What Is Exaggeration?

1. In writing, exaggeration is best defined as:

Describing events exactly as they happened

Using language that makes something seem bigger, smaller, better, or worse than it really is

Giving human traits to nonhuman things

Repeating the same word several times

Exaggeration stretches the truth for effect, often for humor, emphasis, or drama.

Explanation

Exaggeration stretches the truth for effect, often for humor, emphasis, or drama.

2. Which sentence is the clearest example of exaggeration?

The homework took me about an hour.

The homework was challenging but manageable.

The homework took me a million years to finish.

The homework was assigned on Monday.

Nobody literally works for a million years; it exaggerates how long it felt.

Explanation

Nobody literally works for a million years; it exaggerates how long it felt.

3. Which line shows exaggeration used for humor?

I am somewhat tired.

I’m tired.

I’m so tired I could sleep for a thousand years.

I went to bed early.

Sleeping for a thousand years is humorous exaggeration.

Explanation

Sleeping for a thousand years is humorous exaggeration.

4. Exaggeration is always meant to be taken literally.

True

False

Exaggeration is not meant literally; it is understood as overstatement.

Explanation

Exaggeration is not meant literally; it is understood as overstatement.

5. Which sentence exaggerates how hungry someone is?

I could eat a snack.

I am hungry.

I am slightly hungry.

I’m so hungry I could eat an entire elephant.

Eating an elephant is impossible and dramatizes hunger.

Explanation

Eating an elephant is impossible and dramatizes hunger.

6. Exaggeration is often used to:

Make writing boring and flat

Confuse the reader on purpose

Emphasize a feeling, idea, or quality

Avoid showing emotion

Writers exaggerate to highlight feelings or ideas.

Explanation

Writers exaggerate to highlight feelings or ideas.

7. Which sentence does NOT contain exaggeration?

I told you a thousand times to clean your room.

He ran faster than the speed of light.

She literally floated up to the ceiling she was so happy.

He walked to school this morning.

This sentence is realistic and literal.

Explanation

This sentence is realistic and literal.

8. Which is an example of exaggeration about difficulty?

The test had 20 questions.

The test was somewhat hard.

The test was so impossible that not even a genius from another planet could pass it.

We took the test in class.

It exaggerates difficulty to an absurd level.

Explanation

It exaggerates difficulty to an absurd level.

9. A teacher says, “I have five hundred emails from students to answer.” What is exaggerated?

The time of day

The number of students

The number of emails

The grade level

She stresses quantity, not a literal count.

Explanation

She stresses quantity, not a literal count.

10. Which sentence uses exaggeration to express embarrassment?

I was embarrassed.

My cheeks turned red.

My cheeks were so hot I’m pretty sure they could have fried an egg.

People laughed a little.

The fried-egg image exaggerates embarrassment.

Explanation

The fried-egg image exaggerates embarrassment.

11. Why is exaggeration effective in writing?

It makes readers stop reading.

It makes every detail literally accurate.

It creates strong images and emphasizes emotions.

It replaces all description.

Exaggeration creates vivid images and emotional impact.

Explanation

Exaggeration creates vivid images and emotional impact.

12. Exaggeration always equals lying.

True

False

It is a stylistic choice, not deception.

Explanation

It is a stylistic choice, not deception.

13. Exaggeration can appear in both serious and humorous writing.

True

False

Exaggeration appears in comedy and serious writing.

Explanation

Exaggeration appears in comedy and serious writing.

14. Match the exaggeration to what it emphasizes:

“My backpack weighs a ton.”

“I’ve had this song stuck in my head for my entire life.”

“This line is never going to move.”

Submit

15. Exaggeration is MOST closely related to which figure of speech?

Simile

Hyperbole

Alliteration

Onomatopoeia

Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration for effect.

Explanation

Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration for effect.

What Is Exaggeration?

1. In writing, exaggeration is best defined as:

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Which sentence is the clearest example of exaggeration?

3. Which line shows exaggeration used for humor?

4. Exaggeration is always meant to be taken literally.

5. Which sentence exaggerates how hungry someone is?

6. Exaggeration is often used to:

7. Which sentence does NOT contain exaggeration?

8. Which is an example of exaggeration about difficulty?

9. A teacher says, “I have five hundred emails from students to answer.” What is exaggerated?

10. Which sentence uses exaggeration to express embarrassment?

11. Why is exaggeration effective in writing?

12. Exaggeration always equals lying.

13. Exaggeration can appear in both serious and humorous writing.

14. Match the exaggeration to what it emphasizes:

15. Exaggeration is MOST closely related to which figure of speech?