Similes and Metaphors — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The runner was fast a cheetah.
Corrected: The runner was as fast as a cheetah.
Similes need 'like' or 'as' to make a clear comparison between two things.
2. Fix the sentence:
She swims a fish in water.
Corrected: She swims like a fish in water.
The word 'like' turns the sentence into a simile that compares her swimming to a fish.
3. Fix the sentence:
The lemon was sour like vinegar bright.
Corrected: The lemon was as sour as vinegar.
A simile with 'as' needs an adjective in the middle and a noun at the end, with no extra words.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. His backpack was as heavy as a stack of bricks.
The pattern 'as heavy as' makes a simile that shows how heavy the backpack feels.
2. The clouds floated like cotton balls in the sky.
The word 'like' connects 'clouds' and 'cotton balls' to create a simile.
3. Her voice was as sweet as honey when she sang.
Both 'as' words are needed to compare her voice's sweetness to honey.
4. The puppy ran like a streak of lightning across the yard.
The word 'like' compares the puppy's speed to lightning, painting a fast picture.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Write a simile that describes how loud a thunderstorm is. Use 'like' or 'as'.
Sample answer: The thunder was as loud as a roaring lion.
A strong simile names a clear quality (loud) and compares it to a vivid thing (a lion) using 'as'.
2. In the simile 'The snow was like a soft blanket,' what two things are being compared?
Sample answer: Snow is being compared to a soft blanket.
In a simile, the two compared items appear on either side of 'like' or 'as', here 'snow' and 'blanket'.