These stimuli were used in the following experiment:
GERNSBACHER, M.A., KEYSAR, B., ROBERTSON, R. R. W., & WERNER, N.K. (2001). The role of suppression and enhancement in understanding metaphors. Journal of Memory and Language, 45, 433-450. [View PDF]
This is an experiment about how people comprehend sentences. This is NOT a test of your intelligence or personality. In this experiment, you will be asked to read and understand a list of sentences. For each sentence, you should decide whether or not the sentence makes sense. For example, the sentence, Journeys can be expensive and time consuming. makes sense. In contrast, the sentence, Journeys can be used to cook tuna casserole. does not make any sense.
After each sentence, you should respond by pressing the YES key if the sentence makes sense, or by pressing the NO key if the sentence does not make sense. So, you should press the YES key after sentences like Journeys can be expensive and time consuming. You should press the NO key after sentences like Journeys can be used to cook tuna casserole.
Remember, we want you to make a judgment about whether the sentences make sense or not. In this experiment, many of the sentences are metaphorical. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word suggests a likeness or analogy between two things. For example, when we say, My mother says that my little brother is a pig. we do not mean that he is literally a pig, we mean that there are similarities between my little brother and a pig. Therefore, this sentence makes sense. When you read a sentence like this, you should press the YES key. On the contrary, a sentence like, My mother says that my little brother is a desk. does not make sense, because there are no similarities between my little brother and a desk. They are not metaphorically related. So when you read a sentence like this, you should press the NO key.
Let’s go through a few more examples.
When interrogated by the police, the thief was a clam.
For the sentence: When interrogated by the police, the thief was a clam. You should have pressed the “yes” key to indicate this sentence made sense because clam is metaphorically related to how a thief might act when he/she is being interrogated. You can imagine that a thief would not talk and act closed up like a clam.
The clown was a candle.
For the sentence: The clown was a candle. You should have pressed the “no” key because this sentence does not make sense. There is not even a metaphorical relation between clown and candle.
Toddlers have a lot of energy.
For that sentence: Toddlers have a lot of energy. You should have pressed the “yes” key to indicate this sentence made sense. It is not a metaphor but the sentence does make sense.
Now we are going to try some practice sentences so you can get a better idea of what the task is. After each practice sentence, you will see whether you were CORRECT or WRONG. You will see NO ANSWER if you do not press a key within five seconds. This feedback is only to help you during the practice sentences. In the actual experiment, you will not be told whether you were correct or wrong, but the computer will know.
Practice Sentences:
That puddle in the street is a mango.
Lighthouses are found on the coast.
Life is a journey.
Journeys take you somewhere.
That two story house is a pinking shear.
Pinking shears are used to walk on grass.
Hope is the light at the end of a tunnel.
Bandages give great speeches at banquets.
Death is the period at the end of a sentence.
A period signals closure.
The overalls on the shelf are a theater.
Debates are eaten with ketchup and mustard.
An envelope is a jockey.
Bracelets are round and decorative.
The dust in her apartment is a blanket.
Blankets are a common ingredient in salads.
Now we are ready to begin the experiment. Since we are timing your responses, please try to respond as quickly as possible. However, do not respond so quickly that you make errors. Remember, if you haven’t responded in five seconds, the next sentence will automatically appear. Also, during this task, please use the hand that you normally write with to press the keys.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask the experimenter now. If you do not have any questions and you would like to continue with this experiment, please sign and date the informed consent form.
EXPERIMENTALS
(48 YES-YES)
Met=Metaphor
Neut=Neutral
Rel=Related Fact
Un=Unrelated Fact
1) Met: That mosquito is a vampire.
Rel: Vampires suck blood.
Met: That mosquito is a vampire.
Un: Vampires wear black.
Neut: That boy’s brain is a computer.
Rel: Vampires suck blood.
Neut: That boy’s brain is a computer.
Un: Vampires wear black.
25) Met: That boy’s brain is a computer.
Rel: Computers calculate very quickly.
Met: That boy’s brain is a computer.
Un: Computers are sold worldwide.
Neut: That mosquito is a vampire.
Rel: Computers calculate very quickly.
Neut: That mosquito is a vampire.
Un: Computers are sold worldwide.
2) Met: That woman at the payroll desk is a crab.
Rel: Crabs snap at people for no reason.
