Da VIP Academy / GED / RLA / Reading Literary Text
Figurative Language & Vocabulary in Context
Use context clues to define words and interpret figurative language.
How it works
Use the sentence, not your memory
GED words often have several meanings. Substitute each answer choice into the sentence and keep the one that still makes sense.
Similes, metaphors, and imagery
'Lights buzzed like trapped insects' is a simile creating an uneasy, closed-in mood. Ask what feeling the comparison produces.
Worked examples
What does 'buzzed like trapped insects' suggest?
- Identify the simile.
- Ask what 'trapped' adds.
- Answer: a tense, confined atmosphere.
Words to know
- Simile
- A comparison using like or as.
- Context clue
- Nearby words that reveal a word's meaning.
Test-day tips
- • Read one line above and one line below the word before choosing.