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. A person portrayed in a literary work






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






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






4. The outcome - or resolution - of the plot






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






6. A person or force working against the protagonist - or central character - in a literary work






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






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






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






10. An introductory section of a play - speech - or other literary work






11. Reversal of the usual word order for variety or emphasis (ex:A girl with a hat/In a dream I saw)






12. A feeling of curiosity or dread about what will happen next in a story






13. An emphasis on themes - characters - settings - and customs of a particular geographical region






14. Poetry in which characters are revealed through dialogue - monologue - and description






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






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






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






18. The dominant mood or feeling of a literary work






19. A type of pun - or play on words - that results when the speaker gets two words mixed up (ex: We watched the flamingo dancers all day)






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






21. A short saying that expresses a general ruth or gives practical advice - usually about behavior and morality; similar to adage or aphorism






22. A concluding statement or section added to a work of literature






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






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






25. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected






26. A movement in early twentieth - century (1900s) poetry - which regarded the image as the essence of poetry






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






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






29. A narrator who gives a faulty or distorted account of the events in a story; a child as a narrator might misinterpret someone's actions






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






31. A figure of speech that uses the word 'like' or 'as' to compare two unlike things






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






33. Four feet per line of poetry






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






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






36. 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






37. Type of diction; language widely considered crude - disgusting - and offensive






38. The assignment/application of human characteristics to animals - inanimate object - or gods (ex: Sponge Bob - Bugs Bunny)






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






40. A pair of rhymed lines in iambic pentameter that work together to make a point or express an idea






41. Rhyming that occurs within a single line






42. A literary technique in which the author uses clues to prepare readers for events that will occur later






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






44. Six feet per line of poetry






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






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






47. Type of diction; expressions usually accepted in informal situations






48. 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)






49. Five feet per line of poetry






50. The rhythmic rise and fall of oral language