Read the passage. a 40-ton creature, spinning around and around in the water, was coming right at my boat. we could hear its fins slapping the water with each revolution. the brute exhaled, and salty water sprayed us before it dove again. the sight of its tail flashing past and barely missing the boat sent shivers down my spine. when it came to the surface again, we could have counted the barnacles on its enormous head. what type of animal is the writer describing? a. shark b. seal c. penguin d. whale

A whale. (because of the weight, the fins, the fact that it sprayed salty water and the barnacles on the head)

The answer would be a whale. A penguin is out because it has no tail to splash with. Plus, only a whale would be 40 tons and have barnacles on it.

the use of “as” in the example to draw the resemblance. some more examples of common similes are given below. common examples of simile. our soldiers are as brave as lions. her cheeks are red like a rose. he is as funny as a monkey. the water well was as dry as a bone. he is as cunning as a fox. simile introduces vividness into what we say.