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

Unit Checkpoint: Figurative Language

Test Your Knowledge

Complete all 10 questions to check your understanding of figurative language. Click "Show Answer" after each question to see if you're correct.

Checkpoint Questions

Question 1

"The classroom was a zoo after the fire drill."

What type of figurative language is this?

Show Answer

Answer: Metaphor

The classroom is directly compared to a zoo (without like/as), meaning it was chaotic and noisy.

Question 2

"Her eyes sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight."

Identify the type of figurative language.

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Answer: Simile

Uses "like" to compare her eyes to diamonds.

Question 3

"The flowers nodded their heads in the gentle breeze."

What figurative language technique is used?

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Answer: Personification

Flowers cannot nod their heads - this is a human action given to flowers.

Question 4

"This backpack weighs a ton!"

What type of figurative language is this?

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Answer: Hyperbole

The backpack doesn't literally weigh a ton - this is an exaggeration to emphasize how heavy it feels.

Question 5

"When I heard the news, I was on cloud nine!"

What type of figurative language is this and what does it mean?

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Answer: Idiom

"On cloud nine" means extremely happy. The phrase's meaning is different from its literal words.

Question 6

"Time is a thief that steals our youth."

Identify the figurative language and explain its meaning.

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Answer: Metaphor

Time is compared to a thief, suggesting that time takes away our youth without us noticing, just like a thief takes things.

Question 7

"The wind howled through the empty streets."

What type of figurative language is used?

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Answer: Personification

Wind cannot howl like an animal or person - this gives human/animal characteristics to the wind.

Question 8

"She runs as fast as a cheetah."

What type of figurative language is this?

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Answer: Simile

Uses "as...as" to compare her running speed to a cheetah's.

Question 9

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?

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Answer:

A simile uses "like" or "as" to make a comparison (She sings like an angel).

A metaphor makes a direct comparison without using like/as (She is an angel).

Question 10

"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse, and the pizza smelled like heaven calling my name."

Identify ALL the types of figurative language in this sentence.

Show Answer

Answer: Three types!

1. "Eat a horse" = Hyperbole (exaggeration)

2. "Smelled like heaven" = Simile (comparison using "like")

3. "Heaven calling my name" = Personification (heaven cannot call)

How Did You Do?

9-10 correct: Excellent! You've mastered figurative language!

7-8 correct: Great job! Review the types you missed.

5-6 correct: Good effort! Review the earlier lessons.

Below 5: Keep practicing! Go back through the unit.

Unit Summary

Simile

Uses like/as

Metaphor

Direct comparison

Personification

Human traits to objects

Hyperbole

Exaggeration

Idiom

Phrase with special meaning

Congratulations!

You've completed the Figurative Language unit!