Q1: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees" is an example of - (a) Metaphor (b) Personification (c) Simile (d) Hyperbole
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The wind is given the human ability to whisper, which is personification-attributing human qualities to non-human things.
Q2: "He is as brave as a lion" illustrates which figure of speech? (a) Personification (b) Metaphor (c) Simile (d) Oxymoron
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The comparison uses "as...as" to directly compare his bravery to a lion's, making it a simile.
Q3: The expression "I've told you a million times" is best described as - (a) Litotes (b) Irony (c) Hyperbole (d) Paradox
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The speaker exaggerates the number of times for emphasis, which is characteristic of hyperbole.
Q4: In the line "The classroom was a zoo," which figure of speech is employed? (a) Metaphor (b) Simile (c) Personification (d) Alliteration
Solution:
Ans: (a) Explanation: The classroom is directly compared to a zoo without using "like" or "as," creating a metaphor.
Q5: "The pen is mightier than the sword" is an example of - (a) Synecdoche (b) Metonymy (c) Antithesis (d) Paradox
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: "Pen" represents writing/words and "sword" represents military force, making this metonymy where objects substitute for related concepts.
Q6: Which figure of speech is illustrated in "The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky"? (a) Simile (b) Hyperbole (c) Personification (d) Irony
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: Stars are given the human action of dancing playfully, which is personification.
Q7: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" from Shakespeare's Macbeth exemplifies - (a) Oxymoron (b) Paradox (c) Euphemism (d) Litotes
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The statement appears contradictory but reveals a deeper truth about the inverted moral world, making it a paradox.
Q8: In the phrase "deafening silence," which device is used? (a) Paradox (b) Antithesis (c) Oxymoron (d) Irony
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: Two contradictory terms "deafening" and "silence" are placed together for effect, creating an oxymoron.
Q9: "The crown" used to represent the monarchy is an example of - (a) Metaphor (b) Metonymy (c) Synecdoche (d) Personification
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: An object closely associated with monarchy (the crown) is used to represent the institution itself, which is metonymy.
Q10: "All hands on deck" illustrates which figure of speech? (a) Metaphor (b) Synecdoche (c) Metonymy (d) Hyperbole
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: "Hands" (a part) represents the whole sailors/workers, which is synecdoche where part stands for whole.
Q11: The statement "He passed away" instead of "He died" is an example of - (a) Euphemism (b) Litotes (c) Irony (d) Hyperbole
Solution:
Ans: (a) Explanation: A milder or less direct expression is used to replace a harsh or blunt one, which is euphemism.
Q12: "Not bad" used to mean "very good" exemplifies - (a) Hyperbole (b) Paradox (c) Litotes (d) Euphemism
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: An affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite, which is the defining characteristic of litotes.
Q13: In "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers," which device is dominant? (a) Assonance (b) Consonance (c) Alliteration (d) Onomatopoeia
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The repetition of the initial "p" sound in successive words demonstrates alliteration.
Q14: "Buzz," "hiss," and "clang" are examples of - (a) Alliteration (b) Assonance (c) Onomatopoeia (d) Consonance
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: These words imitate the actual sounds they represent, which is the essence of onomatopoeia.
Q15: "To err is human; to forgive, divine" by Alexander Pope illustrates - (a) Paradox (b) Antithesis (c) Oxymoron (d) Metonymy
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: Two contrasting ideas (human error versus divine forgiveness) are balanced in parallel structure, creating antithesis.
Q16: When a speaker says "What a beautiful day!" during a thunderstorm, this is - (a) Verbal irony (b) Dramatic irony (c) Situational irony (d) Paradox
Solution:
Ans: (a) Explanation: The speaker says the opposite of what is actually meant, which is verbal irony.
Q17: "The fleet of fifty sail" where "sail" means "ships" demonstrates - (a) Metaphor (b) Metonymy (c) Synecdoche (d) Personification
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: A part of the ship (sail) is used to represent the entire ship, which is synecdoche.
Q18: "Life is a journey" functions as which figure of speech? (a) Simile (b) Personification (c) Metaphor (d) Allegory
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: Life is directly equated with a journey without using comparative words, creating a metaphor.
Q19: "The moon smiled down on the lovers" employs - (a) Hyperbole (b) Simile (c) Metonymy (d) Personification
Solution:
Ans: (d) Explanation: The moon is given the human ability to smile, which is personification.
Q20: The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words is called - (a) Consonance (b) Alliteration (c) Assonance (d) Onomatopoeia
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: Assonance specifically refers to the repetition of vowel sounds within words in close proximity.
Q21: "I must be cruel only to be kind" from Hamlet is an example of - (a) Oxymoron (b) Paradox (c) Antithesis (d) Irony
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The statement appears self-contradictory but contains a truth about harsh actions having kind intentions, making it a paradox.
Q22: "The repetition of consonant sounds at the end of words" defines - (a) Assonance (b) Alliteration (c) Consonance (d) Rhyme
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: Consonance is characterized by the repetition of consonant sounds, particularly at the end of words.
Q23: In "The world is my oyster," which device is used? (a) Simile (b) Personification (c) Metaphor (d) Hyperbole
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The world is directly compared to an oyster suggesting opportunities, without using "like" or "as," creating a metaphor.
Q24: "The thunder grumbled like an old man" illustrates - (a) Metaphor (b) Personification and simile (c) Hyperbole (d) Onomatopoeia
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: Thunder is given human quality (grumbling) and compared using "like," combining personification with simile.
Q25: "He was a lion in battle" is an example of - (a) Simile (b) Hyperbole (c) Metaphor (d) Personification
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The man is directly equated with a lion to suggest his courage and ferocity, which is a metaphor.
The document Practice Questions: Figures Of Speech is a part of the JAMB Course Literature in English.
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