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Metaphor Practice (B1-B2) - English Writing Quiz

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: B1, B2 📚 Type: Writing ⭐ XP: up to +16 (on pass)

This 15-question Metaphor practice quiz walks you through the topic step by step — from basic recognition to real-world application. Tailored for Level B1-B2, with clear explanations after every question. Great for building confidence before moving to harder topics.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: Read the following sentence: 'The classroom was a zoo after the teacher left.' What literary device is used here?

Question 1 options
This sentence directly states that the classroom IS a zoo, comparing two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.' This is the definition of a metaphor.
Q2 15

Question 2: Complete the metaphor: 'After years of hard work, her career was a rocket ___ through the sky.'

Question 2 options
'Shooting' correctly completes the metaphor by extending the rocket image with an action that rockets naturally perform, maintaining the figurative comparison of rapid career success to a rocket's upward movement.
Q3 15

Question 3: A metaphor compares two things directly without using the words 'like' or 'as.'

Question 3 options
This is true. A metaphor states that one thing IS another thing directly, whereas a simile uses 'like' or 'as' to make the comparison.
Q4 15

Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses a metaphor?

Question 4 options
'His words were sharp knives that cut through the silence' is a correct metaphor because it directly states that words ARE sharp knives. The other options either use 'like' (making them similes) or use literal language.
Q5 15

Question 5: Match each literary device term to its correct definition or example.

Question 5 options
Metaphor
Simile
Extended metaphor
Dead metaphor
A metaphor developed over several sentences
A direct comparison without 'like' or 'as'
A comparison using 'like' or 'as'
An overused metaphor that lost figurative impact

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

A metaphor directly states something IS something else. A simile uses 'like' or 'as.' An extended metaphor continues across several sentences. A dead metaphor is one used so often it has lost its figurative impact.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence contains an error in its use of figurative language?

Question 6 options
'The mountain was a giant like standing tall' incorrectly mixes a metaphor with a simile. It should be either 'The mountain was a giant standing tall' (metaphor) or 'The mountain was like a giant standing tall' (simile), but not both combined.
Q7 15

Question 7: Read the passage: 'The exam period arrived, and every student felt the pressure. Their minds were ___ ready to burst under the weight of information.' Which metaphor best completes this passage?

Question 7 options
'Overloaded suitcases' is the best metaphor because it directly compares minds to physical objects under strain, which fits the context of pressure and the weight of information. The other options are either literal, use simile, or are unrelated to the context of pressure.
Q8 15

Question 8: The following sentence contains an error: 'The night sky was like a velvet curtain decorated with diamonds.' Which option correctly fixes it to make it a metaphor instead of a simile?

Question 8 options
To convert a simile into a metaphor, remove the comparison word 'like' and state the comparison directly. 'The night sky was a velvet curtain decorated with diamonds' makes the direct comparison that defines a metaphor.
Q9 15

Question 9: Arrange the parts to build a paragraph that introduces and then develops a metaphor correctly:

Question 9 options
  • Each book was a golden coin waiting to be discovered.
  • Anyone who entered would leave richer than before.
  • The old library stood at the end of the street.
  • It was a treasure chest of forgotten worlds.

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

A well-developed metaphor in writing first sets the scene, then introduces the metaphor directly, extends it with supporting details, and finally connects it back to the original subject for full effect.
Q10 15

Question 10: You are writing a descriptive essay about a difficult period in your life. Which sentence uses metaphor most effectively?

Question 10 options
'That year was a long, dark tunnel, but I finally found the light at the end' uses metaphor effectively by directly comparing a difficult period to a tunnel, creating a vivid image that conveys struggle and eventual hope. It suits the descriptive essay register and emotional tone.
Q11 15

Question 11: Which sentence uses a metaphor rather than personification?

Question 11 options
'The city was a beehive of activity during the festival' is a metaphor because it directly compares the city to a beehive. The other sentences give human qualities to non-human things (the wind whispering, the sun smiling, the trees dancing), which is personification.
Q12 15

Question 12: Which version of the sentence is most appropriate for an academic essay about education?

Question 12 options
'Education is the foundation upon which society builds its future' uses a formal, measured metaphor appropriate for academic writing. The other options are either too casual, too dramatic, or use informal language unsuitable for academic register.
Q13 15

Question 13: A metaphor must always compare two completely unrelated things to be effective.

Question 13 options
This is false. While metaphors do compare unlike things, the two things compared must share some quality or characteristic that the writer wants to highlight. The comparison needs a logical connection to be meaningful and effective.
Q14 15

Question 14: Read this sentence: 'Her voice was warm honey, soothing every worried mind in the room.' Why does the writer use this metaphor?

Question 14 options
By comparing the voice to warm honey, the writer creates a sensory experience that helps the reader feel the comforting, sweet, and calming quality of the voice. Metaphors engage the senses and emotions more powerfully than literal descriptions.
Q15 15

Question 15: Which is the best improvement of this weak sentence? Original: 'The traffic was very bad and slow.'

Question 15 options
'The traffic was a river of molten metal, barely moving under the afternoon heat' replaces the vague, literal description with a vivid metaphor that creates a strong visual image of slowness and heaviness, greatly improving the descriptive quality.