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Question

Difficulty: EasyFigurative Language and Figures of Speech in Context

Read the passage excerpt below:

"When the school board announced that Mr. Okafor was retiring after forty years of dedicated service, the principal remarked that the veteran teacher had 'given his youth to the chalk face'."

What does the figurative expression "given his youth to the chalk face" mean in the context of the passage?

  1. Spent his early adulthood working continuously as a classroom teacherAnswer
  2. B
    Worked in chalk mining and manual labor during his younger days
  3. C
    Studied for many years to qualify as a school principal
  4. D
    Faced severe financial hardship throughout his early career

Answer

Spent his early adulthood working continuously as a classroom teacher
The phrase 'chalk face' is a metaphorical expression referring to the active, front-line work of teaching in a classroom (where chalk is used on a blackboard). Therefore, 'giving his youth to the chalk face' means spending his younger adult years working actively as a teacher.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the figurative expression in the passage context
The expression 'given his youth to the chalk face' describes Mr. Okafor's forty years of service.
The passage context establishes his long career as a teacher.
2
Analyze the figurative meaning of 'chalk face'
'Chalk face' is a metaphor derived from a teacher using chalk at a classroom board.
It symbolizes front-line classroom instruction.
3
Deduce the complete contextual meaning
Giving his youth to the chalk face means devoting his early adult life and energy to classroom teaching.
This directly aligns with the context of forty years of dedicated service.

Key Concept

Interpreting Metaphorical Expressions in Context
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Figurative Language and Figures of Speech in Context

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