41.
In the fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," a shepherd boy repeatedly tricks people in his village by falsely claiming that a wolf is coming to eat his flock. When a wolf actually comes and the boy cries for help, nobody believes him or comes to his aid.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Lucy warned her youngest son not to cry wolf while wrestling with his older brother. 
a)
to raise a false alarm 
b)
to make howling sounds 
c)
to physically become a wolf
d)
none of the above
42.
In the fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," a shepherd boy repeatedly tricks people in his village by falsely claiming that a wolf is coming to eat his flock. When a wolf actually comes and the boy cries for help, nobody believes him or comes to his aid.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Lucy warned her youngest son not to cry wolf while wrestling with his older brother. 
a)
to raise a false alarm 
b)
to make howling sounds 
c)
to physically become a wolf
d)
none of the above
43.
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
a)
an inaccurate prediction 
b)
a sign with important technical information 
c)
a clear indication of how something will turn out 
d)
none of these answers are correct