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CLEP College Composition

Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Consists of a single independent clause






2. A work or poem written to celebrate a wedding






3. A preference or inclination - especially one that inhibits impartial judgment






4. Essay that presents information about two or more things - events - or ideas in order to compare them






5. Further information about the subject (predicate must contain the verb)






6. An explanatory reference at the bottom of a page of text






7. Humorous or ironic statement not meant to be taken literally






8. Helping verb (often be - have - or do) - i.e. 'I am working on it'






9. A phrase that refers to a person or object by a single important feature - ie 'the pen is mightier than the sword'






10. The ordinary - everyday speech of a region






11. A verb acting as a noun - usually 'ing' form of the verb






12. Essay that presents information in order of occurrence - or sequence of events






13. An indirect attack or insinuation






14. Vowel rhyme






15. A rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable - i.e. know and snow






16. An event or experience that causes disappointment because it is less exciting than what was expected






17. Clever use of language to amuse the reader - but more to make a point






18. To illustrate how a claim can be true in some ways and false in others






19. The work is narrated using a name or third person pronoun ie - he - she - etc.






20. Verb used to express conditional or counterfactual statements - i.e. 'If I were rich'






21. (1) a short poetic nickname; (2) a term used to describe the name or title of a person -ie 'The Great Emancipator' for Abraham Lincoln; (3) an abusive slur






22. Essay that presents information in order of importance - either most important to least important or vice versa






23. Not taking a position






24. A group of words acting as a noun - i.e. 'Playing the guitar is extremely difficult'






25. Refers to ascribing emotion and agency to inanimate objects






26. Short narrative of an amusing - unusual - revealing or interesting event






27. The perspective from which a story is written






28. ... - used to indicate omission of words or letters






29. Neoclassical principles of drama






30. Type of faulty reasoning in which the writer attempts to support a statement by repeating the statement in different or stronger language






31. Language that is not meant to be taken literally - such as metaphor - simile - personification - metonymy






32. A verb used for issuing commands - 'Do it now!'






33. An explosion of harsh language that usually vilifies or condemns an idea






34. The speaker or writer's credibility - honesty






35. Example - I think that your sweater is lovely






36. Acronym for basic elements of nonfictional text - speaker - occasion - audience - purpose - subject - tone






37. An interpretation of the facts based on available details






38. A speaker directly addresses something or someone not living - that cannot answer back






39. Descriptive language to evoke the senses






40. Vague - not easily defined






41. Expressed of direct address - i.e. 'Sit - Bettina - sit!'






42. Ideas or things that can mean many things to many people - such as peace - honor






43. Third-person narrator tells another's story using third-person pronouns






44. Reasoning by which a general statement is reached on the basis of particular examples






45. Essay that presents information about a problem followed by a description of one or more solutions






46. A figure of speech in which sharply contrasting ideas are juxtaposed in a balanced or parallel phrase or grammatical structure - i.e. 'to err is human; to forgive - divine'






47. A type of literature that exposes idiocy - corruption - or other human folly - through humor - exaggeration - irony






48. A derogatory term used to described poorly written poetry of little or no literary value






49. Example - this white wine goes well with this fish






50. The commentator does not mean what she writes