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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. 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






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






3. The central character in a literary work - around whom the action revolves






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






5. The reader or the playgoer has information unknown to characters in the play






6. Comparison of two things that are alike in some ways






7. The use of a series of words - phrases - or sentences that have similar grammatical form






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






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






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






11. The pattern formed by end rhyme in a stanza or poem; indicated by the assignment of a different letter of the alphabet to each new rhyme






12. The time and place in which the events of a literary work occur






13. Poetry or lines of dramatic verse written in iambic pentameter






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






15. A stanza made up of two rhyming lines that follow the same rhythmic pattern






16. An occurrence is the opposite of what was expected






17. The basic unit in the measurement of a line of metrical poetry; usually has one stressed syllable and one or more unstressed syllable;






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






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






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






21. Three feet per line of poetry






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






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






24. Seven feet per line of poetry






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






26. 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)






27. Occurs at the ends of lines of poetry






28. The writer says one thing but means something else






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






30. The rhythmic rise and fall of oral language






31. 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






32. Conversation between characters in a literary work






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






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






35. Four feet per line of poetry






36. Type of diction; informal language used by a particular group among themselves






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






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






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






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






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






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






43. Rhyming of word at the ends of line






44. 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






45. A figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis






46. 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






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






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






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






50. A specific kind of figurative language such as - simile - personification - metaphor - or hyperbole