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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. A comparison between two dissimilar ideas or things






2. The 'unravelling' or resolution of the story - falling action






3. Same beginning sound






4. Direct contrast or opposite






5. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






6. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






7. Contrasting words placed together for effect






8. An overused expression






9. Inanimate objects or abstract ideas given human characteristics






10. A story that functions on the symbolic level






11. Technical - specialized language






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






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






14. Attitude the narrator wants the reader to take toward a setting - character - or idea






15. A word that represents a larger idea or concept






16. When the story begins






17. A type of pun where the use of a word modifies two or more words - but used for different meanings (On the fishing trip - he caught three trout and a cold.)






18. A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is reversed ('Susan walked - and in rushed Mary.')






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






20. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






21. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






22. Unexpected outcome in the plot






23. Events that take place before the story begins






24. Clues that tip the reader off as to What is to come later in the work






25. Direct contrast or opposite






26. Same ending sounds






27. The use of slang in writing






28. Emotional definition of a word






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






30. A formal speech praising one who has died






31. The underlying message






32. Statement that contradicts itself - "the more you learn the less you know"






33. An inscription on a tombstone






34. Where the audience knows more than the character






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






36. Sound words - imitative harmony






37. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






38. A formal - often pompous - speech






39. A play on words that are identical or similar in sounds but differ in meaning






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






41. A particularly clever extended metaphor






42. Word choice






43. An unexpected outcome






44. Repetition of vowel sounds






45. A short witty statement






46. Time and place of a story






47. A political comment through the use of humor






48. A comparison using like or as






49. Using the same word or phrase for emphasis






50. A form of personification - only it is not a character in the story