Using Comparisons and Descriptions Quick Quiz Answer Key

Quick Quiz Answer Key

1) Are the following sentences metaphors or similes (4 marks)?

i) Designing these Grammar Squirrel videos was no walk in the park METAPHOR

ii) Having said that, it was a lot of fun, like working on a group project SIMILE

iii) However, in terms of whether the videos are useful to students, the proof will be in the eating METAPHOR

iv) And we won’t be served that dish until they have completed all the surveys METAPHOR

2) Rank these comparisons in order from best to worst (4 marks). Hint: Think about the factors that make comparisons effective [and the things that you should avoid] when establishing an order.

FIRST/BEST: B) Receiving a good grade after revising hard is like earning a deserved promotion [Easy to visualize both, succinct, appropriate, same relationship]

SECOND: C) Being made to work in a group with unhelpful people is like being allocated the only broken seat in the movie theatre [Easy to visualize both, not as succinct as B, appropriate, same relationship (you have no control over either)]

THIRD: A) Waiting around before an exam is like being on ‘Death Row’ [Easy to visualize both, succinct, inappropriate (‘Death Row’ is offensive), not the same relationship but you have no control over either so linked in some way]

FOURTH/WORST: D) Getting an unfair appraisal from your tutor is like being picked last as the uncoordinated kid in gym class [Relatively easy to visualize both, not succinct (and ‘appraisal’ and ‘uncoordinated’ are wordy), offensive (no-one wants to be picked last, especially if they can’t help being uncoordinated) not the same relationship at all (your appraisal was not deserved, but if you are uncoordinated there is at least a reason why you are picked last in gym class)]

3) Which of the following two comparisons is the most effective (1 mark)?

Random genetic mutations are very common but the chance that any one unique mutation will lead to a very favourable result is the same as…

A) Being elected as president of the United States after a successful career in politics

B) Stumbling upon buried treasure worth millions of dollars in your garden

Why (1 mark)?

Mutations occur randomly (by chance), which is similar to you ‘stumbling’ upon something good (treasure) without making any effort to find it. You have to work hard to advance up the political ladder and become the President (there is nothing random about that path).

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