Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

What does personification involve?

1. Giving human traits to inanimate objects or ideas

2. Creating a comparison between two different things

3. Making exaggerated claims

4. Describing a factual event with bias

The correct answer is: Giving human traits to inanimate objects or ideas

Personification involves giving human traits to inanimate objects or abstract ideas, allowing readers to relate to these objects or concepts on a more emotional level. This literary device enhances imagery and can create a stronger connection between the audience and the subject being described. For instance, when a writer describes a tree as "whispering in the wind" or "angry clouds," the use of human characteristics evokes feelings and paints a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The other choices represent different literary devices or techniques. Creating a comparison between two different things describes simile or metaphor, which are distinct from personification. Making exaggerated claims refers to hyperbole, a technique that emphasizes a point through extreme exaggeration rather than human traits. Describing a factual event with bias pertains to perspective and subjectivity in writing, rather than attributing human qualities to non-human entities. Thus, the essence of personification is specifically about that human-like attribution, making the first option the most accurate.