Halloween Math & Reading — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. "The graveyard was a blanket of fog" is an example of a metaphor.
A metaphor directly compares two things without 'like' or 'as.' The graveyard IS a blanket of fog.
2. "The witch cackled like a hyena" compares two things using "like," making it a simile.
Similes use 'like' or 'as' to compare. 'Cackled like a hyena' uses 'like.'
3. Giving human qualities to non-human things, such as "the wind whispered," is called personification.
Personification gives human traits to non-human things. Wind cannot literally whisper.
4. "Boom! Crash!" are examples of onomatopoeia, words that imitate sounds.
Onomatopoeia are words whose sound resembles what they describe: boom, crash, hiss, creak.
5. A word that means the opposite of another word is called an antonym.
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings: scary/safe, dark/bright, alive/dead.
6. The word "eerie" means strange and frightening.
Eerie means mysteriously strange and unsettling — often used to describe spooky atmospheres.
7. A hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used for effect, like "I died of fright."
Hyperbole is intentional over-exaggeration. 'I died of fright' is not literal — it emphasizes intense fear.
8. The repeated use of the same beginning sound, as in "ghastly ghostly groans," is called alliteration.
Alliteration repeats the same initial consonant sound in nearby words.
9. Describing something as "pitch black" uses descriptive language to help the reader picture the scene.
Descriptive (or vivid) language uses precise words to help readers visualize the scene.
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 moon was a glowing lantern
→ metaphor
simile
Shadows danced across the walls
→ personification
hyperbole
Cold as a witch's stare
→ simile
personification
I was so scared I jumped a mile
→ hyperbole
metaphor
Moon was a lantern=metaphor(idx3); Shadows danced=personification(idx2); Cold as a witch's stare=simile(idx0); Jumped a mile=hyperbole(idx1)