Met: That woman at the payroll desk is a crab.
Un: Crabs live in the sea.
Neut: That man plowing the field is a horse.
Rel: Crabs snap at people for no reason.
Neut: That man plowing the field is a horse.
Un: Crabs live in the sea.
26) Met: That man plowing the field is a horse.
Rel: Horses are strong.
Met: That man plowing the field is a horse.
Un: Horses eat hay.
Neut: That woman at the payroll desk is a crab.
Rel: Horses are strong.
Neut: That woman at the payroll desk is a crab.
Un: Horses eat hay.
3) Met: The bad news was an earthquake.
Rel: Earthquakes upset people.
Met: The bad news was an earthquake.
Un: Earthquakes shake buildings.
Neut: That criminal’s fingerprint was a portrait.
Rel: Earthquakes upset people.
Neut: That criminal’s fingerprint was a portrait.
Un: Earthquakes shake buildings.
27) Met: That criminal’s fingerprint was a portrait.
Rel: Portraits are a way to identify a person.
Met: That criminal’s fingerprint was a portrait.
Un: Portraits of famous people hang in galleries.
Neut: The bad news was an earthquake.
Rel: Portraits are a way to identify a person.
Neut: The bad news was an earthquake.
Un: Portraits of famous people hang in galleries.
4) Met: Her former husband was a gem.
Rel: Gems are precious.
Met: Her former husband was a gem.
Un: Gems are stones.
Neut: Her final exam was a bear.
Rel: Gems are precious.
Neut: Her final exam was a bear.
Un: Gems are stones.
28) Met: Her final exam was a bear.
Rel: Bears are tough.
Met: Her final exam was a bear.
Un: Bears are large mammals.
Neut: Her former husband was a gem.
Rel: Bears are tough.
Neut: Her former husband was a gem.
Un: Bears are large mammals.
5) Met: My mother says that birds are airplanes.
Rel: Airplanes have wings.
Met: My mother says that birds are airplanes.
Un: Airplanes have engines.
Neut: My mother says that babies cheeks are roses.
Rel: Airplanes have wings.
Neut: My mother says that babies cheeks are roses.
Un: Airplanes have engines.
29) Met: My mother says that babies cheeks are ros es.
Rel: Roses are often red.
Met: My mother says that babies cheeks are roses.
Un: Roses have thorns.
Neut: My mother says that birds are airplanes.
Rel: Roses are often red.
Neut: My mother says that birds are airplanes.
Un: Roses have thorns.
6) Met: In old age, her memory was a sieve.
Rel: Sieves have holes.
Met: In old age, her memory was a sieve.
Un: Sieves separate particles.
Neut: In the afternoon, his kindergarten class was a zoo.
Rel: Sieves have holes.
Neut: In the afternoon, his kindergarten class was a zoo.
Un: Sieves separate particles.
30) Met: In the afternoon, his kindergarten class was a zoo.
Rel: Zoos are noisy and messy.
Met: In the afternoon, his kindergarten class was a zoo.
Un: Zoos are expensive to maintain.
Neut: In old age, her memory was a sieve.
Rel: Zoos are noisy and messy.
Neut: In old age, her memory was a sieve.
Un: Zoos are expensive to maintain.
7) Met: That Jalapeño pepper is fire.
Rel: Fire is very hot.
Met: That Jalapeño pepper is fire.
Un: Fire requires oxygen.
Neut: That gangly teenager is a rail.
Rel: Fire is very hot.
Neut: That gangly teenager is a rail.
Un: Fire requires oxygen.
31) Met: That gangly teenager is a rail.
Rel: Rails are thin.
Met: That gangly teenager is a rail.
Un: Rails are made of metal.
Neut: That Jalapeño pepper is fire.
Rel: Rails are thin.
Neut: That Jalapeño pepper is fire.
Un: Rails are made of metal.
8 ) Met: Her bedroom is a dump.
Rel: Dumps are full of junk.
Met: Her bedroom is a dump.
Un: Dumps are located outside.
Neut: Her mother is a mule.
Rel: Dumps are full of junk.
Neut: Her mother is a mule.
Un: Dumps are located outside.
32) Met: Her mother is a mule.
Rel: Mules are very stubborn.
Met: Her mother is a mule.
Un: Mules have four legs.
Neut: Her bedroom is a dump.
