Question

read the sentence from barrio boy by ernesto galarza.

i pushed a chair under it and after some instruction from my mother proceeded to create lightning in the room by turning the switch as fast as i could.

the author uses figurative language to

• form a picture of flashing light.
• compare himself to his mother.
• give human qualities to the light.
• imagine what the chair looks like.

Explanation:

Analyze the figurative language in the sentence

The narrator describes turning a light switch on and off rapidly as "creat[ing] lightning in the room." This metaphor compares the rapid flashing of the electric light to natural lightning.

Evaluate the given options

• "form a picture of flashing light": This matches the metaphor of "lightning," which creates a vivid visual image of the light turning on and off rapidly.
• "compare himself to his mother": The text mentions instruction from his mother, but no comparison is made between them.
• "give human qualities to the light": The metaphor compares light to lightning (a natural phenomenon), not to human traits (personification).
• "imagine what the chair looks like": The chair is mentioned only as a physical tool to reach the switch, not described figuratively.

Answer:

• form a picture of flashing light. (Correct answer)
• compare himself to his mother.
• give human qualities to the light.
• imagine what the chair looks like.