Grade: Grade 5 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Figurative Language Lesson: 5 of 6 SAT: Craft+Structure ACT: Reading

Guided Practice: Figurative Language

Apply your knowledge to identify and analyze figurative language in context!

Quick Review

Types of Figurative Language

Simile: Comparison using "like" or "as" (fast as lightning)

Metaphor: Direct comparison without like/as (time is money)

Personification: Giving human traits to non-human things (the wind whispered)

Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration (I'm so hungry I could eat a horse)

Idiom: Phrase with meaning different from literal words (it's raining cats and dogs)

Practice Questions

Question 1

"The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky."

What type of figurative language is used here?

Show Answer

Personification

Stars cannot actually dance - this gives human behavior to non-human objects.

Question 2

"My brother is a walking encyclopedia."

Identify the figurative language and explain what it means.

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Metaphor

The brother is directly compared to an encyclopedia (without like/as), meaning he knows a lot of information.

Question 3

"The ice cream was as cold as Antarctica."

What type of figurative language is this?

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Simile

Uses "as...as" to compare the ice cream's temperature to Antarctica.

Question 4

"I've told you a million times to clean your room!"

What technique is being used?

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Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration - the speaker hasn't literally said it a million times.

Question 5

"Don't let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party."

What figurative language is this? What does it mean?

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Idiom

"Let the cat out of the bag" means to reveal a secret. It has nothing to do with actual cats or bags.

Question 6

"The thunder grumbled like an angry giant."

Is this a simile or a metaphor? How do you know?

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Simile

The word "like" is used to make the comparison between thunder and an angry giant.

Question 7

"The alarm clock screamed at 6 AM, demanding attention."

What type of figurative language is used?

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Personification

Alarm clocks cannot scream or demand - these are human actions given to an object.

Question 8

"Her smile was sunshine warming the room."

Identify the figurative language and its effect.

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Metaphor

The smile is directly compared to sunshine without using like/as. The effect is showing how her smile made people feel happy and warm.

Question 9

"I'm so tired I could sleep for a year."

What technique creates emphasis here?

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Hyperbole

Sleeping for a year is an extreme exaggeration used to emphasize how tired the person is.

Question 10

"Life is a roller coaster with ups and downs."

Identify the figurative language and explain the comparison.

Show Answer

Metaphor

Life is directly compared to a roller coaster, suggesting that life has good times (ups) and bad times (downs), just like the ride.

Key Takeaways

Look for Clues

"Like" or "as" = Simile

Direct Comparison

No like/as = Metaphor

Human Actions

Non-human acting human = Personification

Exaggeration

Over-the-top claims = Hyperbole

Remember: Authors use figurative language to create vivid images and make their writing more engaging!