Rel: Mules are very stubborn.
Neut: Her bedroom is a dump.
Un: Mules have four legs.
9) Met: That young boy is a shrimp.
Rel: Shrimp are very small.
Met: That young boy is a shrimp.
Un: Shrimp are ocean dwellers.
Neut: That new boss is a breath of fresh air.
Rel: Shrimp are very small.
Neut: That new boss is a breath of fresh air.
Un: Shrimp are ocean dwellers.
33) Met: That new boss is a breath of fresh air.
Rel: Fresh air can be rejuvenating.
Met: That new boss is a breath of fresh air.
Un: Fresh air comes from the outdoors.
Neut: That young boy is a shrimp.
Rel: Fresh air can be rejuvenating.
Neut: That young boy is a shrimp.
Un: Fresh air comes from the outdoors.
10) Met: When tossed, confetti can be a fireworks display.
Rel: Fireworks are colorful and celebratory.
Met: When tossed, confetti can be a fireworks display.
Un: Fireworks require ignition.
Neut: When waiting for someone, time can be a snail.
Rel: Fireworks are colorful and celebratory.
Neut: When waiting for someone, time can be a snail.
Un: Fireworks require ignition.
34) Met: When waiting for someone, time can be a snail.
Rel: Snails move slowly.
Met: When waiting for someone, time can be a snail.
Un: Snails are animals that live in shells.
Neut: When tossed, confetti can be a fireworks display.
Rel: Snails move slowly.
Neut: When tossed, confetti can be a fireworks display.
Un: Snails are animals that live in shells.
11) Met: That new student is a clown.
Rel: Clowns like to make people laugh.
Met: That new student is a clown.
Un: Clowns wear red balls on their noses.
Neut: That defense lawyer is a shark.
Rel: Clowns like to make people laugh.
Neut: That defense lawyer is a shark.
Un Clowns wear red balls on their noses.
35) Met: That defense lawyer is a shark.
Rel: Sharks are tenacious.
Met: That defense lawyer is a shark.
Un: Sharks are good swimmers.
Neut: That new student is a clown.
Rel: Sharks are tenacious.
Neut: That new student is a clown.
Un: Sharks are good swimmers.
12) Met: That tiny mountain lake is a mirror.
Rel: Mirrors are reflective.
Met: That tiny mountain lake is a mirror.
Un: Mirrors break easily.
Neut: That math course is a joke.
Rel: Mirrors are reflective.
Neut: That math course is a joke.
Un: Mirrors break easily.
36) Met: That math course is a joke.
Rel: Jokes are not taken seriously.
Met: That math course is a joke.
Un: Jokes are told by comedians.
Neut: That tiny mountain lake is a mirror.
Rel: Jokes are not taken seriously.
Neut: That tiny mountain lake is a mirror.
Un: Jokes are told by comedians.
13) Met: My brother says my voice is a siren.
Rel: Sirens are loud and annoying.
Met: My brother says my voice is a siren.
Un: Sirens are found on fire trucks.
Neut: My brother says the planet Earth is a ball.
Rel: Sirens are loud and annoying.
Neut: My brother says the planet Earth is a ball.
Un: Sirens are found on fire trucks.
37) Met: My brother says the planet Earth is a ball.
Rel: Balls are round.
Met: My brother says the planet Earth is a ball.
Un: Balls are toys.
Neut: My brother says my voice can be a siren.
Rel: Balls are round.
Neut: My brother says my voice can be a siren.
Un: Balls are toys.
14) Met: My husband’s twelve-speed bicycle is a rocket.
Rel: Rockets go very fast.
Met: My husband’s twelve-speed bicycle is a rocket.
Un: Rockets need a lot of fuel.
Neut: My husband’s unshaven face is sandpaper.
Rel: Rockets go very fast.
Neut: My husband’s unshaven face is sandpaper.
Un: Rockets need a lot of fuel.
38) Met: My husband’s unshaven face is sandpaper.
Rel: Sandpaper is rough and coarse.
Met: My husband’s unshaven face is sandpaper.
Un: Sandpaper is used in workshops.
Neut: My husband’s twelve-speed bicycle is a rocket.
Rel: Sandpaper is rough and coarse.
Neut: My husband’s twelve-speed bicycle is a rocket.
Un: Sandpaper is used in workshops.
15) Met: His studio in the winter is a refrigerator.
