Figurative Language | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Matching Activity

1. C (Personification - thunder can't really roar)
2. A (Simile - uses "like")
3. D (Hyperbole - extreme exaggeration)
4. F (Onomatopoeia - tick-tock sounds like a clock)
5. B (Metaphor - says room IS a disaster zone)
6. E (Alliteration - Big, brown, bears, bounced, balls start with B)

1. "The leaves danced in the wind."

Type: Personification. Meaning: The leaves moved around in the wind as if they were dancing. Leaves can't really dance—that's a human action.

2. "My backpack weighs a ton!"

Type: Hyperbole. Does it really weigh a ton? No! This is an exaggeration to show the backpack feels very heavy.

3. Which sentence contains a simile?

B. The baby sleeps like an angel. Uses "like" to compare. (A is a metaphor—no like/as)

4. Write your own simile

Accept any simile with "as ___ as ___" structure. Examples: "as hot as the sun," "as cheesy as my jokes"

Practice Worksheet Answers

1. "The stars winked at us from the night sky."

Personification. Stars can't wink—that's a human action.

2. "Peter's puppy played in the puddles."

Alliteration. Peter, puppy, played, puddles all start with P.

3. "The test was a breeze."

B. Metaphor. Says the test IS a breeze (easy), not "like" a breeze.

4. "The rain pitter-pattered on the roof."

Onomatopoeia. "Pitter-pattered" sounds like rain falling.

5. "This suitcase weighs a thousand pounds!"

C. Hyperbole. Extreme exaggeration—it doesn't really weigh 1000 pounds.

6. Which sentence is a SIMILE?

B. The moon glows like a lantern. Uses "like" to compare.

7. Which sentence is a METAPHOR?

C. My brother is a pig when he eats. Says he IS a pig (no like/as).

8. Rewrite metaphor as simile

"Life is LIKE a roller coaster." (Add "like" to change from metaphor to simile)

9. Find the SIMILE in the storm passage

"The sky turned as dark as coal" OR "The wind howled through the trees like an angry wolf"

10. "The wind howled through the trees"

C. Personification. Wind can't howl—that's a human/animal action.

11. Onomatopoeia in the passage

"boomed" and/or "rumbled" - these words sound like thunder.

12. "I've never seen a storm that big in my whole life!"

B. Hyperbole. Exaggeration to emphasize how big the storm felt.

13. Personification about the ocean

Accept any sentence giving the ocean human qualities. Examples: "The ocean roared angrily," "The waves reached out to touch my feet."

14. Alliteration about a cat

Accept any sentence with repeated starting sounds. Examples: "Cute cats climb carefully," "Callie the cat curled up cozily."

FAST Practice Quiz Answers (Winter Morning)

B. "Like tiny crystals, white as snow"

Contains both "like" and "as" - clear simile markers.

C. Personification

Wind can't whistle a song—that's a human action.

B. The speaker is wearing many warm clothes because it's very cold.

It's an exaggeration—not literally a million layers.

C. Hyperbole

"A million layers" is an extreme exaggeration.

B. "crunch, crunch"

The word sounds like the actual sound of stepping on ice.

A. Alliteration

Silly Sally skipped sidewalk - all start with S sound.

B. The sun is given a human quality (being shy)

The sun can't really be shy or peek—those are human traits.

B. A simile (uses the word "as")

"As puffy as" uses the simile marker word "as."

Sample answers:
Example 1: "The cold wind whistled its lonely song" - Personification because wind can't whistle or have a song like a human.
Example 2: "The sun peeked shyly through the clouds" - Personification because the sun can't peek or be shy—those are human traits.
Other options: "The frost crept across the window" (frost can't creep), "Making the bare branches sway and moan" (branches can't moan)

B. Picture and feel what a cold winter morning is like

Figurative language creates vivid imagery for the reader.

Scoring Guide

Assessment	Total Points	Proficient (70%+)	Focus Area if Struggling
Student Concept Worksheet	10 points	7+ correct	Review the 6 types with examples
Practice Worksheet	14 points	10+ correct	Focus on simile vs. metaphor
FAST Practice Quiz	10 points	7+ correct	Practice explaining meaning

Common Errors: Confusing simile and metaphor (look for like/as!); thinking personification only applies to animals; not recognizing hyperbole when numbers are involved.

Answer Keys: Figurative Language

Scoring Guide