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Rhetoric Vocab

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. An overused expression






2. Pattern; repeated image - symbol - idea






3. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






4. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






5. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






6. Ashort account of an interesting or humorous incident - intended to illustrate or support some point






7. Form of personification - speaking to an absent or dead person or object as if it is there






8. An inscription on a tombstone






9. A story that operates on the symbolic level and teaches a lesson or moral






10. The use of slang in writing






11. The underlying message






12. Words that create mental pictures






13. Direct contrast or opposite






14. When the story begins






15. Literary - historical - artistic reference






16. A form a logic that moves from the specific to the general






17. A conclusion that can be arrived at without any observations of the world - but relies only on logical connections between ideas






18. Change and growth of the character






19. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






20. The recreation of regional spoken language






21. Making something sound nicer than it is; candy-coated words






22. Events that take place before the story begins






23. Choices a character makes in relation to an obstacle (problem)






24. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






25. Character whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character






26. An unexpected outcome






27. The answer to a question






28. Technical - specialized language






29. Repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences






30. Words - phrases - ideas placed side by side for effect






31. A particularly clever extended metaphor






32. Sound words - imitative harmony






33. Unexpected outcome in the plot






34. A mistake in reasoning






35. Making a situation seem less important or serious than it is






36. A rhetorical strategy that attacks the person rather than the idea






37. Reaching for the sublime - the tone results in the absurd






38. Emotional definition of a word






39. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






40. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






41. Contrasting words placed together for effect






42. Time and place of a story






43. When the reader expects a climax to occur and it doesn't happen






44. Where the audience knows more than the character






45. A formal argument that consists of a major premise - a minor one - and a conclusion






46. Sentences - or parts of a sentence with similar structure






47. Exaggeration






48. Word choice






49. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






50. Same beginning sound