Figurative Language Quiz

Grade 3 · English · Quiz

Test your ability to identify and understand similes, metaphors, personification, and idioms.

Questions

1. Which sentence is an example of personification?

   1. The dog was as fast as a rocket.
   2. The old clock complained with every tick.
   3. The sky was a blue blanket.
   4. He ran like a cheetah.
   Show answer

   Answer: The old clock complained with every tick.

   'The old clock complained' gives the clock a human action (complaining). This is personification.

2. What type of figurative language is used in 'The ocean is a giant mirror'?

   1. Simile
   2. Personification
   3. Metaphor
   4. Idiom
   Show answer

   Answer: Metaphor

   'The ocean is a giant mirror' says the ocean IS a mirror without using 'like' or 'as,' making it a metaphor.

3. A simile and a metaphor both make comparisons, but a simile uses 'like' or 'as.'

   Show answer

   Answer: True

   Both simile and metaphor make comparisons. The difference is that similes use 'like' or 'as' while metaphors do not.

4. What does the idiom 'hit the books' mean?

   1. Throw your textbooks away
   2. Study or start studying
   3. Hit someone with a book
   4. Buy new books
   Show answer

   Answer: Study or start studying

   'Hit the books' is an idiom meaning to study. It does not literally mean hitting books.

5. Which sentence uses a simile?

   1. The thunder growled at the lightning.
   2. My backpack is a brick.
   3. The kitten was as soft as a cloud.
   4. Homework is a monster.
   Show answer

   Answer: The kitten was as soft as a cloud.

   'As soft as a cloud' uses 'as' to compare the kitten to a cloud, making it a simile.

6. In the sentence 'The wind howled all night,' the wind is being given a human quality. This is called ________.

   Show answer

   Answer: personification

   The wind cannot actually howl like a person or animal would. Giving it this human-like quality is personification.

7. Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?

   1. He was as quiet as a mouse.
   2. Her laugh was music to my ears.
   3. The flowers nodded at me.
   4. I have butterflies in my stomach.
   Show answer

   Answer: Her laugh was music to my ears.

   'Her laugh was music to my ears' says the laugh IS music — a direct comparison without 'like' or 'as,' which is a metaphor.

8. Idioms should always be understood by their exact, literal word meanings.

   Show answer

   Answer: False

   Idioms cannot be understood literally. Their meaning is different from what the words actually say.

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