Figures of speech and allusions

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   “After the relay, Milo's legs felt like wet noodles. Link card: Words “felt like wet noodles” → Meaning: ________” Ari reads this sentence. Which choice names the figure of speech and says what it suggests?

   • simile: Milo's legs had turned into real noodles
   • metaphor: Milo's legs felt weak and wobbly
   • simile: Milo's legs felt weak and wobbly
   • simile: Milo had just finished a relay

2. Read this first

   Story card (Greek myth)

   King Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. The wish came true, and soon his food turned to gold too, so he begged to have the gift taken back.
   Sentence: Whatever Luz sold at the fair, the Midas touch made it a hit.
   Link card: Story → what the story points to: ________

3. 2.

   Esme reads the story card and the sentence. What does the allusion suggest?

   • Luz had a gift for making each project a success.
   • Luz's fingers turned the items into real gold.
   • Luz made a wish that came with a hidden problem.
   • Luz's projects usually fell apart before the fair ended.
4. 3.

   “During the pep rally, the gym was a beehive. Link card: Words “the gym was a beehive” → Meaning: ________” Jun reads this sentence. Which choice names the figure of speech and says what it suggests?

   • metaphor: the gym was full of real bees buzzing around
   • metaphor: the gym was busy, crowded and buzzing with noise
   • simile: the gym was busy, crowded and buzzing with noise
   • metaphor: a pep rally was held in the gym that afternoon

5. Sentence

   In class, Noah's answer was as clear as glass.
   Link card: Words “as clear as glass” → What both share: ________

6. 4.

   Kira reads this sentence. What do the two things in the comparison share?

   • Both can be found in a classroom at school.
   • Both are smooth, hard and cool to touch.
   • Both are cloudy, dull and hard to follow.
   • Both are clear: easy to see through or understand.

7. Story card (Greek myth)

   In a well-known retelling, Pandora was told not to open a sealed jar (later called a box). Curious, she lifted the lid, and many troubles flew out into the world. Only hope stayed inside.
   Sentence: Tala warned, “If you read those old group messages, you will open Pandora's box.”
   Link card: Story → what the story points to: ________

8. 5.

   Luz reads the story card and the sentence. What does the allusion suggest?

   • Reading them is something a curious person would do, like Pandora.
   • The old messages are stored inside a real jar with a lid.
   • Reading them would make the old problems disappear for good.
   • Reading them could set off many troubles that are hard to stop.
9. 6.

   “All the way to school, the wind tugged at Kira's hat. Link card: Words “the wind tugged” → Meaning: ________” Milo reads this sentence. Which choice names the figure of speech and says what it suggests?

   • simile: the wind pulled hard at the hat
   • personification: Kira walked to school the whole way
   • personification: the wind had hands and held the hat
   • personification: the wind pulled hard at the hat

10. Story card (Greek myth)

    The gods punished King Sisyphus. He had to push a huge boulder up a hill, but each time he nearly reached the top, it rolled back down, so he had to start again.
    Sentence: Sweeping the leaves was a Sisyphean job, because the wind kept dropping new ones on the path.
    Link card: Story → what the story points to: ________

11. 7.

    Pia reads the story card and the sentence. What does the allusion suggest?

    • The job kept starting over, so it never got finished.
    • The job was a punishment handed out by the gods.
    • The job meant pushing a huge boulder up a hill.
    • The job was quick and easy to finish by lunch.
12. 8.

    “By Friday, Luz's backpack weighed a ton. Link card: Words “weighed a ton” → Meaning: ________” Ren reads this sentence. Which choice names the figure of speech and says what it suggests?

    • hyperbole: the backpack was extremely heavy
    • hyperbole: the backpack weighed two thousand pounds
    • hyperbole: the school week was almost over
    • metaphor: the backpack was extremely heavy

13. Sentence

    Pia moved through the crowded hallway like a fish through a stream.
    Link card: Words “like a fish through a stream” → What both share: ________

14. 9.

    Tala reads this sentence. What do the two things in the comparison share?

    • Both are surrounded by a crowd.
    • Both move smoothly and easily.
    • Both have scales and fins.
    • Both move slowly and get stuck.

15. Story card (fable by Aesop)

    A fast hare laughs at a slow tortoise, and they race. The hare dashes ahead and naps. The tortoise keeps plodding and wins.
    Sentence: At the spelling bee, Tala's slow, steady practice beat the flashy cramming of the others, a real Tortoise and the Hare ending.
    Link card: Story → what the story points to: ________

16. 10.

    Zee reads the story card and the sentence. What does the allusion suggest?

    • Quick, flashy work beats slow and steady practice.
    • Steady effort over time beat fast but careless effort.
    • Tala raced a tortoise at the spelling bee last week.
    • Tala fell asleep during the spelling bee, like the hare.