Rel: Refrigerators are cold.
Met: His studio in the winter is a refrigerator.
Un: Refrigerators are appliances.
Neut: His soothing music is medicine.
Rel: Refrigerators are cold.
Neut: His soothing music is medicine.
Un: Refrigerators are appliances.
39) Met: His soothing music is medicine.
Rel: Medicine makes people feel better.
Met: His soothing music is medicine.
Un: Medicine is often prescribed by doctors.
Neut: His studio in the winter is a refrigerator.
Rel: Medicine makes people feel better.
Neut: His studio in the winter is a refrigerator.
Un: Medicine is often prescribed by doctors.
16) Met: His late afternoon hunger is a lion.
Rel: Lions can be overpowering.
Met: His late afternoon hunger is a lion.
Un: Lions have big, hairy manes.
Neut: His history teacher is an encyclopedia.
Rel: Lions can be overpowering.
Neut: His history teacher is an encyclopedia.
Un: Lions have big, hairy manes.
40) Met: His history teacher is an encyclopedia.
Rel: Encyclopedias contain a lot of information.
Met: His history teacher is an encyclopedia.
Un: Encyclopedias are alphabetized.
Neut: His late afternoon hunger is a lion.
Rel: Encyclopedias contain a lot of information.
Neut: His late afternoon hunger is a lion.
Un: Encyclopedias are alphabetized.
17) Met: When sleeping, her eyelids are window shades.
Rel: Window shades block light.
Met: When sleeping, her eyelids are window shades.
Un: Window shades cover glass.
Neut: When weightlifting, his arms are steel.
Rel: Window shades block light.
Neut: When weightlifting, his arms are steel.
Un: Window shades cover glass.
41) Met: When weightlifting, his arms are steel.
Rel: Steel is strong.
Met: When weightlifting, his arms are steel.
Un: Steel is used in construction.
Neut: When sleeping, her eyelids are window shades.
Rel: Steel is strong.
Neut: When sleeping, her eyelids are window shades.
Un: Steel is used in construction.
18) Met: The lightning which struck down the old oak tree was a knife.
Rel: Knives can be dangerous.
Met: The lightning which struck down the old oak tree was a knife.
Un: Knives can spread butter.
Neut: The boy in the corner of the room was a mouse.
Rel: Knives can be dangerous.
Neut: The boy in the corner of the room was a mouse.
Un: Knives can spread butter.
42) Met: The boy in the corner of the room was a mouse.
Rel: A mouse is very quiet.
Met: The boy in the corner of the room was a mouse.
Un: A mouse is a rodent.
Neut: The lightning which struck down the old oak tree was a knife.
Rel: A mouse is very quiet.
Neut: The lightning which struck down the old oak tree was a knife.
Un: A mouse is a rodent.
19) Met: My daughter’s surgeon is a butcher.
Rel: Butchers use knives.
Met: My daughter’s surgeon is a butcher.
Un: Butchers sell meat.
Neut: My daughter’s smile is sunshine.
Rel: Butchers use knives.
Neut: My daughter’s smile is sunshine.
Un: Butchers sell meat.
43) Met: My daughter’s smile is sunshine.
Rel: Sunshine makes people happy.
Met: My daughter’s smile is sunshine.
Un: Sunshine can cause sunburns.
Neut: My daughter’s surgeon is a butcher.
Rel: Sunshine makes people happy.
Neut: My daughter’s surgeon is a butcher.
Un: Sunshine can cause sunburns.
20) Met: That man’s unflinching gaze is ice.
Rel: Ice is cold.
Met: That man’s unflinching gaze is ice.
Un: Ice is slippery.
Neut: That cat’s fur is velvet.
Rel: Ice is cold.
Neut: That cat’s fur is velvet.
Un: Ice is slippery.
44) Met: That cat’s fur is velvet.
Rel: Velvet is soft.
Met: That cat’s fur is velvet.
Un: Velvet is fabric.
Neut: That man’s unflinching gaze is ice.
Rel: Velvet is soft.
Neut: That man’s unflinching gaze is ice.
Un: Velvet is fabric.
21) Met: That pregnant woman is a duck.
Rel: Ducks waddle when walking.
Met: That pregnant woman is a duck.
Un: Ducks have beaks.
Neut: That senator is a fossil.
