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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. A statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting






2. Descriptive language to evoke the senses






3. Combines a compound sentence with a complex sentence






4. An indirect attack or insinuation






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






6. A figure of speech in the form of a question posed for persuasive effect without the expectation of a reply






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






8. Main idea of an essay - what the writer hope to prove is true






9. Refers to the way the writer lets readers know what will be discussed - a framing statement gives the reader some sense of what to expect






10. Drawing conclusions from insufficient evidence






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






12. Basically an 'either or' situation - typically a moral decision






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






14. The main character who opposes the protagonist - usually the villain






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






16. Neoclassical principles of drama






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






18. The work is narrated by the person 'I' - who can also be the protagonist - omniscient speaker. There can be multiple narrators of the same work






19. Condemn by seeming to offer praise - ie 'well - I could not have done better myself'






20. One of many prepositions






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






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






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






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






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






26. Innocence in perception - lack of worldly knowledge






27. One of many subordinating conjunctions






28. Knowledge based on experience or observation - the view that experience - especially of the senses - is the only source of knowledge






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






30. A metaphor using 'like' or 'as' in the comparison






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






32. Observable - measurable - easily perceived






33. An interpretation of the facts based on available details






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






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






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






37. Comparison of two things that are similar in several respects in order to prove a point or clarify an idea






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






39. Essay pattern in which the writer shows the immediate and underlying causes that led to an event or situation






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






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






42. Rarely used - the writer uses the pronoun 'you' making the reader an active participant in the work






43. To make fun of






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






45. 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






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






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






48. An exception to a proposed general rule






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






50. 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