Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

As part of a classroom activity, students read and annotate a one-page piece of text. Then, the teacher acts as a discussion leader and asks an open-ended question about the text. Students do not have to raise their hand to speak but are mindful of making sure their classmates have adequate time to speak as well. All students have a chance to speak, and they support their comments with text evidence. The conversation lasts for fifteen minutes, with the overall goal being a deeper understanding of the text.

Which of the following sentences contains an example of personification?

Rationale

I can hear the wind whispering to me.

This sentence is a clear example of personification because it attributes the human action of "whispering" to the non-human element of wind. By suggesting that the wind can communicate in a human-like manner, the sentence brings the natural element to life, evoking a deeper emotional connection.

A (It is raining cats and dogs.) YOUR ANSWER

This phrase is an idiomatic expression used to describe heavy rain. While it employs a vivid metaphor, it does not attribute human characteristics to the rain itself. The phrase paints a picture but does not qualify as personification since it does not suggest that the rain acts like a person.

C (I felt as brave as a lion prowling the jungle.) YOUR ANSWER

This sentence uses a simile to compare a person's bravery to that of a lion but does not confer any human traits to the lion itself. The lion is depicted in its natural behavior, and thus, it lacks the personifying quality that would involve giving human characteristics to the animal.

D (My friend spent ten years on one math problem.) YOUR ANSWER

This statement describes a person's dedication to a task but does not include any non-human elements that are given human qualities. It is a straightforward expression of effort and time spent, devoid of any metaphorical language that would imply personification.

Conclusion

Personification is a literary device that assigns human traits to non-human entities. In this case, the correct choice, "I can hear the wind whispering to me," exemplifies this by suggesting that the wind can whisper, an action typically associated with humans. The other choices illustrate different figures of speech but do not meet the criteria for personification. Recognizing these distinctions enhances comprehension of figurative language in literature.

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