Rel: Ducks waddle when walking.
Neut: That senator is a fossil.
Un: Ducks have beaks.
45) Met: That senator is a fossil.
Rel: Fossils are old.
Met: That senator is a fossil.
Un: Fossils are dug up by scientists.
Neut: That pregnant woman is a duck.
Rel: Fossils are old.
Neut: That pregnant woman is a duck.
Un: Fossils are dug up by scientists.
22) Met: My sister says that happiness is gold.
Rel: Gold is worth a lot.
Met: My sister says that happiness is gold.
Un: Gold is yellow.
Neut: That cheering crowd is thunder.
Rel: Gold is worth a lot.
Neut: That cheering crowd is thunder.
Un: Gold is yellow.
46) Met: That cheering crowd is thunder.
Rel: Thunder is loud.
Met: That cheering crowd is thunder.
Un: Thunder accompanies storms.
Neut: My sister says that happiness is gold.
Rel: Thunder is loud.
Neut: My sister says that happiness is gold.
Un: Thunder accompanies storms.
23) Met: His marriage is a short leash.
Rel: Leashes are restraining.
Met: His marriage is a short leash.
Un: Leashes are used for dogs.
Neut: The dancer is a swan.
Rel: Leashes are restraining.
Neut: The dancer is a swan.
Un: Leashes are used for dogs.
47) Met: The dancer is a swan.
Rel: Swans are graceful.
Met: The dancer is a swan.
Un: Swans are feathered.
Neut: His marriage is a short leash.
Rel: Swans are graceful.
Neut: His marriage is a short leash.
Un: Swans are feathered.
24) Met: My old car is a boat.
Rel: Boats are large.
Met: My old car is a boat.
Un: Boats float in the water.
Neut: My grandmother is a peach.
Rel: Boats are large.
Neut: My grandmother is a peach.
Un: Boats float in the water.
48) Met: My grandmother is a peach.
Rel: Peaches are sweet.
Met: My grandmother is a peach.
Un: Peaches grow on trees.
Neut: My old car is a boat.
Rel: Peaches are sweet.
Neut: My old car is a boat.
Un: Peaches grow on trees.
FILLERS
48 No-No Fillers
1. Her corner in the basement is a bulb.
Saddles are only found in bath tubs.
2. The receipt in her wallet is a hunter.
Avalanches are made by practicing.
3. The sheep in the barn was a knob.
Circuits are popular items to spell.
4. Computer disks are needed for hunting animals.
Riding carousels involves making tidal waves.
5. My radiologist in the clinic is a pineapple.
Elections are a way to clean your linen.
6. At the party, his squid was a love seat.
Whirlpools are used to make lockers.
7. The schoolgirl’s homework is a banana.
Lagoons are always placed in coffee cups.
8. My mother’s home-made pizza is a couch.
Shingles can be seen driving on the highway.
9. The rolodex on her desk is a water ski.
Tape decks are made by washing machines.
10. The child’s begging is a cup of mud.
Gutters help shuffle papers together.
11. That photograph of our family is a turtle.
Slacks give aspirins to watermelons.
12. The nachos were closets.
Magic markers are found in people’s belly buttons.
13. Vegetables at the market are night lights.
Gauze helps people go to the moon.
14. Her portable phone is a Ferris wheel.
Golf clubs show people how to panhandle.
15. Her mouth is a box of noodles.
Candles can be used to give birth to diplomats.
16. That woman’s foot was a chocolate chip.
Calendars are accessories for car trunks.
17. Her jersey is a toll booth.
Libraries distribute hamburgers.
18. The majorette’s skill is a dandelion.
Melons are sources of confusion and delay.
19. My little brother’s scar is a flotation device.
Tambourines are used to tell time.
20. Her forty-first birthday was a gum wrapper.
File cabinets are the best places to roller skate.
21. That man’s babbling was a rib.
Ribs take naps in the afternoons.
22. That professor was a blue canoe.
Surfboards are found in acorns.
23. His eggplant is a pair of sweatpants.
Candy burrows into the ground.
24. The bluebird’s singing was an apartment.
Hair clips pity the angry fellow.
25. Her tuna fish sandwich was a trombone.
Trombones are made from parachutes.
26. Boiling water in the kettle is a diaper.
Diapers go on fishing trips.
27. That hymn is a turnip.
Turnips have four arms.
