Final answer:
The sentence employs a simile by comparing the sidewalk to a soapy bathtub, as well as imagery with the phrase 'steady pelting of sleet' to enhance sensory experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence “A steady pelting of sleet made the sidewalk as slippery as a soapy bath tub” contains two types of figurative language: a simile and imagery. A simile is present in the comparison of the sidewalk's slipperiness to a “soapy bath tub” using the word “as”. Additionally, the phrase “steady pelting of sleet” evokes vivid sensory details, which is an example of imagery. This enhances the reader's experience by appealing to their sense of touch and sight, imagining the harshness of the weather and its effect on the sidewalk surface.
The two figurative language used in the sentence are simile and metaphor. A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the words 'as' or 'like'. The sentence compares the sidewalk being as slippery as a soapy bath tube. A metaphor, on the other hand, is a direct comparison between two unlike things without using the words 'as' or 'like'. The sentence portrays the sleet pelting as making the sidewalk slippery like a soapy bath tube.