West B Test Reading: Figurative Language and Literary Devices 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a simile?
- The classroom was a zoo.
- Her smile was like sunshine on a cloudy day. (Correct answer)
- The wind whispered through the trees.
- He devoured the entire book in one sitting.
Correct answer: Her smile was like sunshine on a cloudy day.
A simile makes a comparison using 'like' or 'as,' so 'like sunshine on a cloudy day' is the simile.
Question 2: What literary device is used in the phrase 'The thunder grumbled and the rain wept'?
- Hyperbole
- Alliteration
- Personification (Correct answer)
- Onomatopoeia
Correct answer: Personification
Personification gives human qualities (grumbling, weeping) to non-human things like thunder and rain.
Question 3: Which sentence contains an example of alliteration?
- She sells seashells by the seashore. (Correct answer)
- The fire crackled in the hearth.
- Life is a journey with many detours.
- He laughed until his sides ached.
Correct answer: She sells seashells by the seashore.
Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound, as in 'sells seashells' and 'seashore.'
Question 4: In the sentence 'I have told you a million times to clean your room,' what literary device is being used?
- Simile
- Metaphor
- Hyperbole (Correct answer)
- Irony
Correct answer: Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used for emphasis; saying 'a million times' is clearly not literal.
Question 5: A metaphor differs from a simile in that a metaphor:
- Uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things
- Gives human traits to non-human objects
- States a comparison directly without using 'like' or 'as' (Correct answer)
- Repeats a sound at the start of words
Correct answer: States a comparison directly without using 'like' or 'as'
A metaphor directly states one thing IS another, whereas a simile says one thing is LIKE another.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes an idiom?
- A comparison using 'like' or 'as'
- A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of its words (Correct answer)
- The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words
- A statement that says less than is actually meant
Correct answer: A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of its words
An idiom is an expression with a figurative meaning that differs from its literal meaning, such as 'kick the bucket.'
Question 7: What does 'the pot calling the kettle black' most likely mean?
- A conflict between two identical objects
- Accusing someone of a fault that you yourself have (Correct answer)
- Describing something that is very old and worn out
- Making a comparison between two very different things
Correct answer: Accusing someone of a fault that you yourself have
This idiom means criticizing someone for a fault you also have; both the pot and kettle are equally black.
West B Test Reading: Figurative Language and Literary Devices 1
Which of the following is an example of a simile?