FTCE Pre-K Prekindergarten PK-3 Practice Exam

Calling a character a "giant mountain of muscle" is an example of what?

1. Metaphor

2. Personification

3. Hyperbole

4. Simile

The correct answer is: Hyperbole

Describing a character as a "giant mountain of muscle" is a vivid illustration frequently associated with hyperbole. Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally, but rather to emphasize a characteristic or trait; in this case, it emphasizes the strength and size of the character. The word "giant" alongside "mountain" amplifies the idea of muscularity beyond realistic proportions, creating a striking visual image. While the other choices involve different literary techniques—like metaphor, which compares two unlike things directly, or simile, which does so using "like" or "as," the phrase in question is explicitly exaggerating for effect, which aligns it distinctly with hyperbole and not with those other forms. Thus, this reinforces why the answer identifies the phrase as an example of hyperbole.