Similes and Metaphors — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. In 'Her eyes are sparkling diamonds,' eyes are compared to diamonds.
Grade 4 readers locate the second noun in a metaphor to know what the subject is compared to.
2. Eyes and diamonds share the trait of being sparkly (one word).
Grade 4 readers explain metaphors by naming the shared quality, here brightness or sparkle.
3. In 'He runs like a cheetah,' the boy is compared to a cheetah.
Grade 4 readers spot the second noun in a simile right after 'like' or 'as'.
4. The boy and the cheetah share the trait of being very fast.
Grade 4 readers explain similes by naming the shared trait, here speed.
5. In 'The snow is a white blanket,' snow is compared to a blanket.
Grade 4 readers locate the metaphor's renaming noun to understand the comparison.
6. Snow and a blanket share that they both cover the ground.
Grade 4 readers identify the shared action of covering as the link in this metaphor.
7. In 'Her temper is a volcano,' temper is compared to a volcano.
Grade 4 readers locate the metaphor's image to picture the comparison.
8. Temper and a volcano share the idea of sudden eruption.
Grade 4 readers connect anger and volcanoes through the shared trait of sudden bursts.
9. Naming a shared trait between two things in a simile or metaphor is called explaining the comparison.
Grade 4 students label the act of finding shared traits as explaining the comparison.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
'The lake is a mirror'
→ Lake and mirror share smooth, reflective surface
Lake and mirror share smooth, reflective surface
'He is as brave as a lion'
→ Boy and lion share courage in danger
Boy and lion share courage in danger
'Her voice is honey'
→ Voice and honey share sweetness or smoothness
Voice and honey share sweetness or smoothness
'The wind howled like a wolf'
→ Wind and wolf share a long, loud cry
Wind and wolf share a long, loud cry
Grade 4 readers match comparisons to their shared traits by thinking about what both items have in common.