Kentucky Paraeducator Assessment (KPA) Practice Test

What best describes an idiom?

1. A phrase with a literal meaning

2. A type of metaphor unique to one language

3. A fixed expression that conveys a non-literal meaning

4. An informal form of a grammatical structure

The correct answer is: A fixed expression that conveys a non-literal meaning

An idiom is best described as a fixed expression that conveys a non-literal meaning. This means that the phrase cannot be understood merely by evaluating the meanings of the individual words it contains. Instead, idioms take on a unique meaning that is culturally understood by speakers of that language. For example, the idiom "kick the bucket" means to die, which is not evident from the literal meanings of the words "kick" and "bucket." The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what an idiom is. A phrase with a literal meaning does not qualify as an idiom, as idioms inherently involve non-literal meanings. The reference to a type of metaphor unique to one language is somewhat misleading since idioms are not strictly metaphors; they are phrases used in specific contexts that convey figurative meanings universally recognized by speakers of the language. Lastly, describing idioms as an informal form of a grammatical structure does not address their core feature of conveying meaning beyond the scope of the individual words used.