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Grade 4 · English Language Arts · Unit 3 of 10

Figurative Language

Similes, metaphors and more

What your child practises

Spotting similes, metaphors, personification, onomatopoeia and alliteration (plus hyperbole at the stretch level), and explaining what figurative phrases really mean.

BC Curriculum learning standard: Literary devices: figurative language and imagery (simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What does this metaphor mean?

    The classroom was a zoo on the last day of school.

    • There were animals in the classroom.
    • The classroom was loud and wild.
    • The classroom was quiet and calm.
    • The class went on a trip to the zoo.
    Show answer

    The classroom was loud and wild.

    Hint: Think about what a zoo is like: noisy and full of busy animals.

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence uses a simile?

    • Seven silly seals slid down the slippery slope.
    • My little brother is as busy as a squirrel in autumn.
    • The fire crackled and popped all night.
    • The leaves danced in the autumn breeze.
    Show answer

    My little brother is as busy as a squirrel in autumn.

    Hint: A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as”.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses personification?

    • The flowers nodded their heads in the rain.
    • Fluffy feathers floated from the fence.
    • Leo ran like a cheetah to catch the bus.
    • The door creaked open slowly.
    Show answer

    The flowers nodded their heads in the rain.

    Hint: Personification gives human actions or feelings to something that isn't human.

  4. Question 4

    What does this metaphor mean?

    The fog was a grey blanket over the town.

    • The fog was warm and cozy.
    • Someone put a blanket over the town.
    • Thick fog covered the whole town.
    • The town was painted grey.
    Show answer

    Thick fog covered the whole town.

    Hint: A blanket covers things. How is the fog like a blanket?

  5. Question 5

    What kind of figurative language is in this sentence?

    My alarm clock shouted at me to get up.

    • personification
    • alliteration
    • metaphor
    • onomatopoeia
    Show answer

    personification

    Hint: Personification gives human actions or feelings to something that isn't human.

  6. Question 6

    What does this metaphor mean?

    Maya is a walking dictionary.

    • Maya knows the meanings of many words.
    • Maya writes dictionaries.
    • Maya walks a lot.
    • Maya carries a dictionary everywhere.
    Show answer

    Maya knows the meanings of many words.

    Hint: A dictionary is full of word meanings. What does that say about Maya?

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