Test your basic knowledge |

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. Understatement created through double negative






2. Used to link two independent clauses of parallel connection






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






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






5. (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






6. Open - honest communication






7. The building housing lawmakers of a state or nation






8. An attack on an opposing view to weaken - invalidate - or make it less credible






9. 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






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






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






12. A figure of speech






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






14. The commentator does not mean what she writes






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






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






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






18. The perspective from which a story is written






19. Drawing conclusions from insufficient evidence






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






21. One of many subordinating conjunctions






22. 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'






23. A humorous imitation of an original text meant to ridicule - often used in satire






24. 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






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






26. A comparison of two unlike things in order to show or more clearly or in a new way






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






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






29. The speaker or writer's credibility - honesty






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






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






32. A figure of speech in which two contradictory elements are combined for effect - i.e. 'random order'






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






34. Consists of a single independent clause






35. The opposite of an idea used to emphasize a point






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






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






38. Not taking a position






39. A work or poem written to celebrate a wedding






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






41. An exaggeration or overstatement






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






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






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






45. Consists or two or more simple sentences joined by a common and coordinating conjunction - or by a semicolon






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






47. The claim or point that the writer is making






48. Language chosen by the writer






49. One of many prepositions






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