Winter Holiday Math & Reading — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. "The frost painted the window" is an example of personification.
Frost cannot paint — giving it a human action (painting) is personification.
2. "The snow was a white blanket over the town" is a metaphor.
Snow IS a white blanket (no 'like' or 'as') — direct comparison makes this a metaphor.
3. "Icicles sparkled like diamonds in the sun" is a simile.
Using 'like' to compare icicles to diamonds makes this a simile.
4. "Slippery, sliding sleds sped downhill" uses alliteration.
Alliteration repeats the initial 's' sound in multiple consecutive words.
5. Giving human actions to non-human things is called personification.
Personification assigns human traits, emotions, or actions to non-human objects or phenomena.
6. A comparison using "like" or "as" is called a simile.
Similes use comparison words 'like' or 'as' to connect two unlike things.
7. "The wind howled through the trees" gives the wind a human action.
Howling is a human/animal action. Giving the wind this action is personification.
8. A direct comparison without "like" or "as" is a metaphor.
Metaphors make direct comparisons by saying one thing IS another.
9. The repetition of beginning consonant sounds is called alliteration.
Alliteration repeats the same initial consonant sound in consecutive or nearby words for effect.
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 stars winked at us on that cold night
→ Personification
Simile
Her smile was as warm as hot cocoa
→ Simile
Alliteration
Snowflakes are tiny dancers twirling down
→ Metaphor
Personification
Crisp, cold, crunchy snow covered the yard
→ Alliteration
Metaphor
Stars winked=personification(idx2); Smile as warm as cocoa=simile(idx0); Snowflakes are dancers=metaphor(idx3); Crisp cold crunchy=alliteration(idx1)