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English Quiz - Similes (Questions)

Similes are comparing words. 'As nutty as a fruitcake' and 'Life is like a box of chocolates' are similes: an expression used to describe the quality of someone or something by comparing it with something else: often, the meaning of the simile has to be worked out. Similes are easily recognized because they use 'like' or 'as ... as ...'.

So, if 'Life is like a box of chocolates', what is life like? If you've seen the film 'Forrest Gump', you'll probably know the answer. Incidentally, this simile first appeared in the 1994 film 'Forrest Gump'.

Similes can brighten up any piece of writing ~ even more so if the simile is humorous ~ add some to your writing and see if you get extra marks from your English teacher!

Do this 11-plus quiz and see if you can work out what some similes really mean.

1. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Sheila is as snug as a bug in a rug in her new house.
[ ] Sheila feels cramped in her new house
[ ] Sheila is warm and comfortable in her new house
[ ] Sheila lives in a rug
[ ] Sheila has a lot of bugs in her rugs
2. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
She's as blind as a bat.
[ ] She can't see very well
[ ] She thinks she's a bat
[ ] She uses echolocation to see
[ ] She has perfect vision
3. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Dave is as mad as a hornet.
[ ] Dave is a little mad in the head
[ ] Dave is very mad in the head
[ ] Dave is not very angry
[ ] Dave is very angry
4. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Peter is as quiet as a church mouse.
[ ] Peter makes a scratching noise
[ ] Peter lives a quiet life in a church
[ ] Peter goes to church quietly
[ ] Peter is very quiet
5. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
The soldier lay on the ground as dead as a door nail.
[ ] The soldier was dead
[ ] The soldier was like a rusty door nail
[ ] The soldier looked like a dead door with nails in it
[ ] The soldier had lots of nails
6. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
His shoes fit like a glove.
[ ] He wears gloves on his feet
[ ] His gloves fit very well
[ ] His shoes fit very well
[ ] He wears shoes on his hands
7. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Mike eats like a pig.
[ ] Mike eats a lot, or he eats noisily and unpleasantly
[ ] Mike lives on a farm
[ ] Mike eats out of a pig trough
[ ] Mike eats nicely
8. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
The old man was as drunk as a lord.
[ ] The old man was a drunk lord
[ ] The old man was absolutely drunk
[ ] The old man was a lord
[ ] The old man was an alcoholic
9. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Water and vodka are as different as chalk from cheese.
[ ] Water and vodka are the same
[ ] Water is almost the same as vodka
[ ] Water is like chalk and vodka is like cheese
[ ] Water and vodka are very different
10. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
The teacher's explanation was as clear as mud.
[ ] The teacher's explanation was very clear
[ ] The teacher's explanation was not at all clear
[ ] The teacher's explanation was quite clear
[ ] The teacher's explanation was covered in mud
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English Quiz - Similes (Answers)
1. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Sheila is as snug as a bug in a rug in her new house.
[ ] Sheila feels cramped in her new house
[x] Sheila is warm and comfortable in her new house
[ ] Sheila lives in a rug
[ ] Sheila has a lot of bugs in her rugs
Has anyone asked the bugs how they feel?
2. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
She's as blind as a bat.
[x] She can't see very well
[ ] She thinks she's a bat
[ ] She uses echolocation to see
[ ] She has perfect vision
This could also mean that she doesn't want to accept things that she should, for example: She's as blind as a bat when it comes to her son's misbehaviour
3. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Dave is as mad as a hornet.
[ ] Dave is a little mad in the head
[ ] Dave is very mad in the head
[ ] Dave is not very angry
[x] Dave is very angry
If you were to disturb a hornets' nest, you'd soon find out the meaning of this simile: don't do it!
4. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Peter is as quiet as a church mouse.
[ ] Peter makes a scratching noise
[ ] Peter lives a quiet life in a church
[ ] Peter goes to church quietly
[x] Peter is very quiet
Is a church mouse quieter than a town mouse?
5. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
The soldier lay on the ground as dead as a door nail.
[x] The soldier was dead
[ ] The soldier was like a rusty door nail
[ ] The soldier looked like a dead door with nails in it
[ ] The soldier had lots of nails
Has anyone ever seen a living door nail?
6. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
His shoes fit like a glove.
[ ] He wears gloves on his feet
[ ] His gloves fit very well
[x] His shoes fit very well
[ ] He wears shoes on his hands
If it fits like a glove, you can wear it
7. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Mike eats like a pig.
[x] Mike eats a lot, or he eats noisily and unpleasantly
[ ] Mike lives on a farm
[ ] Mike eats out of a pig trough
[ ] Mike eats nicely
Poor pigs!
8. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
The old man was as drunk as a lord.
[ ] The old man was a drunk lord
[x] The old man was absolutely drunk
[ ] The old man was a lord
[ ] The old man was an alcoholic
It's not only lords who get as drunk as lords
9. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
Water and vodka are as different as chalk from cheese.
[ ] Water and vodka are the same
[ ] Water is almost the same as vodka
[ ] Water is like chalk and vodka is like cheese
[x] Water and vodka are very different
They may look alike, but once you've taken a few sips - you'll soon realize the difference!
10. Choose the best explanation for the simile.
The teacher's explanation was as clear as mud.
[ ] The teacher's explanation was very clear
[x] The teacher's explanation was not at all clear
[ ] The teacher's explanation was quite clear
[ ] The teacher's explanation was covered in mud
This simile is often used ironically or sarcastically: Oh, yes! I understood everything; his explanation was as clear as mud