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






2. The point of highest emotional intensity or suspense in a literary work






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






4. 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






5. 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)






6. The point of view/perspective of a story when it is told by one character who uses the pronouns I and me






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. Writing or speech that tells a story






16. The writer says one thing but means something else






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






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






19. The rhythmic rise and fall of oral language






20. Five feet per line of poetry






21. 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)






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






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






24. Conversation between characters in a literary work






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






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






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






28. Six feet per line of poetry






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






30. One foot per line of poetry






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






32. The perspective from which a story is told






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






40. A figure of speech that uses exaggeration for emphasis






41. The dominant mood or feeling of a literary work






42. A category or type of literature - defined by its style - form - and content (ex: poetry - drama - fiction - and nonfiction)






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






44. The use of a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal or expected meaning.






45. Rhyming of word at the ends of line






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






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






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






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






50. A story intended to be performed before an audience by actors on a stage