A metaphor is a poetic device that deals with comparison. It compares similar qualities of two dissimilar objects. With a simple metaphor, one object becomes the other: Love is a rose. Although this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a metaphor can communicate so much about a particular image that poets use them more than any other type of figurative language. The reason for this is that poets compose their poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love to be may or may not be our perception of love. Therefore, the poet’s job is to enable us to experience it, to feel it the same way that the poet does. We should be able to nod in agreement and say, “Yes, that’s it! I understand precisely where this person is coming from.”
Let’s analyze this remarkably unsophisticated metaphor concerning love and the rose to see what it offers. Because the poet uses a comparison with a rose, first we must examine the characteristics of that flower. A rose is spectacular in its beauty, its petals are velvety soft, and its aroma is soothing and pleasing. It’s possible to say that a rose is actually a veritable feast to the senses: the visual, the tactile, and the aural [more commonly known as the senses of sight, touch, and sound]. The rose’s appearance seems to border on perfection, each petal seemingly symmetrical in form. Isn’t this the way one’s love should be? A loved one should be a delight to one’s senses and seem perfect. However, there is another dimension added to the comparison by using a rose. Roses have thorns. This is the comprehensive image the poet wants to communicate; otherwise, a daisy or a mum would have been presented to the audience as the ultimate representation of love—but the poet didn’t, instead conveying the idea that roses can be treacherous. So can love, the metaphor tells us. When one reaches out with absolute trust to touch the object of his or her affection, ouch, a thorn can cause great harm! “Be careful,” the metaphor admonishes: Love is a feast to the senses, but it can overwhelm us, and it can also hurt us. It can prick us and cause acute suffering. This is the poet’s perception of love —an admonition. What is the point? Just this: It took almost 14 sentences to clarify what a simple metaphor communicates in only five words! That is the artistry and the joy of the simple metaphor.
单选题
The main idea of this passage is _____.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】第一段开头介绍了什么是暗喻， 接着第一段后文以及第二段都是对Love is a rose这句话中所运用的暗喻手法的具体分析和阐释。 文章的主题就是暗喻， 只有D项提到了暗喻， 所以只有D项正确。
单选题
It can be inferred that a metaphor is _____.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】由第一段第四句Although this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a metaphor can communicate so much about a particular image that poets use them more than any other type of figurative language.可知， 暗喻可以表达一个特定意象的很多含义， 所以相比其他比喻性语言， 诗人对暗喻的运用更多。 由此可知， 暗喻是比喻性语言的一种。
单选题
According to the passage, thorns _____.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】由第二段后半段内容可知， 玫瑰有刺， 会给人带来伤害， love is a rose这句话将爱比喻成玫瑰， 也蕴含着爱会给人带来伤害的意思。 所以“刺”是爱的另一方面， 即伤害。
单选题
It can be inferred that the true meaning of the love is a rose metaphor is that _____.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】由第二段内容可知， love is a rose蕴含两方面含义， 一方面， 玫瑰美丽、 清香、 柔软， 正如所爱的人会给你带来的那种美好的感觉一样； 另一方面， 玫瑰有刺， 将爱比喻为玫瑰， 也意味着爱会带来伤害。 所以爱既是美好的， 又是伤人的。
单选题
According to the passage, the poet’s intention is_____.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】从第一段The reason for this is that poets compose their poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love to be may or may not be our perception of love. Therefore, the poet’s job is to enable us to experience it, to feel it the same way that the poet does.可以看出， 诗人的工作就是通过诗作引起读者的共鸣， 体会诗人当时的情感。