IXL | Interpret the meaning of an allusion from its source

Read the source of the allusion.

In a well-known folktale, Chicken Little is accidentally hit by something and jumps to the conclusion that the sky is falling and that she must spread the news of imminent disaster.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

The weather forecast called for clear skies, making my grandfather look like Chicken Little.

a person who spreads alarming news of imminent disaster

a person who greets trouble with a cheery disposition

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question

Read the source of the allusion.

In Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver encounters the Yahoos, creatures who resemble humans but exhibit humans' most brutish and impolite behaviors.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

There was a group of yahoos sitting at the table next to ours.

chatty people

rude people

key idea

An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words.

"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.

Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately.

solution

An allusion references ideas and events from its original source. Look at the underlined part of the source to better understand the meaning of the allusion.

In Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver encounters the Yahoos, creatures who resemble humans but exhibit humans' most brutish and impolite behaviors.

The allusion yahoos means rude people.

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