IEO Literary Devices and Figures of Speech

Question 1

What literary device is used in the sentence: 'The wind whispered through the trees'?

Accepted Answer

Personification

Answer

Personification gives the wind a human quality (whispering), which is a non-human subject acting like a person.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?

Accepted Answer

Life is a roller coaster.

Answer

A metaphor makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'; 'Life is a roller coaster' equates life directly to a roller coaster.

Question 3

Which sentence uses a simile?

Accepted Answer

He ran like the wind.

Answer

A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things; 'ran like the wind' uses 'like' to compare his speed to the wind.

Question 4

'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers' is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Alliteration

Answer

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words; here the 'p' sound is repeated throughout.

Question 5

Exaggeration used for emphasis or comic effect is called:

Accepted Answer

Hyperbole

Answer

Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration not meant to be taken literally, used to emphasize a point or create humor.

IEO - International English Olympiad Practice Test

IEO - International English Olympiad Practice Test

IEO Literary Devices and Figures of Speech