Question

shades of meaning metaphors
in the passage eugenie clark: swimming with sharks on pages 68 - 69, you read about eugenie clarks love of fish, especially the shark, and her love of the ocean environment. she loved swimming with the oceans creatures and exploring their world. to eugenie, these creatures and their surroundings are treasures of the sea. in this sentence, are treasures of the sea is a metaphor.
a metaphor compares two unlike things without using the word like or as. a metaphor doesnt say that one thing is like another. it says that one thing is another. saying that the oceans creatures and their surroundings are treasures of the sea means that the oceans creatures and their surroundings are amazing underwater sights.
practice read each sentence. figure out the meaning of each metaphor in boldface. write the number of each sentence next to its meaning.

1. the assignment was a breeze. i was able to finish it in only ten minutes.
2. these lovely earrings are twinkling stars.
3. i eat so much that my mother thinks my stomach is a bottomless pit.
4. the boom of fireworks was thunder in the night. it could be heard a mile away.

apply read each sentence. figure out the meaning of each metaphor in boldface. write the meaning on the line provided.

1. the shopping center was a sea of people.
2. during the heat of the summer, the attic is a sauna.
3. by the time we unpacked our camping gear, the garage was a disaster area.
4. even though they are brothers, their personalities are night and day.
5. on election night, the candidates office was a whirlwind of activity.

Explanation:

1. A "breeze" is something light and easy, so the metaphor "the assignment was a breeze" means the assignment was easy.
2. "Twinkling stars" are sparkly, so the metaphor "these lovely earrings are twinkling stars" means the earrings are sparkly.
3. A "bottomless pit" has no end or limit, so the metaphor "my stomach is a bottomless pit" means the stomach has no end or limit (in terms of how much can be eaten).
4. "Thunder" is very loud, so the metaphor "the boom of fireworks was thunder in the night" means the boom was very loud.
5. A "sea" is large and full, so "the shopping center was a sea of people" means the shopping center was full of people.
6. A "sauna" is hot, so "the attic is a sauna" means the attic is hot.
7. A "disaster area" is messy and chaotic, so "the garage was a disaster area" means the garage was messy and chaotic.
8. "Night and day" are very different, so "their personalities are night and day" means their personalities are very different.
9. A "whirlwind" is fast - moving and full of activity, so "the candidate's office was a whirlwind of activity" means the office was full of fast - moving activity.

Answer:

1. easy
2. sparkly
3. without end or limit
4. very loud
5. full of people
6. hot
7. messy and chaotic
8. very different
9. full of fast - moving activity