Reading

Figurative Language Test

Which of the following sentences contains a simile?

a. It was the citywide debate team championships.

b. Tanya’s hands were sweaty.c. Her mouth was as dry as a desert.d. She sipped some water and tried to relax.

In paragraph 3, the author writes, “The first question was a bear.” The metaphor compares the question to a bear because

a. Both the question and a bear are difficult to handle.

b. Both the question and a bear are large animals.c. The question dealt with the topic of bearsd. The first question of every debate is known as

the bear.

In paragraph 4, the author writes that “Tanya had a mind like a steel trap.” This simile means that

a. Tanya was very forgetfulb. nothing escaped Tanya’s memory.c. Tanya could close her mind in a second.d. only Tanya understood the questions asked

Which of the following sentences contains a metaphor?

a. She was a tornado for her team.b. Tanya pictured herself on a sunny beach.c. Tanya’s arguments were impossible to beat.d. She knew that her team could win the

debate.

Ella and Reese

In paragraph 1, the author writes that “the alarm clock laughed at the idea of Ella sleeping anymore.” This is an example of personification because the author suggests

a. that Ella is sleepingb. That the alarm clock is sleepingc. That Ella has an idead. That the alarm clock laughed

In Paragraph 1, the author writes that the “whole school building would be bouncing with excitement.” This example of personification helps readers understand

a. how the school would literally bounce off the groundb. how excited everyone at school would be that dayc. How dangerous it is to go to school in a bouncing

buildingd. How confused Ella was about what was exciting to

others.

Which of the following sentences from Paragraph 2 contains an example of personification?

a. Together, the two girls had made a model volcano.

b. Just like a real volcano, the model could erupt.c. They had tested it several times the night

before, so Ella hoped it worked correctly.d. The trees above were happy to give Ella some

shade on the sunny morning.

In Paragraph 3, the author writes, “When Reese arrived, her bag was choking with books.” The personification in this sentence helps readers understand

a. the sound made by Reese when she arrived.b. how Reese had trouble breathing on the way to

school.c. just how full of borrowed library books Reese’s bag

is.d. just how gross the model volcano the girls made is.

At the Dentist’s Office

Which of the following sentences from Paragraph 1 contains an example of hyperbole?

A. It would not have been so bad if there were magazines to read.

B. Unfortunately, there was nothing to do.C. The waiting room was totally silent.D. The clock ticking on the wall sounded like a

canon going off every second.

• In Paragraph 2, the narrator uses hyperbole to A. make a joke about the weather.B. realistically describe the weather.C. compare the weather to the waiting room.D. make fun of the other patient.

• In Paragraph 3, the narrator describes the other patient as having “about a billion pieces of cotton in his mouth.” This is an example of hyperbole because

a. no one ever puts cotton in their mouth at the dentist.b. no one could fit a billion cotton pieces in their mouth.c. there is not even another patient in the waiting

room .d. a billion pieces of cotton are not enough for one

person.

In paragraph 6, the narrator claims to have brushed his teeth so hard that the bristles on his brush were smoking. This use of hyperbole is intended to

a. suggest the narrator did not brush his teeth.b. stress how forecefully the narrator had brushed his

teeth.c. question whether brushing one’s teeth is even

necessary.d. describe how brushing one’s teeth can actually

cause a fire.