Figurative Meanings 5

Many Native Americans today hold full-time jobs while managing to keep their culture alive. In their spare time they might weave baskets, prepare traditional dishes, or hold tribal celebrations. In this way, they keep one foot in the present and one in the past. What do the underlined words mean?

• Native Americans manage to survive in modern society and honor their past.

• Native Americans prefer the past over the present.

• Native Americans devote exactly half their time to jobs and half to keeping their culture alive.

• Native Americans keep their feet apart.

When Mary Ann Evans wrote her first book, everyone thought she was a man named George Eliot. Evans knew that in 1859 no one would publish a book by a woman. After all, everyone knew that women couldn't write! Her third novel, Silas Marner, is still taught in schools today. What do the underlined words mean?

• Women can't actually write.

• Women actually can write.

• Women can write only if they use a man's name.

• Women struggle to form letters.

Native people have lived in the Amazon Rain Forest for thousands of years. Most have survived by gathering food and hunting. But today, most of the tribes are gone due to the forest's destruction for mining, logging, and ranching. Progress marches on, stepping on anything in its path. Who or what is "Progress" in the passage?

• The logging, mining, and ranching industries.

• The native people.

• The disappearing tribes.

• A logging company name.

Reality TV shows put ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Face it: modern-day life can be about as exciting as watching the grass grow. Reality TV lets people see what happens to ordinary people--like themselves--who face extreme challenges. What do the underlined words mean?

• Life in a modern society is like reality TV.

• Life in a modern society is often boring.

• Life in a modern society is advanced.

• Life in a modern society is exciting.

Wearing blue jeans used to be a sign of what class one belonged to--namely, the lower class. But not anymore. blue jeans have ruled the roost of fashion since the 1960's and are now an American symbol. Why? Maybe it's because everyone wears them, so they disguise one's class. What is the popularity of blue jeans being compared to in the underlined words?

• kings

• symbols

• roosters

• lions

In India's class system, untouchables were considered to be lower than dirt. Untouchables were not allowed to touch members of other classes, enter their houses, or draw water from the same wells. In some places untouchable were not allowed to cast their shadow on anyone in another class. What do the underlined words mean?

• Untouchables lived below ground.

• Untouchables were low, but dirty people were lower.

• Untouchables were worms.

• Being untouchable was as low as one could get.

As cities run out of room for houses, more apartment buildings are popping up. Apartment dwellers, like everyone else, want pets. Enter the rabbit! Rabbits are gentle, friendly, and easy to care for. Rabbits will even use a litter box! What do the underlined words mean?

• being built higher and higher

• being built quickly

• being built with little effort

• being built taller and wider

When Eddie Rickenbacker was a child, he loved building machines. By the time he as 20, he had become a famous race care driver. When World War I began, he joined the army and learned to fly an airplane in just 17 days! Talk about a mechanical wizard! What does the underlined word mean?

• fortuneteller

• magician

• very talented

• sorcerer

When Jim Henson was a child he created a frog puppet from his mother's old coat. He named it "Kermit the Frog." Later, he made many more puppets and called them "Muppets." The Muppets appeared on many TV shows, and finally they became the shining stars of Sesame Street. What do the underlined words mean?

• the only outstanding characters

• the most outstanding characters

• the highest-paid outstanding characters

• the only characters

Wilma Rudolph had polio as a child. Her doctors said she would never walk again. But Wilma proved them wrong. In 1960, she earned a spot on the US Olympic track team. As the first American woman to win three gold medals, Rudolph was indeed a superhero. What does the underlined word mean?

• Rudolph did things most people wouldn't be able to do.

• Rudolph looked and acted like a superhero.

• Rudolph had superhuman powers.

• Rudolph wore a cape while she ran.