28. That bench on the porch was an editor.
Editors are built by carpenters.
29. His toaster is a sunset.
Sunsets build nests in fall.
30. The wrinkle on her hand is a hornet.
Hornets make excellent cheese curds.
31. Her squash was a drill.
Drills record jingles for commercials.
32. When she played the organ, the woman was a prairie.
Prairies barbecue pork chops for dinner.
33. The cabinet in the kitchen is a banjo.
Banjos need suntan lotion.
34. My 3-D poster was a stick.
Sticks come when you call them.
35. His broken toe was an iron.
Irons make change at restaurants.
36. That child’s bed was a manicure.
Manicures hide in forests.
37. That card game was a picket fence.
Fences are made of lime Jell-O.
38. The cash register was an army captain.
Captains need oil changes.
39. When she unfolded it, the map was a chicken.
Chickens are good astronauts.
40. That glass case is a prune.
Prunes milk cows.
41. Her science homework is a thumbtack.
Thumbtacks are used for entertaining.
42. His new zip code is an olive.
Olives pretend to be utensils.
43. The alumnus was a small white rabbit.
Bedspreads meet journalists in their houses.
44. The newly decorated lobby is a belt.
Belts make sketches of the scenery.
45. His bass drum was a key.
Keys polish silverware.
46. That concert is a gear.
Gears get rashes in the summer.
47. Her green balloon was a pumpkin.
Pumpkins find lost children at parties.
48. That library card is a lamb.
Lambs throw peanuts at elephants.
48 Yes-No Fillers
24 Yes-No Metaphorical
1. That little girl’s excited face is the sun.
The sun is a popular vacation spot.
2. My first true love was a shy blossom.
Blossoms are sixty years old.
3. The youngster’s incessant crying was a squeaky violin.
Violins can throw footballs.
4. That woman’s straw hat is a roof.
A roof is where the hospital is.
5. Responsibility is a shackle.
Shackles are angry people.
6. That young woman’s lovely voice is a song.
Songs can be found inside a fork.
7. That greedy politician is a weasel.
Weasels are very likely to shop for dresses.
8. My Irish friend’s hair is a flame.
Flames can cool people off.
9. That four-hour opera was a sedative.
Sedatives need to be moved frequently.
10. My friend’s wardrobe is a box of crayons.
Crayons are often eaten for lunch.
11. My father’s dead-end job is a jail.
Jails are used for shopping for the holidays.
12. When you are young, days are sand through the hourglass.
Hourglasses are used to store hampers.
13. His over-worked father is a machine.
Machines drive lasagna dinners.
14. His kindhearted girlfriend is an angel.
Angels are made of car windows.
15. Her childhood was a bowl of cherries.
Cherries have fun running marathons.
16. A summer sunrise is heaven.
Heaven is where one buys coffee grinders.
17. The security guard at the palace was a statue.
Statues can be used to walk an iguana.
18. My teen-aged friend’s make-up is paint.
Paint helps in hail storms.
19. That man’s life is a movie.
Movies are fun to take to the barnyard.
20. For a young couple, wedding vows are a staple.
Staples hold fingernails together.
21. My aunt’s health problems are a time bomb.
Bombs are special anniversary gifts.
22. The papers all over the secretary’s desk are a flood.
Floods always annoy pot roasts.
23. That campus is a maze.
Mazes are good places to find ladles.
24. The way my three-year-old grandson gets dressed is a dance.
Dances are fun to throw at globes.
24 Yes-No Neutral
1. That congressman is a fruitcake.
Axes are easy to read.
2. My teacher says that books are sanctuaries.
Hallways drink lemonade.
3. In the summer, the clouds are cotton.
Pencils often eat cookies.
4. His newborn niece is a doll.
Slides eat soup.
5. That car salesman is a vulture.
Potato chips make good decorations.
6. That runner is a cheetah.
Toxins make good school administrators.
7. His stomach is a bottomless pit.
Vans are good fluids.
8. My brother says that his in-laws are leeches.
Pamphlets bike to Saudi Arabia.
9. That woman’s kiss was poison.
Sodas play baseball.
10. His new truck is a lemon.
Wallpaper vacuums rugs.
11. Farmers say that roosters are clocks.
Cameras drive trucks.
12. When the boss is on vacation, the office is a playground.
Bow ties are a sales tax on imports.
