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






2. A negative statement






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






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






5. A saying or expression that proposes to tell the truth






6. Abbaabba cdecde or abbaabba cdcdcd






7. One of many conjunctive adverbs






8. Words whose sounds mimic their meaning - buzz - woof






9. To make fun of






10. To give human attributes or qualities to something nonliving or nonhuman






11. Neoclassical principles of drama






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






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






14. The speaker or writer's credibility - honesty






15. Quiet reflection upon a topic






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






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






18. Lines rhymed by their final two syllables - i.e. running and gunning






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






20. The act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form; seeing things as they could be






21. An interpretation of the facts based on available details






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






23. Essay that presents information about the causes of some known or likely outcome - how different causes contribute to the outcome






24. Essay that presents information in order of specificity - beginning with a general theme and focuses on a specific topic of interest - often the 5 paragraph essay






25. 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'






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






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






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






29. Vague - not easily defined






30. 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






31. Not taking a position






32. Simplifying a complex problem into an either or dichotomy






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






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






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






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






37. The assigning of human attributes - such as emotions or physical characteristics - to nonhumans - usually plants or animals. Differs from personification in that it is a pattern applied to a nonhuman character throughout the entire literary work






38. An exception to a proposed general rule






39. Combines a compound sentence with a complex sentence






40. Innocence in perception - lack of worldly knowledge






41. A comic tool of satire - ridiculous exaggeration or distortion






42. One of many subordinating conjunctions






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






44. The commentator does not mean what she writes






45. Observable - measurable - easily perceived






46. Can be verified






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






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






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






50. Language chosen by the writer