5th Grade ELA Quiz: Determine Figurative Word Meanings

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Carlos practiced his lines for the class play in the hallway. He mouthed each word, trying to keep his voice steady. Behind the curtain in the auditorium, students whispered and giggled.

(Paragraph 2) When the teacher called, "Places!" Carlos's hands turned cold. The stage lights waited ahead, bright and serious.

(Paragraph 3) His fear was a shadow that followed him to the edge of the stage. But he remembered his sister's advice: look at one friendly face first. Carlos spotted Keisha in the front row, smiling.

(Paragraph 4) He stepped into the light and began. The first sentence came out clear. The shadow didn't disappear, but it grew smaller as Carlos kept going.

In paragraph 3, the author writes, "His fear was a shadow." What does the author mean by this?

(Paragraph 1) Yuki joined the after-school basketball club for the first time. The gym echoed with bouncing balls and squeaky shoes.

(Paragraph 2) During warm-ups, she dribbled carefully. But when the scrimmage started, the ball felt like a live thing, always trying to escape her hands.

(Paragraph 3) "Keep your eyes up," Coach Daniels called. Yuki tried again, and she began to control her dribble while moving down the court.

(Paragraph 4) By the end, she was tired but proud. She knew she would come back tomorrow.

In paragraph 2, what does the author mean by saying "the ball felt like a live thing, always trying to escape her hands"?

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Emma practiced her flute in the music room after school. The hallway outside was noisy, but the room held the sound gently.

(Paragraph 2) At first, her notes squeaked. Emma's embarrassment burned like a small sun on her cheeks, and she wanted to pack up.

(Paragraph 3) Then she remembered what her instructor said: start slow, then build. She played the same line again, listening closely.

(Paragraph 4) The next time, the melody came out clear. Emma smiled and kept going, letting the music fill the room.

In paragraph 2, what does the phrase "Emma's embarrassment burned like a small sun on her cheeks" mean?

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Chen and his cousin Laila visited the aquarium on Saturday. The building smelled like salt and popcorn from the snack stand.

(Paragraph 2) In the jellyfish room, the tanks glowed blue. The jellyfish floated like tiny umbrellas, opening and closing as they drifted.

(Paragraph 3) "They look soft," Laila whispered, pressing her hands to the glass. Chen noticed how the jellyfish moved without splashing, as if they were dancing slowly.

(Paragraph 4) A sign explained that jellyfish don't have bones. Chen watched them pulse through the water and felt calm, the way he did when he listened to quiet music.

What does the simile "like tiny umbrellas" suggest about the jellyfish in paragraph 2?

(Paragraph 1) Sofia stepped into the school library after lunch. The room was quiet, but not empty; it hummed with turning pages and soft footsteps. Sunlight stretched across the carpet in long rectangles.

(Paragraph 2) To Sofia, the library was a treasure chest. Each shelf held surprises she had not opened yet. She ran her finger along the spines, choosing carefully.

(Paragraph 3) At the back table, her friend Chen waved. "Find anything good?" he asked. Sofia held up a mystery novel and grinned.

(Paragraph 4) When she sat down, the chair squeaked, and the sound seemed too loud. Sofia opened the book anyway, and the first sentence pulled her in. The world outside the window faded, as if someone had lowered the volume.

In paragraph 2, the author describes the library as "a treasure chest." What does this mean?

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Emma helped her grandpa sort old photographs at the kitchen table. The pictures smelled faintly like paper and time, and the edges were curled.

(Paragraph 2) "This one is from my first job," Grandpa said, tapping a photo of a small store. Emma leaned closer. The faces were young, but the smiles looked familiar.

(Paragraph 3) Grandpa's memory was an attic, full of boxes he could open when he wanted. He told Emma about the bell above the store door and the way customers greeted him by name.

(Paragraph 4) Emma listened, imagining the scene. Some details were dusty and hard to reach, but others shone brightly, like a lamp switched on in the past.

In paragraph 3, the author says, "Grandpa's memory was an attic." What does this mean in the passage?

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Marcus stood at the edge of the lake during the field trip. The water was dark green near the shore, and small ripples tapped the dock.

(Paragraph 2) He had never paddled a canoe before. As the class lined up for turns, worry swirled in his mind. It wasn't loud, but it wouldn't sit still.

(Paragraph 3) His thoughts were storm clouds, gathering and bumping into each other. Marcus watched another student wobble in the canoe and almost tip. He swallowed hard.