13. My mother says that excuses are shields.
Posters are used to scale walls.
14. After the performance her eyes were saucers.
Pie dies at an early age.
15. That hairdresser is a magician.
Purses often eat steak.
16. The basketball player’s legs were springs.
Bottles wear costly jewelry.
17. My father is a teddybear.
Sheets fly commercial jets.
18. After she ran the race her legs were rubber.
Sofas work in department stores.
19. The dentist said that the man’s teeth were pearls.
Rivers come in Kleenex boxes.
20. My brother says that the dorm rules are strait jackets.
Bobsleds do makeovers at the mall.
21. When he is depressed, his therapist is a cushion.
Radios swim in the lake.
22. When my sister is angry, her words are swords.
Erasers send gifts to cranberries.
23. A young mind is a sponge.
Soccer balls are good tour guides.
24. Her home in the country is an island.
Deadbolts can melt ice cream.
48 NO-YES FILLERS
1. The squirrel in the apple tree is a tent.
Mathematicians are intelligent.
2. That apple was a minister.
Tennis players need rackets.
3. Her cauliflower was a consultant.
Consultants are paid a lot of money.
4. The squirrel in the apple tree is a tent.
Mathematicians are intelligent.
5. Her trained pet is a lampshade.
Lampshades are found in living rooms.
6. His rich clothes are a can opener.
Cars run on gasoline.
7. The punctuation mark on the page was a ruby.
Rubies are red.
8. That frosted cupcake is a faucet.
Treehouses are built for children.
9. Her English notebook is a cliff.
Cliffs are very steep.
10. My friend says that rocks are grocery carts.
German shepherds are a type of dog.
11. My co-worker said the taco he had for lunch was a blizzard.
Blizzards often occur in winter.
12. His left thumb is a biscuit.
Dollars are currency.
13. At the hardware store, shelves are blueberries.
Blueberries are a kind of fruit.
14. My old grandfather clock is a permit.
Turntables are used to play records.
15. My cereal bowl is a pitchfork.
Pitchforks are found on farms.
16. That children’s fairy tale is a cord.
Sandwiches are made with bread.
17. The basement door is a sermon.
Sermons are heard at church.
18. That beer bottle is a pear.
Sparrows are birds.
19. My cork collection is a bus.
Buses are used to travel.
20. His short story was a curfew.
Fanatics are people.
21. Popcorn sold at the theater is a Disney cartoon.
Cartoons are on television.
22. The rocking chair was a cleaver.
Deserts are dry and dusty.
23. My black coffee was a dictionary.
Dictionaries define words.
24. That fraternity member is an orange.
Puppets amuse children.
25. Her smelly socks are measuring spoons.
Measuring spoons are used when cooking.
26. My sewing kit in the drawer was a pogo stick.
Tigers have stripes.
27. His helicopter was a paper towel.
Paper towels clean up messes.
28. That popsicle is a girdle.
Ships carry cargo.
29. That masking tape on the floor is a garbage can.
Garbage cans are full of trash.
30. My neighbor’s Volvo in the driveway is a book end.
Bleach makes clothes white.
31. That moving escalator was a play.
Plays are produced in theaters.
32. My new telephone number is a goat.
Bakers make pastries.
33. The dishwashing liquid was a hammer.
Hammers are tools.
34. The salt shaker was an editorial.
Chipmunks are small creatures.
35. That day planner is a cucumber.
Cucumbers are used in salads.
36. Her milkshake in the blender was a terrace.
Redwoods grow in California.
37. Her scissors were earmuffs.
Earmuffs keep your ears warm.
38. The skating rink was a generation.
Bar mitzvahs are ceremonies.
39. The marble vase was a paper clip.
Paper clips are school supplies.
40. His tractor was a deputy.
Spider webs cling to staircases.
41. That soldier’s salute was a barrette.
Barrettes are worn in hair.
42. The pool table was a waffle.
Contracts are legal documents.
43. Her work schedule was a donut.
Donuts are good in the morning.
44. Chinese food is a splash.
Carpets cover floors.
45. Her boat’s colorful sail was a lecture.
Lectures are attended by students.
46. The friendly puppy is a memorandum.
Cannonballs are old weapons.
47. That stingray was a poker game.
Poker games require cards.
48. The water in the glass is an evergreen.
Bulls have horns.