Idioms, Adages & Proverbs — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Lena practiced piano every day for a year. Her teacher said, "Practice makes perfect." What does this adage mean?
A) Only perfect people should practice
B) Practicing regularly leads to improvement
C) You must practice once to be perfect
D) Perfection is impossible to achieve
'Practice makes perfect' means that regular, consistent practice leads to improvement and mastery.
2. After the storm destroyed their garden, Dad said, "Every cloud has a silver lining." What did he mean?
A) Storm clouds contain silver
B) The garden will grow back by itself
C) Something positive can come from a bad situation
D) Clouds always bring good weather afterward
'Every cloud has a silver lining' means there is a positive aspect even in difficult or bad situations.
3. Sam forgot his homework again. His teacher warned, "You are on thin ice." What does this idiom mean?
A) The classroom floor is slippery
B) Sam should go ice skating
C) Sam is in a risky situation and may face consequences
D) Sam needs to wear warmer clothes
'On thin ice' means being in a precarious situation where one more mistake will have serious consequences.
4. Before the spelling bee, Mia's friend said, "Break a leg!" Why did her friend say this?
A) She wanted Mia to get injured
B) She was warning Mia to be careful
C) She was wishing Mia good luck
D) She thought the stage was dangerous
'Break a leg' is an idiom used in performing arts to wish someone good luck.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. "Don't judge a book by its cover" warns us not to judge by appearance.
This proverb warns against judging something or someone based only on their outward appearance.
2. An idiom has a figurative meaning that differs from its literal words.
Idioms have figurative meanings that must be learned as a whole phrase, not decoded word by word.
3. "Two wrongs don't make a right" is an adage meaning revenge does not create justice.
This adage teaches that responding to a wrong with another wrong does not produce justice.
4. When someone "burns the midnight oil," they are working very late.
'Burning the midnight oil' means working or studying very late into the night.
5. "Where there's a will, there's a way" teaches that determination helps overcome obstacles.
This proverb means that with sufficient motivation and determination, solutions to problems can be found.