Characterization
Read the following excerpt:
“Lena stood at the edge of the diving board, her legs trembling. Everyone was watching, but she took a deep breath and jumped.”
What does this detail reveal about Lena’s character?
A. She enjoys being the center of attention.
B. She is confident and fearless.
C. She feels nervous but acts bravely.
D. She wants to impress her friends.
C. She feels nervous but acts bravely.
In an allegorical story, a desert is used as the setting where characters struggle to find water. Symbolically, this setting most likely represents:
A. A place of wealth and abundance
B. A society rich in knowledge
C. A lack of spiritual or moral direction
D. A place of relaxation and peace
C. A lack of spiritual or moral direction.
In a poem, a storm is compared to a battle throughout the entire piece. The clouds are "armies," the thunder "war cries," and the lightning "swords."
What is the author using this extended metaphor to suggest?
A. That the storm is beautiful
B. That the storm is peaceful and calming
C. That the storm is chaotic and aggressive
D. That the storm helps crops grow
C. The storm is chaotic and aggressive.
"The wind whispered secrets through the trees."
Which type of figurative language is used in this sentence?
A. Simile
B. Hyperbole
C. Personification
D. Alliteration
C. Personification
What effect does the use of flashback have in a narrative text?
A. It adds humor to the story
B. It confuses the reader about the timeline
C. It provides background information that deepens understanding
D. It shortens the rising action
C. It provides background information that deepens understanding.
In the beginning of the story, Alia refuses to work in a group. By the end, she is helping her classmates and sharing ideas.
What does this change show about Alia?
A. She became more confident and cooperative.
B. She wanted to finish the project faster.
C. She was forced to work in a group.
D. She decided to let others do the work.
A. She became more confident and cooperative.
Which of the following is a defining feature of an allegory?
A. A plot driven by unexpected twists
B. Characters and events representing abstract ideas
C. Use of regional dialects for authenticity
D. A focus on suspense and mystery
B. Characters and events representing abstract ideas
An author compares life to a journey throughout a novel. Characters speak of "forks in the road," "carrying baggage," and "running out of road."
What is the most likely purpose of this extended metaphor?
A. To suggest life is full of unchanging routines
B. To show life is unpredictable and full of choices
C. To suggest life always leads to success
D. To focus the story on actual travel
B. To show life is unpredictable and full of choices.
"I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!"
What kind of figurative language is being used?
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Hyperbole
D. Simile
C. Hyperbole
“Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul...”
What literary device is used in this line?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Symbolism
B. Metaphor
In the story, Jamal quietly closed his sketchbook and hid it under the bed when his brother entered the room.
What does this action suggest about Jamal?
A. He is angry at his brother.
B. He is embarrassed about his drawings.
C. He doesn’t like to draw anymore.
D. He wants to show his brother later.
B. He is embarrassed about his drawings.
In an allegory about environmental destruction, a character named “Ironheart” continues cutting down trees despite warnings. What does Ironheart most likely symbolize?
A. Human resilience
B. Nature’s revenge
C. Industrial greed or ignorance
D. Government control
C. Industrial greed or ignorance
Which of the following best defines an extended metaphor?
A. A metaphor that is repeated in different forms throughout a passage
B. A short comparison between two unlike things
C. A literal description of a character’s emotions
D. A metaphor that is used once and then dropped
A. A metaphor that is repeated in a different form throughout the passage.
"He was a rock in the middle of chaos."
What does this metaphor imply about the character?
A. He is unkind and hard
B. He is strong and dependable
C. He is interested in geology
D. He is stuck in place
B. He is strong and dependable
How can analyzing a poem’s structure (stanzas, line length, punctuation) help the reader?
A. It identifies grammatical errors
B. It reveals the poem’s rhyme scheme
C. It enhances understanding of meaning and emphasis
D. It determines if the poem is fiction or nonfiction
C. It enhances understanding of meaning and emphasis
“It’s okay,” Mia said, handing her umbrella to the little girl. “You need it more than I do.”
What character trait does Mia show in this moment?
A. Carelessness
B. Generosity
C. Impatience
D. Selfishness
B. Generosity
Which of the following best describes the purpose of an allegory in literature?
A. To entertain with fast-paced action
B. To instruct readers through symbolic storytelling
C. To explore random character interactions
D. To emphasize the beauty of setting over plot
B. To instruct readers through symbolic storytelling
In a short story, a girl describes her relationship with her mother as a tug-of-war. Throughout the story, she refers to "pulling too hard," "letting go," and "tying the rope in knots."
What does this extended metaphor most likely reveal?
A. They are physically fighting over a rope
B. Their relationship is a struggle for control and understanding
C. The mother is more athletic than the daughter
D. The girl enjoys playing games with her mom
B. Their relationship is a struggle for control and understanding.
"She’s walking on sunshine today."
This expression is an example of which literary device?
A. Personification
B. Hyperbole
C. Idiom
D. Simile
C. Idiom
Line from poem:
“Bang! Crash! The waves pounded the shore.”
Which sound device is used here?
A. Rhyme
B. Onomatopoeia
C. Assonance
D. Repetition
B. Onomatopoeia
Ava tapped her pencil against the desk, her eyes darting toward the clock every few seconds. Her math test sat untouched in front of her. She glanced at the door, then back at the test. With a quiet sigh, she finally picked up the pencil and began to write, her hand trembling slightly.
Question:
What can be inferred about Ava’s internal conflict based on the description above?
A. She is worried that she didn’t study enough and is debating whether to try.
B. She is easily distracted by noises in the classroom.
C. She is planning to leave the classroom early without finishing.
D. She enjoys the challenge of a difficult math test
Correct Answer: ✅ A
Explanation: Ava’s nervous behaviors—tapping the pencil, watching the clock, sighing, trembling—suggest anxiety and hesitation. Her delay in starting the test implies self-doubt, pointing to an internal conflict about whether she is prepared or capable.
A writer creates a character named “Hope” who helps others survive a long winter in a dystopian world. In this allegory, Hope most likely symbolizes:
A. A guide to practical survival skills
B. The value of agriculture
C. The perseverance of the human spirit
D. The strength of military defense
C. The perseverance of the human spirit
A poet describes a city as a beast throughout the poem: “Its iron jaws clamp down on the innocent,” “its breath thick with smoke,” “its heartbeat pulsing through the streets.”
Which tone does this extended metaphor create?
A. Admiration
B. Awe and beauty
C. Dread and menace
D. Excitement
C. Dread and menace
"The thunder grumbled like an old man."
Which two types of figurative language are present?
A. Personification and simile
B. Hyperbole and metaphor
C. Simile and idiom
D. Metaphor and alliteration
A. Personification and Simile
Which of the following best describes the difference between theme and subject in a poem?
A. Theme is the literal topic; subject is the hidden message
B. Subject is what the poem is about; theme is the deeper meaning or message
C. Theme and subject are always the same
D. Theme refers to setting, while subject refers to rhyme
B. Subject is what the poem is about; theme is the deeper meaning or message.