Question

read the poem.
the skaters
black swallows sweeping or gliding
in a flurry of entangled loops and curves;
the skaters skim over the frozen river.
and the grinding click of their skates as they impinge upon the surface,
is like the brushing together of thin wing tips of silver.
(the skaters by john gneat fischer)
which describes the extended metaphor that the poet develops?

1. the poet compares skating to the process of making jewelry.
2. the poet compares skaters to people who are knitting with yarn.
3. the poet compares the motion and sound of skaters to that of birds.
4. the poet compares the figures skaters make to those made by artists.

Explanation:

To determine the extended metaphor, analyze the poem: It describes skaters' motion ("sweeping or gliding... entangled loops and curves") and the sound of their skates ("grinding click... like the brushing together of thin wing - tips of silver") and compares these to birds (black swallows). Option 1 is incorrect as there's no jewelry - making reference. Option 2 is wrong as no knitting is mentioned. Option 4 is incorrect as no artist - made figures are referenced. Option 3 accurately captures the comparison of skaters' motion and sound to that of birds.

Answer:

1. The poet compares the motion and sound of skaters to that of birds.