IXL | Interpret figures of speech | 9th grade language arts

What does the allusion in this text suggest?

Al Gore had a long career in politics as a congressman and vice president, but he met his Waterloo in the 2000 presidential election, when he lost to George W. Bush.

He lost his courage.

He suffered a crushing defeat.

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question

What does the idiom in this text suggest?

In September 2013, President Obama stated that he was on the fence about ordering a military strike against Syria.

The president was firmly against the military strike.

The president was undecided about the military strike.

key idea

Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.

An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood literally. Its meaning must be learned.

The assignment was a piece of cake.

solution

The text uses an idiom, an expression that cannot be understood literally.

The idiom on the fence suggests that the president was undecided about the military strike. If you are on the fence, you are on neither one side nor the other. In other words, you are torn or unsure.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

H.3Determine the meanings of similes and metaphors

C.2Interpret the meaning of an allusion from its source

N.1Use personification

Y.4Identify the meaning of idioms and adages: set 2

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