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CSET English Reading Understanding Text

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. Rhyming that occurs within a single line






2. Eight feet per line of poetry






3. A significant word - phrase - idea - description - or other element repeated throughout a literary work and related to the theme






4. A metrical foot; /_ (stressed - unstressed)






5. A philosophy that values human freedom and personal responsibility. Writers include: Jean - Paul Sartre - Kierkegaard - Camus - Nietzsche - Franz Kafka - and Simon de Beauvoir






6. A metrical foot; /_ _ (stressed - unstressed - unstressed)






7. The larger - than - life central character in an epic (a long narrative poem about events of crucial importance to the history of a culture/nation)






8. The central understanding about life as expressed in a work of literature; may be stated or expressed directly; usually implied or revealed gradually through events - dialogue - and outcome






9. The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character






10. The feeling a literary work evokes in a reader - such as sadness - peace - or joy






11. The rhythmic rise and fall of oral language






12. Six feet per line of poetry






13. The pattern of sound created by stressed and unstressed syllable - particularly in poetry






14. The recurrence of sounds - words - phrases - lines - or stanzas in a literary work or speech






15. A symbol - image - plot pattern - or character type that occurs often in literature - such as the hero on a dangerous quest






16. The flaw that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero; the word comes from the Greek word hybris meaning 'excessive pride'






17. A long speech by a character in a literary work






18. The suggested or implied meaning associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition; can be positive - neutral - or negative






19. Type of diction; a variety of language used by people in particular geographic area






20. A word or phrase that is so overused that it has lost its expressive power






21. The continuation of a sentence from one line of a poem to another to complete meaning and grammatical structure (aka - a run - on)






22. The literary representation of a character's free - flowing thought processes - memories - and emotions; often does not use conventional sentence structure or rules of grammar






23. A sudden intuitive recognition of the essence or meaning of something






24. A person - place - thing - or event used to represent something else (ex: scarlet 'A' representing the sin of adultery)






25. Reference to a well - known person - place - or situation from history/art/music/work of literature






26. The repetition of final consonant sounds in words containing different vowels (ex: fresh cash - yard bird)






27. The repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds in stressed syllables that end with different consonant sounds






28. The point of view/perspective of a story when it is told by someone who stands outside the story






29. An author's choice of words - based on their effectiveness for the author's purpose






30. One foot per line of poetry






31. A wise saying - usually short and to the point; similar to epigram or maxim






32. A figure of speech in which opposite ideas are combined (ex: wise fool)






33. The methods - direct and indirect - used by a writer to reveal a character's personality






34. The use of words to create pictures in the reader's mind






35. A literary technique that records a character's memories - opinions - and emotions






36. Rhyme that occurs within a line of verse






37. A statement or situation that seems to be contradictory but actually makes sense (ex: the more I learn - the less I know)






38. The author's attitude toward his/her subject matter or audience; expressed through diction - punctuation - syntax - and figures of speech; (ex: humorous - serious - formal - distant - friendly)






39. A question to which no answer is expected or the answer is obvious






40. Language used for descriptive effect rather than literal meaning and including at least one figure of speech (metaphor - simile - personification)






41. The use of a word or phrase that imitates or suggests the sound it describes






42. Verse that contains an irregular metrical pattern and line length; also called vers libre






43. A metrical foot; _ _/ (unstressed - unstressed - stressed)






44. A narrative in which situations and characters are invented by the author






45. The literal - or dictionary - meaning of a word






46. Occurs at the ends of lines of poetry






47. Seven feet per line of poetry






48. A literary work in which all or most of the characters - events and setting stand for ideas or generalization about life; have a moral or lesson






49. A form of dramatic poetry in which a speaker addresses a silent listener






50. The sequence of events in a short story - novel - or drama