Figurative Language
Which of the following sentences contains a metaphor?
A. The wind whispered through the trees.
B. He was as fast as a cheetah.
C. She has a heart of gold.
D. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
Answer: C. She has a heart of gold.
Explanation: This is a metaphor because it directly compares her heart to gold, suggesting she is kind and generous.
Why would an author most likely write a recipe for chocolate chip cookies?
A. To entertain the reader
B. To describe a memory
C. To explain how to make something
D. To convince you to eat cookies
Answer: C. To explain how to make something.
The purpose of a recipe is to explain steps clearly.
Which of the following is an example of a text feature in an informational text?
A. A character’s dialogue
B. A timeline at the end of the chapter
C. A cliffhanger ending
D. A rhyme pattern
Answer: B. A timeline at the end of the chapter.
Timelines are common text features used to help readers understand the sequence of events or historical developments.
Read the sentence:
The desert was arid, which means it was very dry and received little rain all year.
What does the word “arid” mean?
A. Wet
B. Cold
C. Dry
D. Hot
Answer: C. Dry
The definition is provided right after the word: “it was very dry.”
Which word means “not kind”?
A. Rewind
B. Unkind
C. Kindness
D. Kindly
Answer: B. Unkind
The prefix “un-” means “not,” so “unkind” means “not kind.”
Which sentence is an example of hyperbole?
A. The clouds were gray and heavy.
B. She’s been working on that project forever.
C. His smile was warm and inviting.
D. He danced across the floor with ease.
Answer: B. She’s been working on that project forever.
This is hyperbole because it's an exaggeration used to emphasize how long the project felt.
Which of the following shows the author's perspective in a passage about school uniforms?
A. A list of types of uniforms
B. A story about a student who wears a uniform
C. The statement: “School uniforms create a sense of equality.”
D. A chart comparing dress codes
Answer: C. The statement: “School uniforms create a sense of equality.”
This expresses the author’s opinion or perspective on the topic.
Why might an author include headings in an informational text?
A. To describe the setting of a story
B. To keep readers entertained
C. To help organize the information and show what each section is about
D. To confuse the reader
Answer: C. To help organize the information and show what each section is about.
Headings guide the reader and preview the content of the section
Read the sentence:
He’s always been a generous person—he donates money to charities, volunteers at the shelter, and buys gifts for friends.
What does “generous” most likely mean?
A. Funny
B. Kind and giving
C. Busy
D. Wealthy
Answer: B. Kind and giving
The examples in the sentence help explain the meaning of the
What does the word “careless” mean based on the suffix “-less”?
A. Full of care
B. Without care
C. With extra care
D. Someone who cares
Answer: B. Without care
The suffix “-less” means “without.” “Careless” means someone who doesn’t show care.
What does the idiom “break the ice” mean in the sentence below?
“To break the ice, the teacher told a funny story before starting the lesson.”
A. To literally break frozen water
B. To delay starting something
C. To reduce tension and make people feel more comfortable
D. To ignore a problem
Answer: C. To reduce tension and make people feel more comfortable.
The idiom is used to describe making people feel more relaxed in a new or awkward situation.
Read this short paragraph:
"Plastic pollution has become a global crisis. Each year, millions of tons of plastic end up in the oceans, harming marine life and disrupting ecosystems."
What is the author's main purpose in this paragraph?
A. To entertain the reader with ocean stories
B. To explain a problem affecting the environment
C. To describe how to recycle plastic
D. To share a memory of the ocean
Answer: B. To explain a problem affecting the environment.
The paragraph informs the reader about a serious environmental issue.
Which of the following best shows a cause and effect structure?
A. Many kids bring lunch from home. Others buy it at school.
B. Pollution has increased in cities, which has led to more cases of asthma.
C. First, clean your hands. Then, gather your ingredients.
D. There are three types of volcanoes: shield, cinder cone, and composite.
Answer: B. Pollution has increased in cities, which has led to more cases of asthma.
This sentence explains an effect (more asthma) caused by something (increased pollution).
Read the sentence:
The mysterious creature was elusive, always managing to stay hidden no matter how many people tried to find it.
What does “elusive” most likely mean?
A. Scary
B. Dangerous
C. Hard to catch or find
D. Friendly
Answer: C. Hard to catch or find
The sentence tells us people can’t find the creature, which gives a clue to the word’s meaning.
What does the word “preview” most likely mean?
A. To fix something
B. To look at something after it’s done
C. To look at something before it happens
D. To write something again
Answer: C. To look at something before it happens
The prefix “pre-” means “before,” and “view” means to see. So “preview” means to see in advance.
