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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. An exception to a proposed general rule






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






3. 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'






4. An exaggeration or overstatement






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






6. A thing - idea - or person that stands for something else






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






8. Quality in literature that appeals to the audience's emotions






9. Appearing in episodes - a long string of short individual scenes






10. Innocence in perception - lack of worldly knowledge






11. The building housing lawmakers of a state or nation






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






13. Verb in present tense - 'Bettina plays with children'






14. Refers to ascribing emotion and agency to inanimate objects






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






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






17. A line of iambic hexameter; the final line of a Spenserian stanza is alexandrine






18. An indirect attack or insinuation






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






20. Expressly stated






21. A negative statement






22. The verb and its object and modifiers






23. A phrase that refers to a person or object by single important feature of that person or object






24. A reference to something in culture - history or literature that expands the depth of the text that allows the reader to make a 'connection'






25. An example that is particularly apt for the situation at hand






26. Unconjugated verb with 'to' in front of it






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






28. That which comes before; the antecedent of a pronoun is the noun to which the pronoun refers






29. Third person narrator sees and knows all without constraints of time - space. Can digress into contemplative or philosophical forays - often voicing the viewpoint of the author (mostly found in fiction)






30. An interpretation of the facts based on available details






31. A variety of literary devices i.e. - anaphora - repeating






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






33. The use of parallel elements in sentences or in the structure of an essay or prose passage ie - essay consisting of 4 paragraphs - each beginning with a question followed by the answer






34. Can be verified






35. A kind or more gentle word to dilute the meaning in order to evade responsibility for a more disturbing word - i.e. 'passed on' instead of 'died'






36. Information distributed to promote a specific cause usually of a biased or misleading nature






37. The order of words in a sentence - also the types and structures of sentences






38. Simplifying a complex problem into an either or dichotomy






39. Abab cdcd efef gg






40. The juxtaposition of incongruous or conflicting ideas that reveals a truth or insight






41. A narrative or description with a secondary or symbolic meaning underlying the literal meaning






42. Used to introduce a long quotation - list






43. Referring to phrases that suggest an interplay of the senses - ie 'hot pink' or 'golden voice'






44. An error of reasoning based on faulty use of evidence






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






46. To move off point






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






48. A figure of speech






49. The pause that breaks a line of Old English verse






50. Refined taste - tact - the ability to avoid distress or embarrassment