Test your basic knowledge |

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






2. A brief statement commemorating a dead person - often inscribed on a gravestone






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






4. A break or pause (usually for sense) in the middle of a verse line - marked in prosody by a double vertical line (||)






5. 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






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






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






8. 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






9. Rhyme that occurs within a line of verse






10. The dominant mood or feeling of a literary work






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






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






13. The repetition of the same stressed vowel sounds and any succeeding sounds in two or more words






14. The chief character in a literary work - usually one with admirable qualities






15. A quotation from another work that suggests the main idea - or theme - of the work at hand






16. A type of narrative nonfiction recounting a period in the writer's life






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






18. An interruption in the chronological sequence of a narrative to leap forward in time






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






20. The repetition of a line or phrase in a poem at regular intervals - usually at the end of each stanza






21. Persuasive writing






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






23. A lesson about right and wrong conduct taught in a fable or parable






24. A short - witty verse or saying; similar to aphorism or maxim






25. Seven feet per line of poetry






26. The person who tells a story; may be a part of the story or an outside observer






27. A literary device in which the author interrupts the chronological order of a narrative to show something that happened in the past






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






29. Repetition of initial consonant sounds in words; used as musical device






30. 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)






31. The struggle - internal or external - between opposing forces in a work of literature






32. A figure of speech in which a comparison in implied but not stated (ex: The snow was a white blanket)






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






34. Type of diction; language that shows disrespect for others or something sacred






35. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is substituted for another that is related (ex: the crown=the king of a country)






36. The narrator knows everything about the characters and events and reveals details that even the characters themselves could not reveal






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






38. A literary movement and philosophical attitude important during the mid -19th century in New England; emphasized reliance on intuition and conscience - focused on protesting materialism and Puritan ethic. Hallmarks of the movement: individualism - fr






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






40. Conversation between characters in a literary work






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






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






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






44. Short narrative about an interesting event - often used to make a point






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






46. Four feet per line of poetry






47. A figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent person - inanimate object or idea






48. Six feet per line of poetry






49. The writer says one thing but means something else






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