Question 1 of 10
The writer says Mum appears as a big dark shadow. What technique is this?
A) Onomatopoeia — a word that sounds like what it describes
B) A metaphor — describing Mum AS a shadow to make her seem powerful and threatening from Peony's viewpoint
C) Alliteration — repeating the same starting sound
D) A simile — comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
Question 2 of 10
What does skittering mean?
A) Sitting completely still without moving
B) Making a loud buzzing sound
C) Moving with quick, light, scratchy movements across a surface
D) Jumping high into the air
Question 3 of 10
Raindrops of sweat drip down from my neck past my heart and make a paddling pool in my belly button. Why is this description effective?
A) It uses a child's voice and imagination to make extreme nervousness vivid — comparing sweat to rain and a belly button to a paddling pool
B) It proves that it is raining outside and the water is coming through the roof
C) It shows that Peony has been exercising and is out of breath
D) It is a boring description that doesn't add anything to the story
Question 4 of 10
What does self-effacing mean?
A) Self-destructive and harmful
B) Proud and boastful
C) Scared and trembling
D) Modest, quiet, and not drawing attention to yourself
Question 5 of 10
What is the effect of the phrase The kitchen feels like winter?
A) It tells us the story is set in December
B) It's a simile showing that shock from the sting has made Peony's whole body feel freezing cold
C) It means the kitchen has no heating and needs repairs
D) It means Peony doesn't like the kitchen
Question 6 of 10
What does impeccable mean?
A) Extremely ugly and repulsive
B) Very large and powerful
C) Perfect, faultless, without any flaws
D) Impossible to catch or hold
Question 7 of 10
Why does the writer say it is not Margot anymore it is Mum?
A) To show the transition from imaginary comfort to real comfort — revealing how young and vulnerable Peony is
B) To show that Margot has run away and left Peony alone
C) To show that Mum is pretending to be Margot
D) To show that Peony can't tell the difference between people
Question 8 of 10
What does She unpeels me like an orange tell us about Mum?
A) Mum is being rough and impatient with Peony
B) Mum is feeding Peony fruit to help her recover
C) Peony's skin has turned orange from the venom
D) Mum gently and carefully uncurls Peony from her tight ball, showing tender, motherly care
Question 9 of 10
What does the personification in an almost apologetic gesture of warning achieve?
A) It makes the scorpion seem friendly and harmless
B) It shows that scorpions can communicate with humans
C) It gives the scorpion human politeness, making it seem eerily calm and well-mannered — which makes its danger more disturbing
D) It proves the scorpion didn't mean to sting Peony
Question 10 of 10
What does one kind of hurt pushes away the other mean?
A) Peony is being hurt by two different scorpions at the same time
B) The sharp cold pain of the ice replaces the burning pain of the sting — relief comes as a different, more bearable kind of discomfort
C) Mum is deliberately hurting Peony to teach her a lesson
D) The emotional pain of being told off is worse than the physical sting