Why might an author use a metaphor instead of a literal description?
A. To provide detailed facts and statistics
B. To add humor and exaggeration
C. To create a vivid image or deeper meaning
D. To make the text more confusing
Answer: C. To create a vivid image or deeper meaning.
Metaphors help readers understand abstract or complex ideas by comparing them to familiar things.
What does an author’s purpose to “persuade” usually include?
A. Facts and steps in a process
B. Descriptive language about events
C. Opinions supported by reasons and evidence
D. Questions for the reader to answer
Answer: C. Opinions supported by reasons and evidence.
Persuasive writing aims to convince the reader of something, often using arguments and supporting facts.
How does a diagram in an informational text help a reader?
A. It makes the page more colorful
B. It gives a break from reading
C. It shows relationships or details that support the written information
D. It replaces the need to read the passage
Answer: C. It shows relationships or details that support the written information.
Diagrams often clarify complex ideas and help visual learners understand the content better.
Read the sentence:
Unlike his timid brother, who rarely spoke in public, Jacob confidently stood up and gave his speech.
What does the word “timid” most likely mean?
A. Loud and bold
B. Nervous and shy
C. Funny and creative
D. Careless and clumsy
Answer: B. Nervous and shy
Explanation: The word “unlike” shows a contrast, helping the reader infer the meaning of “timid.”
Which sentence uses a word that includes a derivational morpheme that changes a verb into a noun?
A. She will teach the class tomorrow.
B. His explanation helped us understand the topic.
C. They walked to the store together.
D. The bird flew across the sky.
Answer: B. His explanation helped us understand the topic.
The suffix “-ation” changes the verb “explain” into the noun “explanation.”
Read the sentence and identify all types of figurative language used:
“When I told her the news, she exploded like a volcano, and I knew I had just opened a can of worms.”
Which types of figurative language are used in this sentence?
A. Metaphor and hyperbole
B. Simile and idiom
C. Simile and metaphor
D. Hyperbole and idiom
Answer: B. Simile and idiom
“She exploded like a volcano” is a simile (uses "like").
“Opened a can of worms” is an idiom, meaning to start a complicated problem.
You are reading an article that begins with the sentence:
"While some believe video games are harmful, I believe they offer valuable learning opportunities."
What is the author's purpose and perspective in this statement?
A. Purpose: To describe video game history; Perspective: Negative
B. Purpose: To explain game rules; Perspective: Neutral
C. Purpose: To persuade readers that games are educational; Perspective: Positive
D. Purpose: To entertain with stories about gaming; Perspective: Mixed
Answer: C. Purpose: To persuade readers that games are educational; Perspective: Positive.
The author states a clear opinion and will likely support it, indicating persuasive intent and a favorable view.
Read the following two paragraphs and choose the correct text structures used in each:
Paragraph 1:
"Rainforests are home to thousands of species, including colorful birds, sloths, monkeys, and jaguars. The forest canopy creates a unique environment where little sunlight reaches the forest floor."
Paragraph 2:
"Due to rising global temperatures, glaciers are melting more quickly. As a result, sea levels are rising and threatening coastal communities."
What are the text structures used in Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2?
A. Paragraph 1: Cause and Effect | Paragraph 2: Description
B. Paragraph 1: List/Description | Paragraph 2: Cause and Effect
C. Paragraph 1: Sequence | Paragraph 2: Compare and Contrast
D. Paragraph 1: Problem and Solution | Paragraph 2: List/Description
Answer: B. Paragraph 1: List/Description | Paragraph 2: Cause and Effect
Paragraph 1 describes rainforest characteristics and inhabitants (description/list), while Paragraph 2 explains how one event causes another (cause and effect).
Read the sentence:
After three hours of waiting in the hot sun, the kids were listless, slumped on the benches with no energy to play or even talk.
What does “listless” most likely mean?
A. Full of energy
B. Tired and lacking enthusiasm
C. Overheated but excited
D. Talkative and cheerful
Answer: B. Tired and lacking enthusiasm
The sentence uses actions (“slumped,” “no energy”) as context clues to show what "listless" means.
What does the word “misinterpret” most likely mean?
A. To explain something clearly
B. To translate something correctly
C. To understand something wrongly
D. To repeat something several times
Answer: C. To understand something wrongly
The prefix “mis-” means “wrong” or “bad.”
The root “interpret” means to explain or understand.
Together, “misinterpret” means to understand incorrectly