(Paragraph 4) When it was his turn, the instructor showed him how to hold the paddle and keep his balance. Marcus took a slow breath. The clouds in his mind began to break apart as he pushed off and glided forward.

In paragraph 3, what does the metaphor "His thoughts were storm clouds" mean?

(Paragraph 1) Jamal followed the trail behind the community garden, where tall sunflowers stood in neat rows. The late-afternoon light turned the dirt path gold, and the air smelled like warm tomatoes. He had promised to water the new seedlings while Ms. Rivera was away.

(Paragraph 2) At the gate, the garden felt different. The wind slid through the leaves, and Jamal's stomach felt as tight as a drum. A hose lay twisted near the spigot, and a thin stream of water ran into the gravel.

(Paragraph 3) "Okay, I can fix this," he whispered. He shut off the spigot and untangled the hose. The worry in his chest was a heavy backpack, but he kept working. When the water finally sprayed in a steady arc, Jamal breathed out slowly.

(Paragraph 4) Relief washed over him like cool water. He watched the seedlings perk up, their tiny stems standing straighter. By the time he left, the garden looked calm again, as if it had been holding its breath.

In paragraph 2, the author says Jamal's stomach felt "as tight as a drum." What does this mean?

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Yuki carried a tray of seedlings to the classroom windowsill. The science project was simple: grow bean plants and measure them each week. Still, Yuki wanted her plants to do well.

(Paragraph 2) The classroom was a beehive after recess. Chairs scraped, pencils tapped, and voices buzzed as students traded stories about kickball.

(Paragraph 3) Yuki shielded the tray with her arms and moved carefully. "Watch out," she said, stepping around backpacks. She found a sunny spot and set the seedlings down.

(Paragraph 4) When everyone finally settled, the room grew quieter. The plants stood in a neat line, and Yuki felt proud she had protected them.

In paragraph 2, the author says the classroom was "a beehive." What does this mean?

(Paragraph 1) Keisha and her neighbor Mrs. Patel painted a mural on the community center wall. They dipped brushes into bright colors and stepped back often to check their work.

(Paragraph 2) Mrs. Patel was sunshine on a cloudy day. When Keisha accidentally splattered blue paint on the sidewalk, Mrs. Patel did not scold her. She laughed and handed Keisha a wet rag.

(Paragraph 3) "Mistakes happen," Mrs. Patel said. "They can even become part of the picture." Keisha looked again and noticed the splatter looked like a tiny starburst.

(Paragraph 4) By the end, the mural showed a river, trees, and hands reaching toward one another. Keisha felt lighter, as if the wall had been waiting for their colors.

In paragraph 2, the author says Mrs. Patel was "sunshine." What does this suggest about Mrs. Patel?

(Paragraph 1) Jamal stepped onto the community garden path with a small shovel in his hand. The morning was cool, and the soil smelled dark and rich.

(Paragraph 2) Ms. Rivera handed him a packet of seeds. "Plant them gently," she said. Jamal's nervousness twisted in his stomach like a knotted rope, because he wanted the seeds to grow.

(Paragraph 3) He pressed each seed into the ground and covered it carefully. The garden beds were a patchwork quilt of greens and browns, stitched together by neat wooden boards.

(Paragraph 4) When Jamal finished, Ms. Rivera nodded. His worry loosened, and he could finally breathe normally again.

In paragraph 2, what does the phrase "His nervousness twisted in his stomach like a knotted rope" mean?

(Paragraph 1) Amir waited at the starting line of the fun run, bouncing on his toes. The park path curled between trees, and volunteers held paper cups of water.

(Paragraph 2) When the whistle blew, Amir ran like a gust of wind. His sneakers slapped the pavement, and he passed two runners before the first turn.

(Paragraph 3) "Easy," he told himself, slowing down a little. He could feel his breathing getting quicker, and he did not want to get tired too soon.

(Paragraph 4) Near the finish, he sped up again. His legs burned, but he kept his eyes on the banner. When he crossed the line, he laughed, surprised by how fast it all went.

What does the phrase "like a gust of wind" mean in paragraph 2?

(1) Carlos walked into the science fair with his poster held against his chest. The room buzzed with voices and footsteps.

(2) At first, the gym was a beehive, full of motion and sound. Carlos tried to find his table while students hurried past him.

(3) He set up his model volcano and smoothed the edges of his poster. When his teacher stopped by and smiled, Carlos's shoulders relaxed.

(4) Soon he was explaining his project to visitors. The noise didn't bother him as much once he had a job to do.

