Regents English Figurative Language and Literary Devices

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a simile?

Accepted Answer

She ran like the wind.

Answer

A simile makes a comparison using 'like' or 'as,' as in 'ran like the wind.'

Question 2

'The trees whispered secrets to each other' is an example of which literary device?

Accepted Answer

Personification

Answer

Personification gives human qualities — such as whispering secrets — to non-human things like trees.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Alliteration

Answer

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, as shown by the repeated 'p' sound.

Question 4

Which of the following is the best example of an oxymoron?

Accepted Answer

It was a bittersweet farewell.

Answer

An oxymoron combines two contradictory terms in a single phrase, such as 'bittersweet.'

Question 5

'I've told you a million times to clean your room!' is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Hyperbole

Answer

Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used for emphasis; 'a million times' is clearly an overstatement.

Regents English Practice Test