Test your basic knowledge |

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. Scholarly - academic writing that is difficult to understand






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






3. A conclusion drawn from presented details






4. Point of understanding or awakening (not necessarily emotional)






5. The underlying message






6. Contrasting words placed together for effect






7. A comparison using like or as






8. Events that take place before the story begins






9. Meaning or emotion underneath the words






10. Word choice






11. Exaggeration






12. Technical - specialized language






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






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






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






16. Direct contrast or opposite






17. Saying one thing but meaning the opposite






18. A question that does not expect an explicit answer






19. Dictionary definition of a word






20. Repetition of vowel sounds






21. Describing something indirectly by referring to things around it






22. An inference that does not follow logically from the premise (literally - does not follow)






23. Type of irony in which a person seems to be praising something but actually insulting






24. A political comment through the use of humor






25. A numbered list






26. A sermon or moralistic lecture






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






28. Words that create mental pictures






29. Literary devices that enable an author to operate on levels other than the literal (simile - metaphor - etc)






30. An inscription on a tombstone






31. 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.)






32. A moment of great revelation






33. A direct comparison






34. A mistake in reasoning






35. Deliberately unclear - having multiple meanings






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






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






38. A metaphor around which the entire story revolves






39. Same beginning sound






40. Where the audience knows more than the character






41. Change and growth of the character






42. A form of logic that moves from the general to the specific






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






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






45. Writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach






46. A formal - often pompous - speech






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






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






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






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