In paragraph 2, what does the metaphor "the gym was a beehive" mean?

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Chen waited backstage for the talent show to begin. He could hear chairs scraping and kids whispering in the auditorium.

(Paragraph 2) The curtains were heavy, and the lights beyond them were bright. Chen's thoughts were racing cars, zooming from "What if I forget?" to "What if I do great?"

(Paragraph 3) His friend Keisha squeezed his shoulder. "You practiced," she said. Her voice was steady, and it helped Chen slow down.

(Paragraph 4) When Chen stepped onto the stage, he took one deep breath and started his song.

In paragraph 2, the author says, "Chen's thoughts were racing cars." What does this mean?

(Paragraph 1) Sofia carried a stack of books to the corner table in the school library. The room smelled like paper and pencil shavings.

(Paragraph 2) The library was a treasure chest. Each shelf held surprises, and Sofia felt like a finder of hidden coins when she pulled out a new story.

(Paragraph 3) She opened a book about storms and read quietly. Outside, rain tapped the windows, but inside, the pages felt warm and safe.

(Paragraph 4) When the bell rang, Sofia marked her place. She left already planning which "treasure" she would take home next.

In paragraph 2, what does the metaphor "The library was a treasure chest" suggest about the library?

(Paragraph 1) Maya and her dad hiked up the hill behind their apartment building. The city noises grew softer the higher they climbed, until only birds and wind remained.

(Paragraph 2) At the top, the clouds drifted overhead like slow ships. Maya lay back on a flat rock and watched them travel across the blue sky.

(Paragraph 3) "That one looks like a turtle," she said. Her dad nodded. "And that one looks like a paintbrush."

(Paragraph 4) The wind brushed Maya's cheeks, cool and steady. She felt her thoughts loosen, the way knots come undone when you stop pulling them tight.

What does the phrase "like slow ships" suggest about the clouds in paragraph 2?

(Paragraph 1) Keisha and her grandpa stood at the edge of the pond in the city park. The water was still, and the air smelled like wet grass.

(Paragraph 2) A heron lifted off from the reeds. It rose as smoothly as a kite catching a steady breeze, and Keisha followed it with her eyes.

(Paragraph 3) "It barely flapped," Keisha whispered. Grandpa nodded and pointed to the wide wings, stretched like careful hands.

(Paragraph 4) The bird glided over the water and disappeared behind the trees. Keisha felt quiet inside, as if the park had turned down the volume of her day.

In paragraph 2, what does the simile "It rose as smoothly as a kite catching a steady breeze" mean?

(Paragraph 1) Marcus sat at the kitchen table, staring at his math homework. The numbers looked fine at school, but at home they seemed to blur.

(Paragraph 2) He tried one problem, then another. Time was a sneaky thief, stealing minutes while Marcus erased and rewrote his work.

(Paragraph 3) "Need help?" his older sister asked, pulling up a chair. Marcus nodded, and she showed him a simpler way to line up the steps.

(Paragraph 4) After that, the page did not feel so scary. Marcus finished before bedtime and finally got to read his book.

In paragraph 2, what does the metaphor "Time was a sneaky thief" mean?

Read the passage.

(Paragraph 1) Maya followed the trail into Pine Ridge Park, where the tall trees stood close together. Their tops brushed the sky, and the air smelled like clean rain.

(Paragraph 2) The forest was a cathedral, quiet and high above her head. Sunlight slid through the branches in thin stripes, and Maya lowered her voice without thinking.

(Paragraph 3) A squirrel darted across the path, fast as a tossed pebble. Maya laughed, but her excitement was a drumbeat in her chest as she searched for the hidden creek.

(Paragraph 4) When she finally heard water, relief washed over her like cool lemonade on a hot day. She hurried toward the sound, ready to fill her bottle and head back.

In paragraph 2, the author writes, "The forest was a cathedral." What does this mean in the passage?

(Paragraph 1) Amir and his cousin walked along the beach after school. The sand was damp near the water, and tiny shells glittered in the sun.

(Paragraph 2) Far out, the waves marched toward shore in steady lines. Amir watched them roll in, one after another, never rushing but never stopping.

(Paragraph 3) He tried skipping stones, and each rock made a quick splash. "I like how the ocean doesn't quit," he said, tossing another stone.

(Paragraph 4) As the sky turned orange, Amir felt calmer, as if the waves had taught his thoughts how to move.

In paragraph 2, what does the phrase "the waves marched toward shore" mean?